“Real devotion is an unbroken receptivity to the truth. Real devotion is rooted in an awed and reverent gratitude, but one that is lucid, grounded, and intelligent.” ― Sogyal Rinpoche

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Tibetan Buddhism encompasses a wide range of Buddhist perspectives, including Hinayana (renunciation focused), Mahayana (focused on compassion and the Bodhisattava vow to aid all beings), and Vajrayana (the tantric practices focused on transforming negative states and energies into positive ones.) Like other forms of Buddhism, it has had a strong dialogue with Western psychology, psychotherapy, and counselling practices. In particular, many Tibetan Buddhist approaches share similarities with cognitive therapy in which unhelpful or unrealistic beliefs are challenged. The visualisation practices in Tantric Tibetan Buddhism have had a strong influence on the use of visualisation in Western transpersonal psychotherapy. 

What are the benefits of connecting Tibetan Buddhism and psychotherapy?

Tibetan Buddhism has a well developed psychology of the mind, and can be psychologically beneficial in it's emphasis on the cultivation of open hearted warmth, generosity, devotion, and compassion. However, like other forms of Buddhism, Western practitioners tend to bring their own biases and psychological issues to the way they understand and practice the teachings. 

One example is that practitioners who are not deeply grounded in their body, their identity, and their relationships may subtly dissociate from every day tangible reality, or from robust and direct interpersonal communication through a misunderstanding of the more otherworldly aspects of Tibetan Buddhism. For these practitioners psychotherapy can help reduce this split, and help bring them back to a fruitful path of spiritual development.

Our background as Buddhist psychotherapists

Michael Apathy and Selina Clare are qualified experienced psychotherapists in private practice in the Christchurch, New Zealand. Between us we have 26 years of experience practicing mindfulness and meditation, including numerous intensive retreats and five years of full time residential monastic-style training at Zen Mountain Monastery in upstate New York. 

Michael has a bachelor degree in religious studies, which gives him a broad understanding of the Buddhist and other religious traditions. Selina specialises as a psychotherapist using mindfulness based therapy to treat stress and anxiety. Both of us have undertaken many years of our own personal psychotherapy and personal and spiritual development. If you're interested in or engaged with Buddhism as a spiritual or religious path, then we'd love to work with you, so please get in touch.