Is suffering Therapeutic? An exploration of buddhist ideas and Rogers’ six conditions

ABSTRACT

This article describes how clients experience, perceive, and respond to suffering and the tension that it can cause. I wish to explore the idea that there needs to be a shift in perception of what suffering is for the client in therapy. Can the suffering itself be therapeutic rather than problematic? Can having an understanding and resilience to endure suffering be the therapy? It is through my own experiences of suffering, through an understanding of Buddhist philosophy and the theory of Carl Rogers’ Core Conditions and the phenomenological attitude that I am convinced of the therapeutic value of suffering. Since Buddhism engages deeply with the problem of suffering in such a profound way it seems absurd not to explore this philosophy to see what it can bring to my work with clients. Buddhist philosophy shows me a way to respond with compassion. It sets out a way to practice compassion through meditation, a way of being open to experience in a non-judgemental and accepting way. This reminds me of the ideas of phenomenology and also Carl Rogers’ writings on the Core Conditions. I explore these ideas to establish how therapeutic suffering is and how we can respond to the suffering which is so ubiquitous in the therapeutic encounter.

Ist Leiden therapeutisch? Eine Untersuchung des therapeutischen Werts des buddhistischen Verständnisses von Leiden (dukkha) und Mitgefühl (karuna) im Vergleich zu Rogers' Grundbedingungen und der phänomenologischen Haltung

Dieser Artikel untersucht, wie Klienten Leiden erleben, wahrnehmen und darauf reagieren. Eine Veränderung der Wahrnehmung, was für den Klienten in Therapie Leiden ist, ist notwendig. Kann Leiden selbst sogar eher therapeutisch als problematisch sein? Kann die Tatsache, Leiden zu verstehen und die Fähigkeit zu erwerben, Leiden zu ertragen, genau das sein, was Therapie ausmacht? Diese Fragen werden anhand persönlicher Leidenserfahrungen sowie mit Hilfe des Buddhismus und via Carl Rogers’ Bedingungen für therapeutische Veränderung und der phänomenologischen Haltung untersucht.

¿El sufrimiento, es terapéutico? Una exploración del valor terapéutico de la comprensión budistas del sufrimiento (dukkha) y la compasión (karuna): en comparación a las condiciones básicas de Rogers y la actitud fenomenológica

Este trabajo explora cómo los consultantes experimentan, perciben y responden al sufrimiento. Tiene que haber un cambio en la percepción de lo que es el sufrimiento para el consultante en la terapia. ¿Puede el sufrimiento en si mismo ser terapéutico en vez de problemático? Obtener una comprensión y capacidad para sobrellevar el sufrimientos puede ser lo qué es terapia? Exploramos estas preguntas a través de experiencias personales de sufrimiento, a través de una comprensión del budismo, a través de las condiciones de Carl Rogers para el cambio terapéutico y de la actitud fenomenológica.

Est-il thérapeutique de souffrir? Une exploration de la valeur thérapeutique de la conception bouddhiste de la souffrance (dukka) et de la compassion (karuna) en comparaison avec les conditions de base de Rogers et l'attitude phénoménologique

Cette contribution explore comment les clients font l'expérience de, perçoivent et réagissent à la souffrance. Il y a la nécessité d'opérer un déplacement dans la perception de ce qu'est la souffrance pour le client en thérapie. La souffrance elle-même est-elle thérapeutique plutôt que problématique? Atteindre une compréhension de la souffrance et être capable de l'endurer peut-il être thérapeutique? Ces questions sont explorées via des expériences personnelles de souffrance, par le biais d'une compréhension du bouddhisme, via les conditions du changement thérapeutique de Rogers et selon une attitude phénoménologique.

O sofrimento é terapêutico? Uma exploração do valor terapêutico do entendimento Budista de sofrimento (dukkha) e de compaixão (Karuna), comparativamente com as 3 atitudes terapêuticas de Rogers e a atitude fenomenológica

Este artigo explora a forma como os clientes experienciam, percepcionam e reagem ao sofrimento. Tem de haver uma mudança na percepção do que o sofrimento é para o cliente em terapia. O sofrimento em si pode ser mais terapêutico do que problemático? É possível que a terapia seja ganhar compreensão e capacidade para tolerar o sofrimento? Estas questões são exploradas através das experiências pessoais do sofrimento, através de uma compreensão do Budismo, por intermédio das condições de Rogers para a mudança terapêutica e da atitude fenomenológica.

KEYWORDS:

• Suffering
• compassion
• Buddhism
• zazen
• meditation
• phenomenology

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Cristalle Hayes

Cristalle Hayes is a psychotherapist working in private practice in London. She trained at Regents University, completing the Postgraduate Diploma in psychotherapy and counselling and the Advanced Diploma in Existential Psychotherapy. Her approach is humanistic/existential. She has worked as a therapist in various academic settings as well as the NHS. Previous to her training as a therapist Cristalle worked in secondary schools as a teacher of philosophy and Religious Studies.