Blanton, P. Gregg. Contemplation & Counseling: An Integrative Model for Practitioners. Christian Association For Psychological Studies Books. Downers Grove, Illinois: IVP Academic, An Imprint of InterVarsity Press, 2019. ISBN: 9780830828654. Pages: 213.

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Interest in mindfulness is on the rise everywhere. It has been promoted world-wide across the religions and cultures. It is commonly held as a purely mental practice without any religious significance. Though it is areligious nature is true, it has originated in Buddhist/Hindu practices. Various forms of mindfulness have been integrated to psychotherapy, wellness training etc.

In the first place, Blanton offers us an evangelical critique of the practice of mindfulness and its use in Christian counselling. Mindfulness is centred on human self and with human effort. It thus ignores the relationship with the living God.

As an alternative Blanton offers contemplation which is God-centred and God enabled. The mindfulness and Christian contemplative practices are quite different from each other. He explores the history, theology and various traditions of contemplative practices in Christianity.

The major contribution of this book is his proposals for the therapeutic use of contemplative prayer in Christian counselling. He offers eleven fundamental interventions and a four-stage process. These proposals are drawn from his own practices.

In addition to the novelty of the subject, one will be impressed by the wealth of literature that Blanton had dived into in writing this book. Readers will be enriched by the insights on contemplative prayer, the insights from neuroscience and history of Christian spirituality that this book offers.