About Contemplative Psychotherapy and Mindfulness-Based Counseling Techniques

Contemplative psychotherapy

Contemplative psychotherapy is the blending of Western psychotherapy with Buddhist mindfulness - 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 does not 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.

MBSR

MBSR stands for mindfulness-based stress reduction. The MBSR program was established by Jon Kabat-Zinn at the University of Massachusetts medical school. MBSR differs from many other mindfulness techniques because it is completely secular and defined as having no spiritual basis. Kabat-Zinn defines mindfulness as a moment-to-moment non-judgmental awareness.

MBSR practitioners help clients learn and practice mindfulness techniques so that they can achieve a number of different benefits, from changes in mood and anxiety to dealing with pain and other physical health issues.

Therapists listed in this directory may or may not be trained in MBSR. Please see individual therapist listings for details, or be sure to ask the therapist if you are interested in this modality.

Buddhist psychology and Buddhist psychotherapy

Buddhist psychology, and Buddhist psychotherapy, are the applications of the principles of Buddhism toward the goals of psychotherapy – namely, lessening suffering, improving compassion, increasing peace and satisfaction, healing, and seeing the world more clearly.

Over the 20th century, Western psychologists and psychotherapists began to discover that the long-used wisdoms of the Buddha were a powerful force for good in the issues that they saw in their offices. The practices, precepts and philosophy of Buddhism lend themselves to increased mental health, and the relief of suffering such as anxiety and depression. They are strong forces for increasing self-love and compassion, which translates into improved relationships with others.

Renowned teachers and clinicians such as DT Suzuki, Carl Jung, Eric Fromm, Alan Watts, Tara Broch, Jack Kornfield and Dan Siegel have attempted to bridge the differences and map the similarities of Buddhist practice and psychotherapy. Naropa University, located in Boulder Colorado, was designed to teach these concepts, and has offered degrees in contemplative psychology since 1975.

At the heart of Buddhist psychology and psychotherapy is meditation – a central mindfulness practice. Dan Siegel, neurobiologist and western M.D., has shown that mindfulness meditation practice actually grows and changes the human brain. The growth and change is similar to that seen in people with secure attachment, according to his findings. New data continues to arrive regularly on the true positive impacts of mindfulness meditation.

Therapists listed in this directory may or may not be trained as Buddhist psychotherapists or psychologists. Please see individual therapist listings for details, or be sure to ask the therapist if you are interested in this modality.