Contemplative psychotherapy, a branch of therapy integrating Eastern Buddhist philosophy and practice with the clinical traditions of modern Western psychology, is rooted in the belief that all people are granted the internal wisdom necessary to heal from pain.

People seeking therapy to increase self-awareness, improve overall health, and promote a general sense of well-being may find contemplative therapy to be a beneficial approach. 

What Is Contemplative Psychotherapy?

Contemplative psychotherapy was developed in the 1970s by Tibetan meditation master, Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, who was influential in bringing Buddhism to the West. In his efforts to do so, he was challenged by the view many held of Buddhism as solely a religious ideology. To clarify the philosophy of Buddhism and make the concepts more accessible to Westerners, Rinpoche adopted the language and theory of Western psychology, using terms and phrases like “depression” and “unconscious mental pattern” to help people see meditation as something other than an esoteric religious practice. He founded Naropa Institute (which later became Naropa University) in Boulder, Colorado in 1974 to offer classes in contemplative psychology. 

Since that time, contemplative psychotherapy has evolved into a therapeutic practice that blends the meditative techniques of Buddhism with the theory and application of traditional Western psychology. Contemplative psychotherapy integrates such aspects of Buddhism as meditation, mindfulness, and the concept of “brilliant sanity” with the distinct language of mental health, the use of an intimate therapeutic relationship, and the exploration of the stages of human development.

Contemplative psychotherapists believe people are inherently good and have the capacity for what is known as brilliant sanity. This core concept describes what contemplative psychotherapy upholds as the fundamental nature of human beings: all people have natural wisdom within them, and this wisdom can be used to achieve healing and self-awareness. Brilliant sanity is believed to be ever-present, even if it is not fully manifested. The goal of contemplative psychotherapy is to help people uncover this brilliant sanity and tap inner resources to achieve improved well-being.  

Theory of Contemplative Psychotherapy

Contemplative psychotherapy is built upon the tenets of Buddhism and uses the Buddhist philosophy as its primary theoretical framework, though the approach also incorporates theory from traditional psychology models like the psychodynamic and humanistic approaches.

 The Four Noble Truths of Buddhism form the foundation of the contemplative psychotherapy approach:

  1. The Truth of Suffering: People tend to deny, ignore, or dispute their painful experiences, but in reality all people have these experiences, and their lives will always be patterned with suffering.
  2. The Truth of the Origin of Suffering: Pain originates from the attempt to create a solid, unchanging sense of self, or ego. By its very nature, this process creates suffering according to Buddhist beliefs because there is no such thing as a permanent, distinct self. People are ever-changing. 
  3. The Truth of the Cessation of Suffering: People have the ability to stop suffering once they realize their efforts to establish a permanent self are futile. They can accept who they really are and relax into their genuine selves by releasing the facade of an illusory ego. 
  4. The Truth of the Path: Once people accept their true selves, they are “awakened” to the path that is unique to them. This long, steady process of development is the way to achieve their goals. For some, psychotherapy may play a role in this journey. 

These truths guide the overall direction of treatment while the principles of Western psychology provide the structure. The Four Noble Truths can be considered as a kind of map for the treatment journey while the therapeutic relationship and techniques are the vehicles. 

The influence of psychodynamic theory can be seen in the way contemplative psychotherapy conceptualizes the interactions occurring in the therapy session. This method also incorporates humanistic theory, notably in its emphasis on the value of the therapeutic relationship and on the importance of remaining present in the “here-and-now” during session. The following facets of traditional psychology are considered essential to contemplative psychotherapy:

Contemplative Psychotherapy Techniques

The overarching goal of contemplative psychotherapy is to increase self-awareness and improve well-being. The role of the contemplative psychotherapist is to help people uncover and understand their most authentic selves. Contemplative psychotherapists are trained to see the strength and “sanity” in each and every person in therapy. Therapists work to support people in acknowledging their strengths and their pain in order to use both to achieve inner peace.

Some of the techniques and practices utilized by contemplative psychotherapists include the following:

How Is Contemplative Psychotherapy Unique?

One difference between mainstream psychotherapy and contemplative psychotherapy is the perspective of the latter on mental health conditions and symptoms. Most Western approaches tend to focus on the source of an individual’s pain and address those concerns in order to improve symptoms. Contemplative psychotherapy, on the other hand, views the effects of past trauma and emotional challenges as barriers that can prevent a person’s internal wisdom from helping the person to heal from these effects. Proponents of contemplative psychotherapy believe awakening the self as it is, while fully experiencing moments of challenge and difficulty, is the key to achieving healing. 

Many traditional Western therapies aim to help people move toward a new state of being, when they express the desire to do so. Contemplative psychotherapy instead works to help individuals clarify and accept their authentic selves in order to achieve healing from acceptance and internal wisdom. 

How Can Contemplative Psychotherapy Help?

People wishing to increase mindfulness may be helped by contemplative psychotherapy. Increased mindfulness may help individuals recognize and dealt with the effects of mental health concerns. For example, a person whose shopping habits both result from and lead to anxiety and stress can learn to track when the desire to shop arises, examine any difficult or feelings present at the time, and work to develop a new practice to reduce anxiety that will not lead to further anxiety. 

Those who have faced trauma or abuse may be able to, through contemplative psychotherapy, address and accept any pain they may carry from these events. Proponents of contemplative psychotherapy believe by being open to painful experiences and visualizing them clearly, people can uncover the so-called brilliant sanity that will help them heal and continue through life in a state of greater well-being. 

Negative feelings, including those experienced as a result of conditions such as anxiety or depression, may persist throughout life. A contemplative psychotherapy approach may help individuals accept this fact and learn ways to modify their relationship with these feelings rather than simply try to eliminate them. 

One study found a contemplative self-healing approach to be helpful in improving well-being in women who were treated for breast cancer. After a 20-week program, most of the study participants reported fewer feelings of stress and fear and said they had learned skills they thought would help them cope with negative feelings and interactions following treatment. This program may be effective for cancer patients and others facing serious or terminal illness, because it does not simply emphasize positive thinking—which, if it does not acknowledge the realities of cancer or a person's negative thoughts about the illness, may lead to further distress—but encourages open contemplation and exploration of all thoughts and images, negative and positive. 

Training in Contemplative Psychotherapy

Contemplative psychotherapy is still a relatively new approach, but mental health practitioners and other health professionals interested in the approach can complete a continuing education course to obtain certification in a number of training programs throughout Europe and the United States. 

Perhaps one of the most well-known training programs is The Nalanda Institute's intensive two-year course in contemplative psychotherapy. This program offers distance learning and satellite training options, in addition to classes that can be taken locally in Toronto, New York, and Barcelona. 

Students at Naropa University (formerly the Naropa Institute) in Boulder, Colorado can pursue an undergraduate degree in contemplative psychology and can also obtain a master's degree in clinical mental health counseling with a focus in contemplative psychotherapy and other mindfulness-based approaches. This university is considered the national leader in contemplative higher education. Interested professionals can find more information on the Naropa University website.

Limitations of Contemplative Psychotherapy

Available resources are limited, as this method is not yet widely known, and minimal research has been conducted to determine its efficacy. Nonetheless, the practice is expanding, and future studies may support the benefits of this alternative therapy method. 

Contemplative psychotherapy emphasizes meditation and mindfulness and may be considered spiritual by some, and some people seeking treatment may not be comfortable with this type of approach. Individuals who find it challenging to explore and accept negative aspects of the self and/or difficult or painful memories may choose to seek a method of therapy that addresses these issues in a different manner. 

References:

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  2. CP introduction. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.nalandainstitute.org/pages/certificate-overview.html
  3. History. (n.d.). Retrieved http://www.karunatraining.com/karuna-training/history
  4. Loizzo, J.J., Peterson, J.C., Charlson, M.E., Wolf, E.J., Altemus, M., Briggs, W.M. ... Caputo, T.A. (2010). The effect of a contemplative self-healing program on quality of life in women with breast and gynecologic cancers. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, 16(3), 30-37. 
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