Spirituality and Wellbeing

Bettina E. Schmidt is Professor in Study of Religions at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David and the director of the Alister Hardy Religious Experience Research Centre which located in Lampeter, UK. Jeff Leonardi is an Honorary Research Fellow of the Religious Experience Research Centre at the University of Wales Trinity St David at Lampeter. He is a retired Anglican priest, has been a qualified Person-centred Counsellor for the past forty years, and has a PhD in the spirituality of Person-centred Counselling in relation to Christian spirituality, and the implications for Christian ministry and pastoral practice.

• IntroductionJeff Leonardi and Bettina E. Schmidt Section One: Setting the Scene 1. Spirituality and Wellbeing: Is there a Necessary Link?Everton de Oliveira Maraldi, Pontifical Catholic University of Sao Paulo, Brazil2. Clinical Parapsychology: The Interface between Anomalous Experi-ences and Psychological Wellbeing Chris Roe, University of NorthamptonSection Two: The Body in Focus 3. Made in the Image: The Christian Understanding of the BodyJeff Leonardi4. Spirituality and Wellbeing in Traditional China: Food, Self-sacrifice, and Spiritual Practice in a Chinese Buddhist LegendThomas Jansen, University of Wales Trinity Saint David5. `Spiritus Contra Spiritum': Spirituality, Belief and Discipline in Alco-holics AnonymousWendy Dossett, University of ChesterSection Three: The Diversity of Perspectives 6. Narratives of Spirituality and Wellbeing: Cultural Differences and Similarities between Brazil and the UKBettina E. Schmidt7. Using Autoethnography to Explore the Experience of Spirituality in EpilepsyLouise N. Spiers, University of Northampton8. To Thine Own Self be True: Alcoholics Anonymous, Recovery and Care of the SelfLymarie Rodriguez, University of Wales Trinity Saint DavidSection Four: Applied Practice 9. Religiosity, Spirituality and Wellbeing in the Perception of Brazilian Health and Mental Health ProfessionalsMarta Helena de Freitas, Catholic University of Brasilia10. Compassionate Presence: Buddhist Practice and the Person-centred Approach to Counselling and PsychotherapyBecky Seale, Coleg Sir Gar