Buddhist Psychotherapy: Connecting Early Buddhism to Mindfulness and Western Psychotherapy

By: Liang Tien and Debra M. Kawahara and Venerable Dhammadinna

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Synopsis: A rich resource enabling therapists to bring Buddhist philosophy to modern psychotherapy. Mindfulness‑based interventions have become popular mental health treatments in recent years, but these interventions are typically applied by practitioners who lack knowledge of the interventions&’ Buddhist origins. The historical, religious, and philosophical foundations of mindfulness offer essential insights for clinicians and researchers alike. 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 client&’s suffering can be conceptualized from a Buddhist worldview, and uses mindfulness and other techniques taught by the Buddha to address the source of their suffering. This framework does not rely on any specific spiritual belief, but instead seeks to alleviate client suffering in a world where 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.