What is Buddhist Psychotherapy?
Buddhist therapy is the combining of the philosophical, and contemplative practices of Buddhism, such as meditation, with western psychology by a practitioner in the therapeutic setting.
The study and practice of Buddhism has long been seen as a religious or spiritual practice but many Buddhist tenets address the topics individuals seeking psychotherapy are exploring, such as suffering and how to resolve our suffering and achieve happiness.
The Dalai Lama, himself refers to Buddhism as “a science of the mind”. Psychotherapy is also a science or study of the mind and emotions. A different flavor with slightly different approaches; psychotherapy is an opportunity to sit with and speak with a professional who can help you explore and understand your inner world, mental health symptoms, or trauma.
To read more about why it can be beneficial to combine Western psychology and Buddhism read our blog here. We discuss in her blog the main Buddhist teachings that continue to be most supportive and helpful with clients. These are:
- Learning to love yourself (releasing from self-judgment and self-hate)
- Acceptance of what is happening now
- Awareness that change is happening all the time
- Opening up to the power of the present moment
As a psychotherapist, she hears certain themes repeat in working with clients. Being hard on oneself and self-doubt are themes that continue to emerge. Loving-kindness meditation practice and especially guided meditation and Buddhist teachings on compassion and self-awareness can be very helpful for clients working with these issues.
Here is Buddhist psychotherapist and meditation teacher, Natalie Baker’s two lectures on the subjects:
Another great resource for learning about Buddhism and how it helps with modern life’s challenges is from Tara Brach, a psychotherapist who wrote the highly acclaimed Radical Acceptance. She combines the wisdom of meditation with western psychology. She has a number of talks that we recommend to clients.
How mindfulness meditation can be a part of psychotherapy?
In recent years mindfulness, meditation has become more popular in part because studies are showing its benefits for mental health and wellness. More research has been done and we learning a lot about the positive effects of meditation on the central nervous system, the mind, brain, and body.
Articles like Mindfulness Meditation Alters Neurophysiological Characteristics by Eric Dolan and research conducted by Jon Kabat-Zinn and others with mindfulness-based stress reduction are two examples of the research on meditation.
Today we have a number of options for learning meditation instructions:
- From a book
- From a podcast
- In a class with a teacher
- On a retreat
- In therapy
Practising meditation with a meditation instructor, teacher, or guide of some kind can be incredibly helpful. Our minds tend to get stuck in the habits of thought, much of which is unkind and worrisome. This stuck-ness is the cyclic nature of suffering the Buddhists call samsara and a meditation instructor can help with advanced instructions and normalizing the struggles that can arise.
What Buddhist teaching can help with anxiety, depression and relationship issues?
Many Buddhist teaching can be of benefit in a therapy session. But starting at the beginning: why do we suffer? can be very helpful. Samsara, this cyclical nature of suffering is what the Buddha first taught about. The Buddha simply identified four “noble truths”:
- Life is suffering. Or dukkha, in Sanskrit, is more like all-pervasive anxiety or discontentment with one’s life.
- The cause of suffering. Because there is an ego and an “I” we habitually solidify and create pain out of a fundamental misunderstanding of what this “I” actually means.
- Cessation of our suffering. There is a way to work with suffering and it can be overcome.
- Walk the path that leads to the cessation of our pain and suffering. : by practising the Buddhist path of mindfulness meditation.
For more information about the 4 Noble Truths check out this short article from Lions Roar by Melvin McLeod. Other great resources for learning more about Tibetan Buddhism and classic teachings might include Indestructible Truth by Reginald Ray and Road Home by Ethan Nichtern. Both these books explore a large set of Buddhist teachings through intellect and heart as well we discipline.
Two books that explore more the intersectionality of Buddhism and contemporary psychotherapy might be Thoughts Without a Thinker by Mark Epstein and The Monkey is the Messenger by Ralph De la Rosa.
When learning about and discussing suffering the three poisons are analyzed further and they are:
- Passion (I want/pull it close)
- Aggression (I don’t want/push away)
- Ignorance (I am unaware)
These mind states can be explored on the cushion while meditating but can also be discussed and explored in therapy. At some point in one’s meditation practice is becomes important to have someone else to check in with about what is coming up, what questions are emerging, and what obstacles to sitting might pop up from time to time.
A meditation instructor who is not a therapist might not be equipped to deal with strong symptoms like panic, depression (suicidal thoughts), psychosis, or trauma responses. Likewise, a therapist who is not practising meditation regularly might be limited in her ability to discuss meditation practice, problem-solve or inspire. A Buddhist psychotherapist thus brings together these two worlds providing a very unique form of support to a client who may be dealing with tremendous pain and has a sitting practice.
Do all clients have to meditate in Buddhist therapy?
The quick answer is no. The Buddhist teachings are vast and meditation practice is only a small part of them. Some clients who come to our office engage in forms of Buddhist psychotherapy and others not at all. Every individual’s therapy is uniquely his, hers or theirs. That said some clients want to meditate, some clients are curious about meditation, and others are not. In our offices, any individual client will be met where they are.
When working with children for example you would focus on the mindfulness aspect of the present moment rather than the meditative. In this blog psychotherapist, Alison Pepper LCSW discusses when how to meditate with children.
What if I’m meditating wrong? How do I know if meditation is working?
These questions come up for all new meditators. It also comes up in therapy with clients. Starting anything new can be awkward or challenging. Starting to meditate is no different. Common questions are:
- When should I do it?
- How long should I do it?
- I listened to this app and then read that book but I do this, am I right?
- I’m overwhelmed with all my thoughts, can I really do this?
- Is it better to meditate alone or with others?
And the questions just go on and on. Beginner meditators might have doubts about how they are meditating or be eager to see results and educate themselves as support. The key to success is to try meditating regularly in whatever format, not worry about it try things and be willing to laugh at yourself in the process and figure out what works best for you and best for your life.
What is the Buddhist approach to strong emotions?
In therapy, there are a number of schools or approaches to working with strong emotions. Some of them compliment the Buddhist approach. There is never going to be a one size fits all for the work done in the therapy office so combining and trying different approaches can be helpful. In Buddhist therapy, the main ideas of the Four Noble Truths and the benefits of meditation can support the therapeutic process in a beneficial way. To learn more about working with emotions in therapy from a Buddhist perspective check out these two of our blogs:
Journey without a goal
The teaching or idea of the journey without a goal might be hard to understand in our modern world where many of us are focused on our accomplishments, we have been conditioned to grasp for wealth, and accumulate status through degrees, marriage, homes, cars, etc. etc. The Buddhist teachings focus on dismantling ego and working with our deep desire to crave and grasp as well as push away and avoid.
In Buddhist psychotherapy, one can explore what it’s like to want to make changes but be on a journey where we are not assuming we know the exact endpoint. The journey of healing then becomes the focus and goal, not the end result. This can be a very powerful part of psychotherapy because in today’s modern world people tend to come in, fix something, and be on their way. A more contemplative approach to therapy can help people settle into the therapeutic environment and receive the support they need.
Neurofeedback and meditation as treatment? by psychotherapist Natalie Baker.
Research continues to support the positive effects of meditation
Mindfulness meditation continues to be top of mind for many. Here is one recent study where acceptance and self-compassion in stressful situations are linked to mindfulness.
Netflix produced a short series on the mind which includes an episode and information about meditation.