Buddhist Psychotherapy

A rich resource enabling therapists to bring ancient Buddhist philosophy to modern psychotherapy. Mindfulnessbased interventions have become popular mental health treatments in recent years, but these interventions are typically applied by practitioners who lack knowledge of their Buddhist origins. The historical, religious, and philosophical foundations of mindfulness offer essential insights for clinicians, researchers, and Buddhist practitioners alike, and can also serve as the foundation for a Buddhist psychotherapy. This book, a collaboration between two practicing psychologists and an ordained Buddhist nun, examines the early Buddhist philosophical roots of mindfulness and provides a model for modern psychotherapy. In Buddhist psychotherapy, the therapist listens to a client discuss their concerns, considers how the clients suffering can be explained from a Buddhist worldview, and uses mindfulness to address the source of their suffering. This framework is compatible with all religions and cultures. It does not rely on any specific belief about a deity, the creation of life, or an afterlife, but instead seeks to help individuals achieve a more accepting, peaceful understanding of the nature of existencean existence in which everything is ultimately impermanent and impersonal. Amply illustrated with quotes from early Buddhist literature as well as modern clinical examples, this rich volume will help modern psychotherapists deepen their understanding of mindfulness and enrich their practice to alleviate client suffering.