Contemplative Psychotherapy

Contemplative psychotherapy is the blending of Western psychotherapy with Buddhist awareness practices. From this perspective, our ability to be present with whatever arises in the moment is the foundation for meaningful psychotherapy. Our actual experience is the doorway to self-acceptance and authentic change.

Traditional psychotherapy tends to pathologize people's pain, and generally focuses on changing or fixing undesirable symptoms. From the contemplative point of view, our basic nature is intrinsically healthy but our awareness of this health is often obscured. Contemplative psychotherapy is a process of uncovering this fully awake and aware state. We become liberated from unnecessary suffering through experiencing ourselves in the moment, exactly as we are.

Please note that while contemplative psychotherapy is derived from Buddhist teachings, it doesn’t require any knowledge of, interest or participation in meditation or Buddhism. Contemplative psychotherapy simply offers secular and logic-based tools to free us from unnecessary struggles.

For more information on Contemplative Psychotherapy, please click Find a Therapist and read what its practitioners have to say. Or click Bibliography and browse the books we've listed there.