Contemplative Psychotherapy in Missouri & Colorado…
Contemplative Psychotherapy is more than mindfulness “hacks” on social media…it’s the translation of the essence & the content of Buddhist Psychology…thousands of years of teaching & contemplative practice.
I have been lucky enough to practice & be instructed in a lineage, rooted in Tibetan Buddhism. This is not a weekend course I took…it is 3 years of Contemplative Psychotherapy training combined with personal practice, meditation retreats & continued learning.
Contemplative Psychotherapy addresses the human condition, the human mind & human patterns. What the Buddha taught is applicable today.
what is Contemplative Psychotherapy?
Contemplative Psychotherapy originates in Buddhist Psychology & Buddhist teachings…specifically those that address the human mind, patterns of thoughts, patterns of emotions & the ways we tend to get stuck…brining it together with Western Psychology.
It’s about tending to your own experience & your ability to apply mindful awareness to interrupt problematic habits of speech, thinking & relating.
Tibetan Buddhist master Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche came to the west in the 70’s and together with Western psychologists created the Contemplative Psychotherapy Department at Naropa University in 1978.
Buddhist Psychology
Buddhist Psychology more broadly refers to the religious teaching & practices of Buddhism, the exploration of enlightenment.
It is grounded in the nature of the mind & extends into vast teachings as well as many diverse branches of Buddhism across continents.
Buddhist Psychology is the foundation of Contemplative Psychotherapy without adopting the religious or lifestyle aspects of Buddhism.
“Anxiety, the illness of our time, comes primarily from our inability to dwell in the present moment.”
— Thich Nhat Hanh
Contemplative Psychotherapy in a therapy session…
Contemplative Psychotherapy is the foundation for how I approach your struggles with your mind, thoughts, & beliefs.
I lean heavily on loving-kindness, compassion & creating a space for curiosity to flourish.
My framework for working with emotions is also informed by Buddhist teachings on the “antidotes” for difficult emotional states, which I weave in, often without mentioning Buddhism…unless clients enjoy learning those details.
I also instruct meditation practice & other mindfulness techniques, when requested.
Spaciousness…
Spaciousness can be obtained in the mind & body. Mindfulness & awareness practices can culminate in access to an experience of spaciousness. When clients tell me they are hoping to feel more “peace,” I help them to cultivate real spaciousness.
Beginner’s Mind…
Beginner’s Mind is the concept that describes the experience of your mind not jumping to an automatic thought or response. In the place of habitual thinking patterns…there’s access to a pause or space. It’s delightful to be free of the conditioned mind.
Can you be more compassionate towards yourself?
Loving Kindness & Self-Compassion go hand-in-hand in Contemplative Psychotherapy…inviting a shift in self-aggression & negative self-talk.
what does Contemplative Psychotherapy help with…who is it for?
Contemplative Psychotherapy can be integrated & applied to most therapy needs. Meditation is not for everyone, but there are other ways to build awareness & noticing the patterns of your mind that are helpful for everyone no matter what you are struggling with in your life.
Contemplative Psychotherapy is for most people, but can be especially helpful for those who struggle with negative self-talk, self-aggression & preoccupation in the past or present.
Allowing the mind to live in the future or dwelling in the past is a source of tremendous suffering more many people.
actual nervous system & brain changes…
In 1987 when Buddhist luminaries such as the Dalai Lama came together with visionary scientists, there began to emerge substantial research to demonstrate scientifically what Buddhist had already know for hundreds of years…meditation changes the brain (Mind & Life Institute).
When a person engages in meditation & directs the mind through such practices, actual new neural networks are formed & strengthened…gay matter in particular parts of the brain that result in capacity to reduce impulsiveness, reactivity & emotional flooding.
It’s not imaginal or aspirational…it’s biological & anatomical!
your questions, answered
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No, you do not need to be Buddhist or understand anything about Buddhism…in fact, I can translate most views for you without using any Buddhist terms if you want that.
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No, but if you want the benefits of meditation or other kinds of mindfulness practice such as increased capacity in your nervous system & an actual increase in gray matter/neuronal connections in the your brain…there is no short cut.
Sitting Meditation is not the only awareness & attention practice.
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No. This therapy is inclusive of other systems of faith.
However, it’s important for me to say Buddhism is not a religion of faith or belief in the way most other religions are. There is no God to worship & there are no rules to believe.
Contemplative Psychotherapy draws upon Buddhist wisdom pertaining to how humans pattern around emotions & how our mind works…it’s more about in-here than out-there.
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That’s not a problem for me. You’ll need to decide if you’re open to new ideas.
Most other religions have contemplative branches.
Dedication to being a monastic in any religion is different from being a lay-person within a spiritual or religious practice.
Most religious beliefs can be folded in to the contemplative framework with the exception of original sin, in my opinion. Buddhism teaches that we have “basic goodness,” which sharply contrasts with the idea that we need to be saved & repentant at birth.
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Yes, I think it’s best to combine it with other modalities…it is my primary therapy modality for working with thoughts & mind.
