Grace for the Injured Self : The Healing Approach of Heinz Kohut

A study of Kohut's 'self psychology' in treating psychological injuries that threaten self-cohesion, and the value of such an approach in pastoral care. The proposal of Grace for the Injured Self is to help the reader to understand the significance of psychological injuries that we all may suffer. Even under the best circumstances in life, these injuries may threaten our self-cohesion and self-esteem. Cooper and Randall refer to the self psychology approach and perspective of Heinz Kohut -considered by many people as the most significant psychoanalyst since Sigmund Freud- as a way of healing these injuries. The book constantly stresses the empathic presence of another as a source of grace: the empathic responsiveness of others holds our selves together and helps us not to fall apart.