I have been practicing traditional psychotherapy as a Licensed Psychologist since 1987. After being in practice for several years, I began to develop a strong interest in spiritual growth and development, and how to integrate this into psychotherapy with patients who are interested in doing so. I now call this process contemplative psychotherapy, and while I continue to do a great deal of traditional psychotherapy, I have also found that many people want to include the contemplative dimension in their psychotherapy.My preparation for this work occurred in part through individual work with a meditation teacher and an interfaith spiritual director, and also through seminars, workshops, and independent study.
The most important part of this training, however, has been through twenty-five years of my own meditation practice. From this, I have come to appreciate the value of a calm, practiced awareness for cultivating one’s connection to the sacred, which is sometimes called presence. As this state of presence deepens and becomes more frequent, it helps relieve suffering and leads to an increase in personal freedom in a wide range of circumstances.
As a contemplative psychotherapist, I strive to maintain this subtle state of presence while working with patients, and to bring it into the shared space of the therapeutic relationship. The therapeutic process can often be greatly enhanced when it includes this contemplative dimension.