East meets West
Spiritual teaching and psychological insight illuminate one another without losing their distinct strengths.
A new book by Dr. Brenda Shoshanna
Sacred Psychology
An Invitation to Live
A compassionate, practical bridge between Eastern spiritual wisdom and Western psychology—created to help readers look beyond symptoms, understand suffering more deeply, and bring healing into everyday life.
- Published
- July 2026
- Length
- 172 pages
- ISBN
- 978-1662977282
Now available in paperback and Kindle
“The Whole World Is Medicine. What Is the Illness?”
Discover and heal the true causes of suffering.
The book
A new way to understand healing
Sacred Psychology brings psychological understanding into conversation with the wisdom and practice of Eastern spiritual traditions.
Through teachings, anecdotes, reflections, quotations, and practical exercises, Dr. Shoshanna explores the roots of emotional, physical, and spiritual distress.
This is not simply a book of ideas. It is an invitation to practice: a life-giving program designed to cultivate clarity, authenticity, aliveness, self-understanding, and greater well-being in ordinary life.
Beyond the symptom
Readers are invited to look beneath familiar struggles and ask what suffering is trying to reveal.
Practice over theory
Simple, meaningful exercises help bring the teachings into relationships, work, loss, and daily life.
Inside Sacred Psychology
For the places in life that ask the most of us
The book speaks to readers seeking a deeper perspective on distress and a more harmonious, meaningful, and joyful way to live.
LonelinessDepression & anxietyAnger & addictionGrief & lossHealing & well-beingAuthentic living
Reviews & testimonials
A body of work, widely received
A sourced collection of endorsements for Sacred Psychology, published criticism across Dr. Shoshanna’s writing, and professional testimonials gathered from her public archives.
“Sacred Psychology brilliantly outlines specific steps for healers, caregivers, and therapists.”
“I enjoyed every page in this wonderful book.”
Critical receptionOther book by Dr. Shoshanna: Reviews and Endorsement.25
Zen Miracles
Publishers Weekly
A skilled, lucid integration of Zen practice and ordinary life, recommended especially for beginners and new practitioners.
Read the sourceZen Miracles
Spirituality & Practice
“Brings Zen to life in ways that are fresh and poignant at the same time.”
Read the sourceZen and the Art of Falling in Love
Publishers Weekly
The review praises Shoshanna’s ability to connect relationship psychology, self-realization, openness, and faith, while noting that practical daters may want more concrete advice.
Read the sourceZen and the Art of Falling in Love
Spirituality & Practice
“Applies Zen practices to the nurturing of intimate relationships.”
Read the sourceZen and the Art of Falling in Love
Tricycle
The review highlights the book’s disciplined path from becoming available to meeting the beloved, grounded in traditional Zen training.
Read the sourceZen and the Art of Falling in Love
Books That Can Change Your Life
The reviewer says the book changed her understanding of love and helped her reconsider responsibility, dependence, and possibility in relationships.
Read the sourceThe Anger Diet
Spirituality & Practice
“A thoughtful and practical resource on dealing with anger in your life.”
Read the sourceThe Anger Diet
Spirituality & Health
The review emphasizes her insights on anger in families, work, faith, and destiny—and the book’s potential to reshape self-understanding.
The Anger Diet
BookIdeas.com / Marie Jones
A strong recommendation for readers seeking relief from emotional negativity, conflict, and distress.
Fearless
Spirituality & Practice
“A timely book on dealing with fear and practicing love on the path to peace of mind.”
Read the sourceFearless
Vilma G. Reynoso
“This book helped me recognize my unconscious fears and taught me how to remove them.”
Read the sourceFearless
TCM Reviews
A personal recommendation for readers navigating change, loneliness, divorce, love, or a search for greater self-understanding.
Jewish Dharma
Spirituality & Practice
“An extraordinary book on the relevance of the teachings and spiritual practices of Judaism and Zen.”
Read the sourceJewish Dharma
Jewish Book Council
Molly Beth Dubin describes how the book makes clear that spiritual nourishment can come through a deeply personal synthesis of traditions.
Read the sourceJewish Dharma
Publishers Weekly
A mixed assessment: the review recognizes a deeply personal spiritual journey while questioning consistency and the amount of hands-on guidance.
Read the sourceJewish Dharma
Robert Kennedy, S.J., Roshi
He describes Dr. Shoshanna as flying on two wings—Orthodox Jewish faith and decades of Zen practice—with fidelity and beauty.
Jewish Dharma
Lama Surya Das
He calls the book delightful, psychologically astute, and practical for readers seeking meaning across more than one spiritual world.
Jewish Dharma
Rabbi Marcia Prager
She praises its wisdom, humor, depth, and dedication, and the way its two traditions enrich one another.
Just Grab the Dust Rag
Spirituality & Practice
“Lessons learned in 40 years of Zen practice in New York City.”
Read the sourceZen Play
Michael S. Russo, Ph.D.
He describes an innovative approach to koan study that can turn the reader’s whole life into a field of practice.
Read the sourceZen Play
Fr. Robert Kennedy, Roshi
He welcomes the book as a delightful place to begin, begin again, and continue without end.
The Unshakeable Road to Love
Writer’s Digest review
The review praises its original insights, natural voice, generous advice, and practical action steps, calling the work stellar.
The Unshakeable Road to Love
Jon Mundy
He praises the book’s synthesis of Western psychology, world scripture, and Zen as an excellent and helpful whole.
The Unshakeable Road to Love
Michiko J. Rolek
She describes words that heal by bringing light to brokenheartedness and relationship suffering.
Double Blessing
David Lefkowitz, theater review
The review praises the play’s warmth, love for its subject, believable characters, and touching mother-daughter scene while noting some second-act excess.
Read the sourceTeaching, talks & mediaProfessional testimonials16
Portrays Dr. Shoshanna as an unusually powerful healer whose work addresses anger at its roots.
R. Winn Henderson, M.D.
Observed strong emotional engagement, insight, and improved relationship skills among staff participants.
Dr. Frank Wald · JFK Medical Center
Describes her teaching as energetic, loving, delightful, creative, and constructive.
Robert Kennedy, S.J., Roshi
Praised the clinical wisdom and relevance of her presentation on death and dying, and her integration of psychology and spirituality.
John J. Cecero, S.J. · Fordham University
Recognized the exceptional care, thought, and quality she brought to her program.
Kathleen Galek · The Healthcare Chaplaincy
Reported unusually strong attendance and enthusiastic evaluations for her workshop and follow-up session.
Adele Marano, LCSW · ALS Association
Praised the distinctive perspective and contribution of her annual-conference presentation.
New York State Dispute Resolution Association
Called her Zen and Psychotherapy panel unique, informative, and well received.
Dr. David Nevins · NY State Psychological Association
Expressed deep gratitude on behalf of teachers, monastics, sangha, and retreat participants.
Senjin · Zen Mountain Monastery
Recommended her as lively, intelligent, dependable, compassionate, and highly effective on air.
Mary Sebastiani · New Morning TV
Describes a warm, versatile teacher who reaches students personally and gives generously of herself.
Rabbi Joseph Gelberman · All Faith Seminary
Thanked her for the guidance she offered as the platform’s professional relationship expert.
Josey Miller · iVillage / NBC Universal
Praised her classes as enlightening, fascinating, thrilling, and eagerly anticipated.
Adrienne R. Karlin · Marymount Manhattan College
Credited her knowledge and wisdom with enriching everyone who attended.
Ann Goodstein · Barnard College
Noted the unusual way the audience stayed together and remained engaged through her talk.
Julie Denny · Association for Conflict Resolution
Describes an outstanding teacher who brought depth, compassion, practicality, and a broad East-West perspective to bereavement education.
Bernard Starr, Ph.D. · Marymount Manhattan College
Psychologist · Author · Speaker
About the author
Dr. Brenda Shoshanna
An award-winning author, psychologist, speaker, long-term Zen practitioner, and playwright whose work brings Eastern and Western principles into everyday life.
Dr. Shoshanna draws on extensive private-practice experience, early work in the hospice movement, and long-term study with a Japanese Zen master in New York. She has presented talks and workshops for hospitals, hospices, universities, professional groups, interfaith communities, and Zen communities.
Her books have been translated and shared internationally. Across fiction, nonfiction, drama, teaching, and practice, her work returns to life’s essential questions and the possibility of living with greater truth, compassion, and freedom.
Selected nonfiction
Other books by Dr. Shoshanna
Brenda Shoshanna has written many acclaimed and award winning books.
Zen and the Art of Falling in Love
A practical path to opening the heart through Zen
Zen Miracles
Finding Peace in an Insane World
The Anger Diet
Thirty Days to Stress-Free Living
Jewish Dharma
A Guide to the Practice of Judaism and Zen
Fearless
The 7 Principles of Peace of Mind
Available around the world
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Listings were verified on August 2, 2026. Prices, stock, delivery, currency, and geographic availability are controlled by each seller and may change. Paperback ISBN 978-1-66297-728-2 · eBook ISBN 978-1-66297-746-6.
Contact Dr. Shoshanna
Begin a conversation
For questions about Sacred Psychology, speaking engagements, interviews, or other professional inquiries, send a message below.
Direct emailtopspeaker@yahoo.comChoose your preferred email service when the address opens.