Contemplative Psychotherapy Essentials: Enriching Your Practice with Buddhist Psychology

Both Western psychotherapy and the Buddhist spiritual path are journeys toward increased self-awareness, understanding, and well-being. Combining the two is what s known as contemplative psychotherapy, and it provides a deeper, richer approach to client work, one that can greatly enhance and expand a clinician s therapeutic repertoire. While much has been written recently about mindfulness in psychotherapy and the underlying theory of Buddhist psychology, no book has yet been written that explains to therapists how to apply these teachings in their day-to-day clinical work with clients.

This book will answer that call. Kissel Wegela, a leading practitioner and educator of contemplative psychology, eloquently walks readers through the foundational concepts of this therapy approach and its specific clinical techniques, providing lucid guidance on what contemplative psychology means in the context of therapy work and how to practice it. They take time to develop and some days we are able to tap into them more readily than others, but as Kissel Wegela explains, five competencies underlie all that a contemplative therapist does: (1) being present and letting be, (2) seeing clearly and not judging, (3) recognizing and appreciating differences, (4) connecting with others and cultivating relationship, and, finally, (5) acting skillfully and letting go.

After establishing these basic competencies the book goes on to explore the nuances of contemplative therapy practice, from creating a genuine therapeutic relationship, recognizing brilliant sanity not only psychopathology in our clients, and sowing the seeds of mindfulness (in our clients and ourselves), to correcting mindlessness practices, exploring clients emotions, cultivating compassion, and working with anger. Filled with client vignettes and practical guidance in an eminently wise, openhearted tone, Contemplative Psychotherapy Essentials makes the increasingly popular pairing of Buddhist psychology with traditional therapy accessible for the average clinician, putting readers and their clients in better touch with the present moment their bodies, emotions, and mind for more enduring change.