Masquerade at the Crossroads of Good and Evil: Holism and Spirit Work in Mental Health and Addiction

A challenge to conventional psychiatry with a powerful, case-based vision of mental health rooted in spirituality, ritual, and authentic human connection Based on field notes from his own experience as a mental health support worker, David Stokes reveals his unique approach to working with those with mental illness that involves seeking opportunities that connect the spirit to the wider world, whether that be through magic, ritual, or religious spirituality. Written in a personal and poignant prose, Stokes’ writing highlights the grim realities of everyday life, especially for those suffering with mental illness and trapped within the confines of mental health services. Stokes argues that the mental health of those suffering comes not from a chemical imbalance in their brain, as pertained by traditional psychiatry, but rather from a lack of spiritual connection to the wider world. Stokes’ approach, and the treatments outlined in A Masquerade at the Crossroads of Good and Evil, focuses on encouraging patients to seek opportunities for genuine engagement with a wider sense of reality, whether that be through esotericism, magical ritual, spirituality, and more. While a gestalt approach is central to the arguments presented in A Masquerade at the Crossroads of Good and Evil, the book also draws from a wide range of other disciplines, such as Jungian theory, esoteric Christianity, consciousness studies, and pagan/folk tradition, ultimately proving that the emphasis of the holistic, spiritual approach in psychotherapy, should be one that finds the authentic voice of the individual suffering. Rich with evidence and experience from real-life case studies, A Masquerade at the Crossroads of Good and Evil will be an intriguing, stimulating, and thought-provoking read for anyone involved in or interested in working with mental illness.