Mindful Psychotherapy

Abstract

This article focuses on meditation and the benefits it can bring to psychotherapy practice, both through the person of the therapist and as therapeutic method. A regular meditation practice supports the clarity of mind that the therapist brings to his or her work and can thus greatly impact both the quality and usefulness of the work, as well as the health of the therapist. The relationship between mysticism and contemplative practice is discussed. Research on the benefits of meditation is reviewed, and varied ways meditative methods can be used in therapy are presented.

Keywords:

• mindfulness
• meditation
• mysticism
• psychotherapy
• family therapy
• child therapy

Notes

I wish to thank the Center for Contemplative Mind in Society (http://www.comtemplativemind.org) for their support, and also express my gratitude for all of the therapists who have shared the journey in my groups, classes, and workshops. I am also grateful for those who helped me with the writing of this article, particularly David Bell, Micki Fine, Sunanda Markus, Phoebe Prosky, and Froma Walsh.