The Institute for Spirituality and Psychotherapy has posted audio files for 14 presentations which are free to download and to listen to. They were recorded from a series of dialogues, co-sponsored by the Institute for Spirituality and Psychology (ISP) and Spirit Rock, that explored the importance and timeliness of addressing the interface of spirituality and psychotherapy. Historically a rift has existed between spiritual and psychological approaches to change. The dominant theories and practices in psychology have pathologized or ignored spiritual practices and experiences, despite strong evidence that spirituality is important to health and well-being. Research had made it increasingly clear that effective psychotherapy needs to encompass the spiritual dimensions of human beings.
These 14 presentations are on topics such as getting old, dying, spiritual awakening, use of spiritual practices in therapy, shamanism, and ecopsychology by spiritual teachers such as Jack Kornfield, Lama Palden, Sylvia Boorstein, and Faisal Muquaddam, psychologists such as Frances Vaughan, Bryan Wittine and David Lukoff,, neurologist Richard Mendius, hospice physician Scott Eberle.
These presentations are offered in the spiritual tradition of Dana, that these teachings are invaluable and are offered freely, donation to be left to the conscience of the recipient. Donations are used to support research, clinical work, education and information resources including the offering of online access to future presentations in this series. Donations are tax-deductible. You can donate from the web site.
Fall 2005 :: Spring 2006 :: Fall 2006 :: Spring 2007 :: Winter/Fall 2008
- Click to Choose a Presenter
Sylvia Boorstein, PhD Ken Bradford, PhD Kerry Brady Elizabeth Bugental Debra Chamberlin-Taylor Mark Coleman Scott Eberle Frank Echenhofer,PhD Leslie Gray Rick Hanson Richard Heckler, PhD Jack Kornfield, PhD Stanley Krippner David Lukoff, PhD (with Shelley Scammell) David Lukoff, PhD (with Bryan Wittine) Richard Mendius,MD Richard Miller, PhD Phillip Moffitt Faisal Muquaddam Lama Palden John J. Pendergast Robert Rosenbaum, PhD Shelley Scammell Nader R. Shabahangi Frances Vaughn, PhD Cassandra Vieten, PhD Bryan Wittine, PhD
The Sacred Art of Healing East and West, Jack Kornfield, PhD & Frances Vaughn, PhD:Jack Kornfield will base his presentation on a book in progress on Buddhism and psychology. Frances Vaughan is a psychologist and a pioneer in the field of transpersonal psychology. She has taught and practiced psychotherapy and meditation for more than 30 years. Her focus will be on deepening mutual respect, collaboration and understanding between teachers, therapists and practitioners.
The Crises and Conflicts of Spiritual Awakening: Jungian and Transpersonal Perspectives Bryan Wittine, PhD and David Lukoff, PhD: Since spiritual awakening offers a direct challenge to the primacy of ego consciousness and the myth of separation, it is no surprise that such a challenge can produce a period of confusion and unbalance. Warnings about perils on the path occur in most traditions. Ego-inflation as well as deflation are examples of how spiritual awakening can go awry. We will discuss how to recognize and work with a client integrating a spiritual crisis.
Mind-Body-Spirit Practices and Psychotherapy, Richard Miller, PhD and Richard Heckler, PhD: Buddha instructed students to, "Observe the body in the body; the breath in the breath." Authentic spiritual practice and effective psychotherapy reveal that it is the body, not the mind that discloses the truths that lead to spiritual understanding and psychological change. This didactic and experiential presentation examines somatic approaches to psychotherapy that embrace central practices inherent to Buddhism and Nondual Yoga.
Loose Change: Psychological & Spiritual Perspectives on Transformation, with Robert Rosenbaum, PhD & Cassandra Vieten, PhD: Psychological and spiritual disciplines both aim at helping us let go of thinking patterns and behaviors that no longer serve us, but they can differ profoundly in their assumptions and approaches. Drawing from scientific research, clinical experience, spiritual teachings, and bad jokes, we will explore the great mystery of how we lay down our paths while walking toward increased balance, health, and wholeness.
Dialogue Between Buddhist & Diamond Logos Teachers, with Faisal Muquaddam & Lama Palden, MFT: Faisal Muquaddam and Lama Palden will explore the interface of Diamond work and Buddhist practice from both personal and clinical perspectives. Faisal has concentrated on exploring and releasing psychological issues that impede or complicate the unfolding of pure being and embodied awakening. Lama Palden will discuss both her personal experience and clinical experience in the process of integrating deep psychological and spiritual work.
Neuroimaging & Spiritual Experience:
Implications for Psychotherapy, Richard Mendius,MD and Frank Echenhofer,PhD:
Recent advances in neuroimaging techniques have allowed neuroscientists to
examine in greater detail than ever before the brain’s functioning during
exceptional states of consciousness, including different forms of meditation. His
Holiness the Dalai Lama has been one of the primary leaders in initiating this
research. This talk will review the potential value of a new science of meditation that
may benefit both psychotherapy and spiritual practice.
The Psychological and Spiritual Challenges of Getting Old with Sylvia Boorstein, PhD & Bernice Goldmark, PhD: Two elders with over 150 years of collective wisdom will dialogue about psychological and spiritual issues in aging. We will look at how dealing with old age, sickness, and death is different at seventy than at forty, and different at eighty than at seventy. How does Dharma Change as we age? Or does it? How do our concepts of "self" and of "relatedness" change with age?
Learning to Die Before We Die, Debra Chamberlin-Taylor & Dr. Scott Eberle: All of us, one day, must die. Many will go kicking and screaming, desperately clinging to the physical body, the precious ego, or both. Others will surrender more gracefully. A few may even release limiting images of self, becoming expansively connected to the divine -- known as 'God,' 'the Ground of Being,' and many other names. Two people, from different but related worlds, will explore the perennial attitudes, principles and practices that can help each of us learn "to die" before we die.
Listening from the Heart of Silence: Psychotherapy Grounded in Nondual Wisdom, with John J. Pendergast, PhD & Ken Bradford, PhD: We will explore how nondual awareness arising from a heart of Silence, unsplit between subject and object, is the effortless essence of depth psychotherapy. This will be contrasted with Freud's "evenly hovering attention" and popular characterizations of "present-centeredness.
Psychology & Meditation: Awakening in Nature with Mark Coleman, Kerry Brady: Today, as a culture, we have become disconnected from both nature and ourselves with increasingly dire personal and global consequences. What is the place of nature in contemporary therapy and spiritual practice? During this evening we will explore how nature-based meditation and other spiritual practices can facilitate profound inner and outer transformation by awakening deep dimensions of our being; and how contact with the natural world encourages our innate capacity for awareness, clarity and insight, and provides both meaning and context to understand the mystery of what it is to be alive.
Perspectives on Dementia, with Nader R. Shabahangi, Elizabeth Bugental: People suffering from dementia can exhibit moments of profound lucidity, insight and depth as well as disorientation and confused states. Nader and Elizabeth will each speak about what they have learned from their own personal and professional experience about communicating empathically and meaningfully with persons experiencing dementia. They will also explore approaches they have developed for positive aging and be open to questions and discussion from the participants.
Shamanism & Psychotherapy with Stanley Krippner, Leslie Gray: Stanley Krippner will review psychology’s and psychiatry’s interpretation of shamanic experience over the decades, ranging from the missionaries’ notion that they are “agents of the devil,” to the psychoanalytic stance that they are schizophrenics, to the later and somewhat more benign notion that they are “wounded healers.” Leslie Gray will respond from her perspective as both an indigenous healer and a clinical psychologist, providing theoretical insights and illustrative case studies from her years of “blended practice.”
Anomalous Experiences in Psychotherapy & Spiritual Life, David Lukoff & Shelley Scammell: Anomalous experiences include a variety of unusual experiences which appear to challenge our understanding of the world. Psychic experiences, mystical experiences, near death experiences, alien encounters, lucid dreaming, past-life, and psychedelic drug experiences can all be a focus in therapy and also occur during a person’s spiritual practice. Th is clinically focused discussion addresses approaches to anomalous experiences in therapy and as part of the spiritual journey
Taking in the Good, Phillip Moffitt & Rick Hanson: Taking in the good—so that positive experiences, ideas and people become a part of yourself is central to psychological and spiritual growth. These resources inside help you cope, feel happy, heal from trauma and cultivate spiritually wholesome qualities. Phillip and Rick will explore methods for taking in the good from Eastern religions and Western psychology. They will also discuss ideas from the new neuroscience about ways to change your brain to liberate your mind. :: Download MP3 (part 1) :: Download MP3 (part 2) :: View PDF
How Poetry Can Change Your Mind
Joan Fenold, Roger Housden
Good poetry awakens, challenges, moves and nourishes us. It is soul food, and because it has the power to mirror the truth of our own experience, it can be a catalyst for fresh perspectives on our life and its themes. We will explore how psychotherapists and other healing professionals can utilize the transforming power of beauty and creativity as expressed in poetry. :: (Audio Not Availalbe) :: View PDF
The Dark Night of the Soul: Psychological & Spiritual Perspectives
Frances Vaughan, Bryan Wittine
In contemporary depth psychology, the term ‘dark night of the soul’ is sometimes used to describe periods that are central to the journey of individuation. During these periods old ego-identifications
break down and old values no longer hold true. This presentation focuses on how therapists can honor these periods as an opening of our client’s deepest longings so they might come to appreciate life’s greater meanings and find a more fulfilling relationship with Mystery. :: (Audio Not Availalbe) :: Download MP3 9 (part 1) :: Download MP3 (part 2):: View PDF
EMDR as a Transpersonal Psychotherapy
Laurel Parnell
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a powerful and effective psychotherapeutic method for healing trauma-based problems. In this presentation, information on EMDR’s history and development, as well as theories about how it works and the EMDR procedure are presented. EMDR is an integrative psychotherapy that seems to work by clearing cognitive, emotional and physical blockages in the body-mind. Download MP3 :: View PDF
Welcoming Soldiers Home: Psycho-Spiritual Approaches for Healing Our Wounded Warriors
Joe Bobrow, Richard Miller
Join Joe Bobrow (The Coming Home Project - CHP) and Richard Miller (Integrative
Restoration - iRest) for an evening of inspirational and spirited dialogue regarding
their ongoing work with soldiers returning from the war fronts of Iraq and Afghanistan,
and their families and health care workers. CHP and iRest integrate principles
drawn from Buddhism, Yoga and psychotherapy. View PDF
Forgiveness: Prescription for Health and Happiness
Dr. Fred Luskin
The HEAL process of forgiveness involves letting go of hurt, helplessness and anger, which increases confidence, hope and happiness. Individuals can learn how to release unwanted hurts and grudges, and thereby open themselves to happiness, peace and love. This approach can be used by therapists and health care professionals and leads to enhanced well-being through self-care. Download MP3 1 :: Download MP3 2
