John Amodeo's Home Page

We are drawn by the irresistible pull of love and connection, yet we also long for inner peace and stillness. These apparent opposites seem irreconcilable—until we realize that our longing for intimate bonds and spiritual liberation emanates from the same sacred impulse. Pursuing a spiritual path while embracing our humanity moves us beyond our stuck places toward rich relationships and intimacy with all things.

In this innovative, practical book, John Amodeo shows how emotionally nourishing relationships and spiritual development are two sides of the same coin of awakening. He suggests that the Buddha’s teaching about the root of suffering is often misunderstood. It is not desire and attachment that cause suffering; desire is the fire that springs from the basic life force.

Drawing upon the science of attachment theory, Amodeo illuminates how suffering spreads when we’re disconnected from ourselves and others—and is fueled by clinging to an array of habits and beliefs that divert us from a deeper intimacy with life.

In a warm, conversational tone, Amodeo presents relationships as the ultimate spiritual practice. We move toward emotional and spiritual maturity as we mindfully uncover, welcome, and convey our deepest feelings and tender longings. Guiding us on this healing and transformative journey is this book’s purpose. By bringing loving-kindness to wha,

Weaving Western Psychology with Spiritual Wisdom

John Amodeo, PhD

John Amodeo, PhD, LMFT (#MFC 14453), is a psychotherapist, author, coach, and speaker. He has been on a journey of integrating the best of psychology with spiritual wisdom for over 45 years, and has been a licensed marriage and family therapist in California for over 40 years. His four books offer an integratrive approach for bringing psychological awareness and spiritual wisdom into our lives and relationships:

Dancing with Fire: A Mindful Way to Loving Relationships

The Authentic Heart: An Eightfold Path to Midlife Love

Love & Betrayal: Broken Trust in Intimate Relationships

Being Intimate: A Guide to Successful Relationships

Dancing with Fire won the 2014 Independent Publisher Book Silver Award in the sexuality/relationship category. It was also the winner of the Spirituality and Practice Award as one of the best spiritual books of 2013.

You're invited to explore this website to learn more about John's books, as well as access articles, interviews, and other information about his work, including articles on his online column with Psychology Today.

Themes in John's work:

* Relationships as a Spiritual Path

* Deepening Presence with Ourselves and Others: a Foundation for Emotional and

Spiritual Intimacy

* Healing Shame and Recovering from Trauma--and Affirming Our Authentic Experience

* Living More in Our Body and Being in the Present Moment; Identifying and Transforming

Self-Critical Thoughts

* Honoring Feelings and Longings As an Important Part of Our Spiritual Path--and

Engaging with Them Wisely

* Gradually Awakening to the Beauty and Goodness of Who We Really Are, Apart from our

Conditioning

John Amodeo, PhD, is a psychotherapist, author, and speaker who has dedicated over 45 years to integrating psychological principles with spiritual wisdom. He holds graduate degrees in both Clinical Psychology and Transpersonal Psychology and is a licensed marriage and family therapist in California, as well as a Certified Focusing Trainer and Certified Focusing-Oriented Therapist. He also offers coaching sessions.

John has authored several well-regarded books that offer integrative approaches to incorporating psychological awareness and spiritual wisdom into our personal lives and relationships. His works include the award-winning book, Dancing with Fire: A Mindful Way to Loving Relationships, as well as The Authentic Heart; Love & Betrayal; and Being Intimate. He was also a writer and contributing editor for Yoga Journal for ten years. His forthcoming book is entitled, The Gentle Power of Presence: Insights for Inner Peace and Deeper Relationships.

John has led workshops and lectured at universities internationally, including in Hong Kong, Chile, Thailand, and Ukraine. John's work has been featured on national television and radio programs, including CNN, Donahue, and New Dimensions Radio. He has led workshops at centers such as Esalen Institute, JFK University, Sonoma State Univeristy, The Omega Institute, and The New York Open Center, and was an adjunct faculty member at Meridian University. He has written extensively, including blogs for the Huffington Post, as well as being a popular contributor to Psychology Today, with over 6 million total views of his 160 articles. His teaching and writing emphasizes the importance of authenticity, mindful presence, and emotional attunement in fostering deep, authentic connections with others. He resides in Sonoma County, California. Email: johnamodeo@aol.com; landline: (707) 829-8948.