James C. Nourse, Ph.D., L.Ac.
James C. Nourse has devoted both his personal and professional
life to exploring and integrating mind, body and spirit. His
professional training both as a clinical psychologist and Chinese
medical physician represents a unique combination of healing
methods, unifying ancient and modern approaches to treating dis-ease
and promoting health.
Clinical Psychology is a profession devoted to the study and
treatment of problems of the mind, emotions, and behavior. Dr.
Nourse is a proponent of a school of thought within psychology
known as transpersonal psychology, which advocates that the spiritual
component of life is a vital part of a person's well-being. Although
the transpersonal psychologist does not advocate for any particular
religion or denomination, he believes that individuals are helped
by learning to discover within themselves sources of wisdom,
inspiration and a deeper understanding of their relationship
to the whole of life. Modern psychological understandings of
the human condition have established conclusively that the state
of mind and emotions have measurable efffects on the state of
the body. Dr. Nourse has had the good fortune to study with one
of the founders of Transpersonal Psychology, Stanislav Grof.
M.D. from whom he received certification in Holotropic Breathwork
in 1992, and has undergone personal Jungian analysis, which he
regards as a cornerstone of his 30+ year career. He has himself
participated in what he invites his clients to experience.
Classical Chinese Medicine is a practice with at least a 3000
year history. It represents a continuous testing and refinement,
ultimately recorded in classical Chinese texts. These texts describe
a medicine that cannot, by its very nature, fail to treat mind,
body, and spirit simultaneously. The human body is not just a
physical object. It is a field of energy, and this energy flows
along channels (sometimes called meridians) within and across
the body. This energy is a field which includes and interconnects
what we think of as mental, physical and spiritual aspects of
the person. When this energy is blocked or imbalanced in any
way, illness results, and, this can express itself as mental,
physical and/or spiritual distress. Acupuncture and related methods
go directly to the underlying energy problem and strive to bring
the system back into balance, so that illness, of whatever type,
has no comfortable place to live. Dr. Nourse has been blessed
with the opportunity to study Classical Chinese Medicine with
Dr.'s Sean Marshall, D.Ac. and Tran Viet-Dzung, M.D., who are
the major inheritors, trustees and teachers of this body of knowledge
in the world today.
When indicated, a combination of the two approaches creates
a powerful momentum for healing. Chinese Medicine may help deepen
and accelerate a person's progress in psychotherapy, and psychological
techniques may enhance and complement the healing process of
Chinese Medicine.
Psychotherapy
A term once reserved for Freudian-based practices for treating
mental illness, Psychotherapy now refers to a broad spectrum
of theories and techniques for relieving suffering, promoting
health and, in general, understanding and improving the human
condition. These practices range from highly focused behavioral
techniques for resolving very specific problems such as phobias,
traumas, or suboptimal social skills, to more philosophical approaches
for facilitating major life transitions, dealing with loss and/or
physical illness, or finding one’s life purpose. One size
does not fit all, but what all approaches have in common is that
the quality of the relationship between the therapist and the
client is a critical ingredient in the healing process. Psychotherapy
is one of the very few venues in life for a person to openly
reflect on his/her innermost thoughts and feelings in a safe
and supportive setting. Once the province of Medicine, psychotherapy
is not largely offered by non-medical licensed professionals
including clinical psychologists, clinical social workers, and
licensed professional counselors.
Education and Experience
PhD, University of Tennessee 1975,
Certified in Holotropic Breathwork(TM) and transpersonal psychology
by the Grof Transpersonal Training Program.
Trained in:
Mindfulness based stress reduction of Jon Kabat-Zinn, PhD.
Exceptional Cancer Patients by Bernie Siegel, MD.
Associate with Resource International, a Houston based management
consultant firm specializing in stress management
Graduate and Faculty member biomedical sciences at the Jung
Tao School of Classical Chinese Medicine
Clinical Psychologist; Individual, group and corporate stress
management specialist; Certified Grof Holotropic BreathworkT
Facilitator |