Through a critical examination of the life and work of Pittu Laungani, one of the leading psychologists in the West, this book explores the nature of cross-cultural psychology, counselling and psychotherapy. It specifically attempts to build bridges between Indian philosophy and the approaches and methods of Western psychology and counselling.

Drawing on the works of Pittu Laungani, the various chapters in the book deal with interesting and challenging questions on culture and stress, traditional healing, Hindu spirituality and religion, caste, class and culture and its relationship with the theory and practice of modern counselling psychology.

Much of Laungani's work has been cutting edge in psychology; developing ideas that transcend the boundaries and limitations of both eastern philosophy and western psychologY. A number of international researchers and scholars have brought together specific aspects of South Asian psychology and Laungani's theories and the current thinking in Western counselling and psychotherapy, interweaving them into new ways of practice in the field of health and mental health. This book includes many original articles of Pittu Laungani and commentaries of scholars and academics working in various fields of psychology, counseling and the health care profession in general.

Personal tributes to Pittu Laungani by the likes of Stephen Palmer, Richard Dezoysa and Nicolo Pipitone add another dimension to this otherwise scholarly book.

Table of Contents:

Foreword - Alvin Curling
Introduction - Roy Moodley, Aanchal Rai and Waseem Alladin

PART ONE: BUILDING MULTIPLE CULTURAL BRIDGES
Building Multicultural Counselling Bridges: The Holy Grail or a Poisoned Chalice - Pittu Laungani

The Reciprocal Gaze: Pittu Laungani's Musings about Culture and Stress - Amrita Narayanan

Traditional Healing and Spirituality - Pittu Laungani

Building Bridges in Counselling - Roy Moodley

Dancing with the Master: An Interview with Pittu Laungani - Lana Stermac

PART TWO: PLAYING AMONGST THE PILLARS OF EAST-WEST PSYCHOLOGY
Cross-Cultural Psychology: A Handmaiden to Mainstream Western Psychology - Pittu Laungani

Unresolved Issues in Philosophy and Psychology: Implications for Therapy - Pittu Laungani

Playing Amidst the Pillars: Pittu Laungani and Yogic Psychology - Amrita Narayanan

South Asian Traditional Healing in Counselling: Laungani's Search for a Transcultural Approach - Aanchal Rai and Roy Moodley

East-West Journey in Counselling Psychology: An Interview with Pittu Laungani - Roy Moodley

PART THREE: TOWARDS WISDOM IN THE PRACTICE OF COUNSELING AND THERAPY
Transcending the Boundaries of Counselling: Pittu Laungani as Master Counsellor - Juris G Draguns

Caste, Class and Culture: A Case Study - Pittu Laungani

Pittu Laungani a Bicultural Psychologist: Commentary on "Caste, Class and Culture" - Alan Roland

Solitude of Unbearable Shame: An Analysis of Two Case Studies by Pittu Laungani - Sabar Rustomjee

Becoming a Cultural Chameleon: Pittu Laungani, Western Counsellors and Multicultural Clients - William West

PART FOUR: MULTICULTURAL TRANSITIONS AND THERAPEUTIC RELATIONSHIPS
Counselling and Therapy in a Multicultural Setting - Pittu Laungani

Migration, Cultural Values and the Medical Model: Pittu Laungani and Psychotherapy - Ruth M Lijtmaer

Tortoises and Turtles: Pittu Laungani, Cultural Transitions and Therapeutic Relations - Fevronia Christodoulidi & Colin Lago

Transcending East / West Boundaries: Pittu Languani and Cross-cultural Counselling - Maya Hammer & Waseem Alladin

Pittu Laungani, Multicultural Humanism and Electric Psychotherapy - Sandra E S Neil

Religious Rites and Rituals in Death and Bereavement: An Indian Experience - Pittu Laungani

PART FIVE: PERSONAL REFLECTIONS OF FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES
Antoinette Thomas

Ann Laungnai

Stephen Palmer

Waseem Alladin

Uwe P Gielen

Richard De Zoysa