Polly Young-Eisendrath (born 1947) is an American psychologist, author, teacher, speaker, Jungian analyst, Zen Buddhist, and the founder of ''Dialogue Therapy'' and
Real Dialogue
' and creator of the podcast ''Enemies: From War to Wisdom''. She has been a featured speaker at the Aspen Ideas Festival, TED-X, and is the recipient of the Otto Weininger Award for Lifetime Achievement in Psychoanalysis. Young-Eisendrath is the originator of ''Dialogue Therapy'', designed to help couples and others transform chronic conflict into greater closeness and development. In 1983, she and her late husband, Ed Epstein, designed ''Dialogue Therapy'' as a new form of couples therapy that combined psychoanalysis,

Jungian Analytical psychology ( de , Analytische Psychologie, sometimes translated as analytic psychology and referred to as Jungian analysis) is a term coined by Carl Jung, a Swiss psychiatrist, to describe research into his new "empirical science" ...

theory, psychodrama, and gender theory. She has published two books on ''Dialogue Therapy'' (1984 and 1993), detailing its theory and methods for clinicians and the general public. She has now re-visioned and updated ''Dialogue Therapy'' to include the distinctive combination of psychodrama, Object Relations, and Mindfulness. In 2019

Shambhala Publications Shambhala Publications is an independent publishing company based in Boulder, Colorado. According to the company, it specializes in "books that present creative and conscious ways of transforming the individual, the society, and the planet". Man ...

released ''Love Between Equals: Relationship as a Spiritual Path'', a book that offers her vision of personal love as a spiritual path and draws on her experience of 30 years as a Dialogue Therapist and Jungian analyst. In September, 2021

Routledge Routledge () is a British multinational publisher. It was founded in 1836 by George Routledge, and specialises in providing academic books, journals and online resources in the fields of the humanities, behavioural science, education, law, and ...

released
Dialogue Therapy for Couples and Real Dialogue for Opposing Sides: Methods Based on Psychoanalysis and Mindfulness.
' She maintains a clinical practice of Jungian analytic psychotherapy and psychoanalysis in Vermont, United States.

Life and career

Raised as a

Catholic The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...

, Polly Young-Eisendrath was born and grew up in

Akron, Ohio Akron () is the fifth-largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Summit County, Ohio, Summit County. It is located on the western edge of the Glaciated Allegheny Plateau, about south of downtown Cleveland. As of the 2020 C ...

, where she graduated first in her class from Akron East High School. As a teenager, she worked as a long distance telephone operator. Young-Eisendrath attended

Ohio University Ohio University is a Public university, public research university in Athens, Ohio. The first university chartered by an Act of Congress and the first to be chartered in Ohio, the university was chartered in 1787 by the Congress of the Confeder ...

where she met, among other scholars,

Huston Smith Huston Cummings Smith (May 31, 1919 – December 30, 2016) was an influential scholar of religious studies in the United States, He authored at least thirteen books on world's religions and philosophy, and his book about comparative religion, ' ...

. Smith's work in

comparative religions Comparative religion is the branch of the study of religions with the systematic comparison of the doctrines and practices, themes and impacts (including migration) of the world's religions. In general the comparative study of religion yie ...

had a profound and transformative influence on her, leading her to search for a religion that was not fundamentally ritualistic or dogmatic, but experiential and connected with daily life.

Buddhism

Young-Eisendrath began

Zen Zen ( zh, t=禪, p=Chán; ja, text= 禅, translit=zen; ko, text=선, translit=Seon; vi, text=Thiền) is a school of Mahayana Buddhism that originated in China during the Tang dynasty, known as the Chan School (''Chánzong'' 禪宗), and ...

training in 1970 at the Rochester Zen Center with

Philip Kapleau Philip Kapleau (August 20, 1912 – May 6, 2004) was an American teacher of Zen Buddhism in the Sanbo Kyodan tradition, a blending of Japanese Sōtō and Rinzai schools. He also advocated strongly for Buddhist vegetarianism. Early life Kapleau ...

. She became a student of Shinzen Young in 1998. She is currently a Mindfulness and

Dharma Dharma (; sa, धर्म, dharma, ; pi, dhamma, italic=yes) is a key concept with multiple meanings in Indian religions, such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism and others. Although there is no direct single-word translation for '' ...

teacher in the tradition of Shinzen Young, and practices both Soto Zen and

Vipassanā ''Samatha'' ( Pāli; sa, शमथ ''śamatha''; ), "calm," "serenity," "tranquillity of awareness," and ''vipassanā'' ( Pāli; Sanskrit ''vipaśyanā''), literally "special, super (''vi-''), seeing (''-passanā'')", are two qualities of t ...

, and has also practiced

Phowa ''Phowa'' (, ) is a tantric practice found in both Hinduism and Buddhism. It may be described as "transference of consciousness at the time of death", "mindstream transference", "the practice of conscious dying", or "enlightenment without medita ...

with Ayang Rinpoche and Anyen Rinpoche. She directs Waysmeet Sangha, a friendship-based Buddhist

sangha Sangha is a Sanskrit word used in many Indian languages, including Pali meaning "association", "assembly", "company" or "community"; Sangha is often used as a surname across these languages. It was historically used in a political context t ...

, which she hosts in Vermont.

Education and career

Young-Eisendrath attended Ohio University (OU) from 1965–1970 and graduated with a major in English literature. While at OU, she was an Ohio Fellow and a student in the Honors College. She earned a

Masters of Arts A Master of Arts ( la, Magister Artium or ''Artium Magister''; abbreviated MA, M.A., AM, or A.M.) is the holder of a master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is usually contrasted with that of Master of Science. Tho ...

from Goddard College, a Masters of Social Work in Clinical Social Work and a Ph.D. in Developmental and

Counseling Psychology Counseling psychology is a psychological specialty that encompasses research and applied work in several broad domains: counseling process and outcome; supervision and training; career development and counseling; and prevention and health. ...

from

Washington University Washington University in St. Louis (WashU or WUSTL) is a private research university with its main campus in St. Louis County, and Clayton, Missouri. Founded in 1853, the university is named after George Washington. Washington University is r ...

. She is also a diplomate

Jungian analyst Analytical psychology ( de , Analytische Psychologie, sometimes translated as analytic psychology and referred to as Jungian analysis) is a term coined by Carl Jung, a Swiss psychiatrist, to describe research into his new "empirical science" ...

and completed her training through the Inter-Regional Society of Jungian Analysts. She has maintained an independent clinical practice as a psychologist since 1982: in

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...

from 1982 to 1994 and in

Vermont Vermont () is a state in the northeast New England region of the United States. Vermont is bordered by the states of Massachusetts to the south, New Hampshire to the east, and New York to the west, and the Canadian province of Quebec to ...

since 1992. She has been a clinical associate professor in

Psychiatry Psychiatry is the medical specialty devoted to the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of mental disorders. These include various maladaptations related to mood, behaviour, cognition, and perceptions. See glossary of psychiatry. Initial psych ...

at the University of Vermont Medical College since 1994 and is a clinical supervisor at the Norwich University Counseling Service. A prolific writer, Young-Eisendrath has published 19 books and numerous academic articles. She is influential in the fields of

Jungian analysis Analytical psychology ( de , Analytische Psychologie, sometimes translated as analytic psychology and referred to as Jungian analysis) is a term coined by Carl Jung, a Swiss psychiatrist, to describe research into his new "empirical science" ...

feminist psychology Feminist psychology is a form of psychology centered on social structures and gender. Feminist psychology critiques historical psychological research as done from a male perspective with the view that males are the norm.Crawford, M. & Unger, R. ...

, and the application of

Buddhist concepts to psychoanalytic theory. Translated into 12 languages, her books have been characterized as "scholarly and thoughtful, yet totally accessible", and "incisive, persuasive, practical and wise". With her late husband, Ed Epstein, she created ''Dialogue Therapy for Couples'', a time-limited

couples therapy Couples therapy (also couples' counseling, marriage counseling, or marriage therapy) attempts to improve romantic relationships and resolve interpersonal conflicts. History Marriage counseling originated in Germany in the 1920s as part of the eu ...

done by one or two therapists, designed to help couples to handle their conflicts respectfully through the use of a combination of psychoanalysis, mindfulness and

psychodrama Psychodrama is an action method, often used as a psychotherapy, in which clients use spontaneous dramatization, role playing, and dramatic self-presentation to investigate and gain insight into their lives. Developed by Jacob L. Moreno and h ...

. Epstein died of

Alzheimer's disease Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegeneration, neurodegenerative disease that usually starts slowly and progressively worsens. It is the cause of 60–70% of cases of dementia. The most common early symptom is difficulty in short-term me ...

in 2014 and Young-Eisendrath's memoir of the experience narrates the process of the disease from the lens of a practicing

Buddhist Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and ...

, offering insight into methods of coping with loss, death and grief. Young-Eisendrath is the director of the Mustard Seed Project: Research and Application of a Buddhist Model for Transforming Loss and Bereavement, and the founder and director of Enlightening Conversations: Psychoanalysts and Buddhist Teachers Talking about Enlightenment and Awakening, which was described by

Mark Matousek Mark Matousek (born February 5, 1957) is an American memoirist, teacher, and journalist. Early years Matousek was born in Los Angeles, California. His father James Matousek disappeared when he was four, leaving his mother in dire straits; his s ...

in ''Psychology Today'' as "fascinating, potentially life-changing".Matousek, Mark.
Two Ways to Listen: A Visit to "Enlightening Conversations
, ''Psychology Today'', 10 July 2014. Web. 31 Aug. 2016

Bibliography

*O’Connor, Kevin
''Books: What One Vermonter Found When Her Husband Lost His Memory''
Seven Days. 18 Feb. 2015. Web. 27 Oct. 2016 *Rice, Rebecca
''The 9 secrets of happy couples''
Redbook Feb. 1997: 92+. PowerSearch. Web. 27 Oct. 2016
''Are you kidding?''
Maclean's 10 Nov. 2008: 10. PowerSearch. Web. 27 Oct. 2016. *Herman, Bethany
''Is envy getting the best of you? Nowadays, people divulge tons of private life details. But TMI can create covetous feelings that wreak havoc on self-esteem''
Cosmopolitan Nov. 2008: 170+. PowerSearch. Web. 27 Oct. 2016. *Satow, Roberta
''Review: Female Authority: Empowering Women through Psychotherapy by Polly Young-Eisendrath, Florence Wiedemann''
Gender and Society 5, no. 1 (1991): 134-38 *Smith, Roger
''Review: The Cambridge Companion to Jung by Polly Young-Eisendrath, Terence Dawson''
''The British Journal for the History of Science'' 32, no. 3 (1999): 377-78

Published works

*Young-Eisendrath, P. (2021).
Dialogue Therapy for Couples and Real Dialogue for Opposing Sides: Methods Based on Psychoanalysis and Mindfulness
'' London, England: Routledge. *Young-Eisendrath, P. (2019).
Love Between Equals: Relationship as a Spiritual Path
'. Boulder, CO: Shambhala Publications. *Young-Eisendrath, P. & Hill, D. (under contract). ''Enlightenment and Idealization: Views from Buddhism and Psychoanalysis''. London, England: Routledge. *Young-Eisendrath, P. (2014)
''The Present Heart: A Memoir of Love, Loss and Discovery''
– September 2, 2008. Emmaus, PA: Rodale Press. *Young-Eisendrath, P. (2011
''Over 60 and Looking for Love: Why Not? The desire for intimate love never dies''
Psychology Today, Posted Nov 17, 2011 *Young-Eisendrath, P. (2008).
The Self-Esteem Trap: Raising Confident and Compassionate Kids in an Age of Self-Importance
'. New York, NY: Little, Brown. *Young-Eisendrath, P. and Dawson, T. (Eds.) (2008)
''The Cambridge Companion to Jung: New and Revised''
Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press. *Young-Eisendrath, P. (2004)
''Subject to Change: Jung, Gender, and Subjectivity in Psychoanalysis''
London, England: Routledge. *Young-Eisendrath, P. and Muramoto, S. (Eds.), (2002)
''Awakening and Insight: Zen Buddhism and Psychotherapy''
London, England: Routledge. *Young-Eisendrath, P. and Miller, M. (Eds.), (2000)
''The Psychology of Mature Spirituality: Integrity, Wisdom, Transcendence''
London, England: Routledge. *Young-Eisendrath, P. (1999)
''Women and Desire: Beyond Wanting to be Wanted''
New York: Harmony Books. *Young-Eisendrath, P. (1997)
''Gender and Desire: Uncursing Pandora''
College Station, TX: Texas A&M University Press. *Young-Eisendrath, P. (1997)
''The Resilient Spirit: Transforming Suffering into Insight, Compassion and Renewal''
Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley, Longman. (Previously entitled The Gifts of Suffering in hardcover. *Young-Eisendrath, P. and Dawson, T. (Eds.), (1997)
''The Cambridge Companion to Jung''
Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press. *Kapleau, P. (1997
''Awakening to Zen: Teachings of Roshi Philip Kapleau''
P. Young-Eisendrath and R. Martin, (Eds.) New York: Scribners. (Paperback by Shambala Press) *Young-Eisendrath, P. (1993)
''You’re Not What I Expected: Learning to Love the Opposite Sex''
New York: William Morrow. (Re-issued by Fromm International Press, 1997). *Young-Eisendrath, P. and Hall, J. (1991)
''Jung's Self Psychology: A Constructivist Perspective''
New York: Guilford. *Young-Eisendrath, P. and Wiedemann, F. (1987)
''Female Authority: Empowering Women Through Psychotherapy''
New York: Guilford. *Young-Eisendrath, P. and Hall, J. (Eds.) (1987)
''The Book of the Self: Person, Pretext, Process''
New York: New York University Press. *Young-Eisendrath, P. (1984)
''Hags and Heroes: A Feminist Approach to Jungian Psychotherapy with Couples''
Toronto: Inner City Publications.

References

External links

www.young-eisendrath.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:Young-Eisendrath, Polly Jungian psychologists American women psychologists American psychologists American psychology writers Analytical psychology American Buddhists Writers from Akron, Ohio Ohio University alumni Goddard College alumni George Warren Brown School of Social Work alumni 1947 births Living people American women non-fiction writers