Buddhist Psychology

Buddhist Psychology

Buddhist Psychology

Buddhist practice, established more than 2,500 years ago, was founded on the existence of four basic existential principles: (1) that life as a human being gives rise to suffering; (2) that this suffering can be traced to identifiable causes; (3) that the identifiable causes of suffering can be ameliorated or eliminated; and (4) that there exists an articulable path leading to the alleviation of suffering.

Buddhist psychology melds contemporary theories of human change with practices embodied in Buddhist teachings.  In linking contemporary psychotherapeutic practice with ancient teachings, clients are instilled not only with evidence-based behavioral solutions, but also with experiential grounding that results from engaging in practices that have been found highly beneficial by human beings for more than two-thousand years. 

In its path leading to the cessation of suffering, Buddhist practice shares fundamental aims with psychotherapy.  What is perhaps most fascinating is that theoretical underpinnings of the most widely adopted theories of psychotherapeutic change have significant overlap with Buddhism.  In addition, contemporary neuroscience is now proving, mainly through out ability to measure internal brain function, clear scientific proof of the significant benefits to be realized by practices espoused in Buddhism.