What is Contemplative or Buddhist Psychotherapy, and how is it different from traditional psychotherapy?
Contemplative Psychotherapy is the blending of Western psychotherapy with Buddhist awareness practices. From this perspective, our ability to be present with whatever arises in the moment is the foundation for meaningful psychotherapy. Our actual experience is the doorway to self-acceptance and authentic change. Traditional psychotherapy tends to pathologize people’s pain, and generally focuses on changing or fixing undesirable symptoms. From the contemplative point of view, our basic nature is intrinsically healthy but our awareness of this health is often obscured. Contemplative psychotherapy is a process of uncovering this fully awake and aware state. We become liberated from unnecessary suffering through experiencing ourselves in the moment, exactly as we are.
