What is Contemplative Psychotherapy?
Contemplative psychotherapy is a blend of Western psychology with Buddhist philosophy and awareness practices. Contemplative psychotherapy views everyone as intrinsically healthy and focuses on the wisdom we each have within.
As a contemplative psychotherapist, I will meet you where you are right now. Whatever experience you are having can be viewed directly with openness and clarity. Contemplative practices of mindfulness, presence, and self-compassion can help lift challenging life experiences to higher ground. Often we have been wounded by life circumstances and bear the pain of habitual patterns. We make decisions based on the stories we create about our painful moments and create more pain for ourselves. Mindfulness is a wonderful tool to help us look at ourselves with acceptance and friendliness. Then we can live our lives authentically and create happiness for ourselves and others.
My clients find contemplative psychotherapy to be a gentle, life-affirming way to work with painful life experiences; and a means of cultivating wisdom, compassion, and skillful
action in their lives.
When combined with Western psychotherapeutic practices such as cognitive behavioral therapy; EMDR; 12-step work; and short-term, solution based counseling; contemplative psychotherapy can lead to peace of mind and authentic living.