Reviewed by Christiane Northrup, MD:

"Healing Psyche is a treasure trove of rigorous research on the mind-body connection for cancer – all presented in practical ways that both doctors and their patients can access and implement easily. Quite frankly, this book could save your life.”

Christiane Northrup, MD, author of Mother-Daughter Wisdom (Bantam, 2005), The Wisdom of Menopause (Bantam, revised 2006), and Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom (Bantam, revised 2006)

Healing Psyche by Rob van Overbruggen PhD
Reviewed by Viv Craske

One of the drawbacks with any complementary therapy is that each one is touted as having all the answers. Sure, it’s a necessity for the individual practitioners in marketing what they do, and this positive attitude is important to instil confidence in a client before they work together.
But what do you do if you’re looking to find a more complete therapeutic intervention? And what if you’re dealing with cancer clients, where the very fear of the C word can send clients and their families into shock or denial or for a manic search for a ‘cure’.

As an NLP Practitioner and Meta-Medicine Health Coach, the question of what the best approaches to cancer care are has been on my mind for a while. No other disease carries a greater emotional punch than cancer, and no other disease gets the same level of medical funding and press attention. Yet there’s a sense that there’s a lot more complementary therapists could do in offering a more total solution.

Healing Psyche is a very large part of that solution. Rob’s PhD paper-turned-guidebook is an essential read for any psychological therapist working with cancer clients. The amount of information he has sifted through to provide a comprehensive guide for psychological complementary cancer care is impressive. If, like me, you’ve spent hours on the internet piecing together therapeutic interventions, then you’ll know how unreliable the internet can be for solid information on cancer interventions. Sure there’s plenty of sites out there, but little detail about how best to approach cancer clients and which techniques work and why.

Rob’s first topic is dealing with what cancer is. He effortlessly knocks down our installed belief that cancer is a killer – pointing out that more people recover from a tumour than die from one. He then begins to look at the mind-body connection, and just shies away from putting forward the view that there’s no separate mind and body – that the two are in fact more than co-dependant, they are a single open system.

There’s plenty of explanation of how doctors approach cancer and patients, elucidating the often jargon-ridden way of grading patients that often concerns complementary practitioners. But in order to fully help cancer clients (with the attendant Big Pharma and traditional medicine approach), complementary practitioners need to understand the process their clients are asked to engage in.

One of the key moments for me, is the idea of focussing on quality of life rather than longevity. The phrase “expect to get better, accept that things could get worse” is now a mantra in my work with clients. Rob points out that those who overcome cancer often talk of feeling ‘weller than well’ and mentally much more alive and adaptable.
This belief is fascinating in itself, but the point that Healing Psyche blows me away is where Rob presents the evidence that a majority of cancer patients share many unproductive personality traits. They will often care for others far more than for themselves – to their own detriment. They also often have issues with lack of self-worth, self-confidence and assertiveness, and shy away from conflict or expressing anger. Saying ‘No’ is also a big problem.

At the time of writing, someone close to me is dealing with cancer, and reading this section of Healing Psyche was like looking inside their mind. The similarities were shocking, but also empowered me to know what interventions I could work with.
Rob’s points out that these unhelpful beliefs need to be changed before any work can be done directly to engage the client with working towards a better quality of life. As an NLP Practitioner and Meta-Medicine Health Coach I know how frustrating it can be when a client seems unwilling to engage in moving towards wellness, despite what they may tell me. The powerful interventions offered here arms me with the tools I need to better help my patients help themselves.

The number of interventions and approaches to treatment are incredible. Rob’s book has inspired me to create a cancer care programme, using many of these interventions and my knowledge of Meta-Medicine. Many cancer care books are either too lightweight or offer dense, complecated approaches. Rob’s book walks a clever middle road, with the text littered with poignant quotes and easy to relate to metaphors that throw light on this fascinating subject area. I highly recommend this book to anyone using a mental, physical or spiritual approach with cancer clients.

Viv Craske
NLP Practitioner and Meta-Medicine Health Coach
www.nlpbrighton.co.uk
www.metamedicinesussex.co.uk

Carole Seaver, MA, Holistic Counselor

Thank you, Dr. Rob van Overbruggen! You have really done a great service for humanity with this phenomenal work. With the use of volumes of research by some of the most respected names in both psychological cancer treatment and overall MindBody healing studies you have catapulted the MindBody Connection premise by ions; and, by your comprehensive overview have given us in the field some much needed validation.

This work is a guidebook, not only for therapists who are working to help cancer patients become active participants in their own healing journey, but also for the cancer patients themselves to study and do their own introspection and, consequently, make the changes within that may be called for. Everything is coming together now for all of us to begin to believe that the word Cancer is not synonomous with death.

Healing Psyche is a must read for anyone who doubts the power of the mind to heal or the power of the body to heal itself when blocks to healing have been removed; and, it has come at the perfect time as people's minds are becoming more open to alternative and complementary therapies since Traditional Medicine does not, obviously, have all the answers.

The bottom line is 'WE WANT TO LIVE'.
Healing Psyche is about giving power back to cancer patients and about cooperation with Medical Staff so that the patient can benefit from the best efforts of a healing team. Anyone who has studied cancer treatment or has been involved with a loved one who has been diagnosed learns quite quickly that what is a cure for one person is not necessarily the answer for the next person.
That is why cancer is so difficult to cure; it behaves differently in each person. Chemo, unfortunately, doesn't have the success rate of Penicillin. And that is mostly because germs are outside invaders and cancer is a reaction of the body to something within the MindBody itself.

Healing Psyche provides a great deal of proof for that theory along with the processes that may be an aid to healing. It is a monumental thesis written in a way that makes it useable by the patient. I am very grateful for the dedication and expertise that went into this healing guide.
Carole Seaver, MA, Holistic Counselor

Ellen Tanner Marsh

Healing Psyche: Patterns and Structure of Complementary Psychological Cancer Treatment (CPCT)
By Rob van Overbruggen Ph.D

As reviewed by New York Times best-selling author Ellen Tanner Marsh

One of the most incredible ideas in modern science is that the mind can indeed influence the body. Even more amazing is the fact that psychology can actually influence the health of a patient. Cancer is perhaps the most dreaded disease of our lifetime, yet there are new treatments and pioneering new approaches to deal with this scourge. In mega-talented author Rob van Overbruggen 's fascinating new book, he presents a revolutionary treatment that bridges mainstream psychology with innovative psychological cancer treatments – and in doing so he creates a veritable miracle of healing.

This is a groundbreaking research paper that reads more like a page-turning novel. Full of absorbing case studies, Van Overbruggen presents some of the most provocative and mind-bending cancer research around. Although no studies have proven that patients can control the course of their cancers, there is a strong anecdotal evidence that shows patients can and do heal themselves. How is this miracle of all miracles possible? And how can therapists and doctors help patients to travel on this extraordinary new healing path?

In gorgeous, lucid prose, Van Overbruggen explains his world-shattering views on healing and discusses cancer from a medical and psychosomatic perspective. Are there certain personality traits that encourage cancer? Do patients with more positive self images have more spontaneous remissions? Perhaps the most marvelous part of the book is the explorations of the therapeutic applications. This section is full of thoughtful and profound questions to help influence a patient's mindset more beneficially. As soon as there is a psychological change, Van Overbruggen says, a physical change can be observed.

This is a staggeringly brilliant and important book. Although nor primarily meant to be a self-help book for patients (its main intent is for the therapists and doctors), this is a book that offers hope and healing, and it does it in a way that changes your whole world view for the better. And what could be more extraordinary than that? With this influential book, Van Overbruggen has done what many would consider impossible: he has pit the possibility of miracles right in the grateful readers' hands.

Alexander M. Docker, DCH, Ph.D

It is becoming more generally accepted, both in the medical community and in the general populace, that the connection between mind and body in the human being is such a close one that these two may truly be seen not as dualism at all but as two aspects of the one phenomenon: one the gross-material, and the other the non-material: body and mind respectively. It is certain, therefore, if this premise is accepted, that what goes on in the mind will translate directly into what goes on in the body. That is fast growing realization, and a powerful motivation toward investigating how one may work with the mind in order to create and sustain physical health.

Rob van Overbruggen's book essentially addresses exactly this point, and it does so with consummate skill, using the simple language that is required for a clear and accurate description that truly enlightens the ideas surrounding the whole field of what is popularly termed Mind/Body therapy. What his concentration is in this work can easily be transferred to any and all physical maladies. The principles are universally applicable.

I recommend this work to everyone interested in the premise behind this book, and I do so without reservation.

Alexander M. Docker, DCH, Ph.D
Dean of Students, American Pacific University.

Stichting IOCOB ; Foundation to support innovative research and education in the field of complementary medicine

Healing Psyche; op weg naar een psycho-oncologie

Rob van Overbruggen heeft met zijn Engelstalige boek "Healing Psyche, Patterns and Structure of Complementary Psychological Cancer Treatment (CPCT)" een bijdrage geleverd aan de psycho-oncologie. Zijn boek is een literatuur overzicht en analyse en gaat over de invloed van gedrag, gedachtenpatronen, emoties en omgangsmethoden op kanker, goed onderbouwd met wetenschappelijke literatuur. De therapieen die aan de orde komen zijn vooral gericht op het verbeteren van het algemeen welbevinden van een kankerpatient.

Dit boek laat zien dat de scheidslijn tussen lichaam en geest arbitrair is. Het boek is helder geschreven en daarom zinvol voor artsen, psychologen, maar zeker ook voor de patient en zijn familieleden.

In het eerste deel zet de auteur uiteen wat gezondheid en heling is, waarna uitgelegd wordt wat kanker is en hoe het immuunsysteem een rol speelt bij deze ziekte.

Het tweede deel gaat over hoe verschillende emoties, stress, gedragingen, overtuigingen en ingrijpende gebeurtenissen invloed hebben op het ontstaan van kanker en de prognose wanneer iemand kanker heeft.

In het derde deel worden verschillende complementaire therapieen en programma's beschreven. De meeste programma's zijn gericht op: actief worden, assertiviteit, expressie van emotie, verminderen van afhankelijkheid, versterken van eigenwaarde, gevoel van controle en blijheid versterken. In het vierde en het vijfde deel wordt dieper ingegaan op technieken die gebruikt kunnen worden om de kwaliteit van leven zo goed mogelijk te verbeteren. Technieken zoals hypnotherapie, Neurolinguistisch programeren (NLP), psychotherapie en meditatie passeren de revue.

Vanwege zijn zeer grondige zoektocht naar wetenschappelijk onderzoek over dit onderwerp, kan Rob Overbruggen gefundeerd aanbevelingen doen wat voor onderzoek er in de toekomst nodig is, om dit veld van de psycho-oncologie
nog beter te doorgronden.

Stichting IOCOB www.iocob.nl
IOCOB: Foundation to support innovative research and education in the field of complementary medicine

"As I have read about half of your book and loving it. I especially love the chapter on the emotional connection between the soul and the cancer such as being people pleasure
I feel more encouraged to help a person with cancer now because of your book.
Great job" - Dr Richard B Habben

"I really found this book to be very inspiring, not only for working with clients who have cancer, but also for working with other physical problems. It is nice to have a good summary of all different technics used in the therapies available at this moment.
So far I have used the information with clients that have physical problems other then cancer (irritable bowel syndrom, migrain headache).
Great job" - Leonie Looijen - Hypnotherapist