Wisdom & Compassion in to define Psychotherapy [but] I know - - PDF document

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Wisdom & Compassion in Psychotherapy

Deepening Mindfulness in Clinical Practice

Ronald D. Siegel, Psy.D.

“Hard core pornography is hard to define” [but] “I know it when I see it.”

• - Justice Potter Stewart (1964)

“If we are doomed to die —let us spend.”

• - Mesopotamia (3000 BCE)

“Be not puffed up with thy knowledge, and be not proud because thou are wise.”

• - Egypt (2000 BCE)

“The narrow intelligence flashing from the keen eye of a clever rogue” is not wisdom.

• - Socrates (400 BCE)

A 15 year old girl wants to get married right away. What should she do?

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Monika Ardelt

“A fool can learn to say all the things a wise man says, and to say them

• n the same occasions, but this

isn’t real wisdom.”

• -John Kekes

Buddhist Psychology

• Compilation of insights derived largely

from mindfulness practice

• Not a religion in Western sense, but the

results of a 2500 year old tradition of introspection

Three Marks of Existence

• Anicca

(impermanence)

• Dukkha

(unsatisfactoriness)

• Anatta (no enduring,

separate self)

Mindfulness How Mindfulness Fosters Wisdom I

• Stepping Out Of the Thought Stream
• Being With Discomfort
• Disengaging From Automatic

Responses

How Mindfulness Fosters Wisdom II

• Transpersonal Insight
• Seeing How the Mind Creates Suffering
• Embracing Opposites
• Developing Compassion

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Therapeutic Progress

”mine” about me Not about me about me ”mine” about me Not about me

• - Adapted from Engler & Fulton

Not Knowing Beginner’s Mind Compassion in Psychotherapy Compassion

• Latin: pati; Greek: pathein (“to suffer”)
• Latin: com (“with”)
• Compassion means to “suffer with”

another person.

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Compassion’s Relatives

• Empathy
• Sympathy
• Love
• Pity
• Altruism

Affect Regulation Systems .

Seeking pleasure Achieving and Activating Affiliative Soothing/safety Well-being Threat-focused Protection & Safety Seeking Activating/Inhibiting

Anger, anxiety, disgust Drive, excitement, vitality Contentment, safety, connection

How Mindfulness Develops Compassion

• Compassion for ourselves arises as we
• pen to our own suffering
• Compassion for others arises as we see

that everyone else also suffers

• Compassion arises naturally as we see
• ur interconnectedness

Lovingkindness Practice

• “Metta” practices
• May I be happy,

peaceful, free from suffering

• May my loved
• nes be happy. . .
• May all beings be
• happy. . .

Research on LKM

• Builds positive emotions and resources
• Increases feelings of social connectedness.
• Changes the brain, which correlates with

empathy and generosity.

• Shifts away from fault-finding, self and other
• Reduces back pain.

Equanimity Phrases

• Everyone is on his or her own life

journey.

• I am not the cause of my patient’s

suffering, nor is it entirely within my power to alleviate it.

• Though moments like this are difficult to

bear, I may still try to help to the extent that I can.

5 Condon, Desbordes, & Miller (2013)

Paradoxical Responses

• Universality of ambivalence
• Highlight one pole, energize the
• ther
• Negative emotions may arise
• Cynicism, anger, sadism
• Practice saying “Yes” to

these

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Developing Self-Compassion When Things Go Wrong

Unholy trinity of

• Self-criticism
• Self-isolation
• Self-absorption

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An Antidote: Self-compassion

• Self-Kindness
• Common Humanity
• Mindfulness

Neff, K. D. (2003). Self-compassion: An alternative conceptualization of a healthy attitude toward oneself. Self and Identity, 2, 85-102.

Self-Compassionate Letter

• Describe something that makes you feel

badly about yourself

• Think of loving, accepting, imaginary

friend

• Write a letter to yourself from your

friend’s perspective

• --Kristin Neff

Greeting Exercise

• Begin with breath
• Visualize the person you’re about to

meet, suffering human being, once a child, has hopes and dreams, vulnerable and afraid, believing you can help

• Now say “hello.”

Research On Self-compassion

• Predicts psychological well-being
• Different construct than self-esteem
• Unrelated to narcissism
• Adaptive response to academic failure
• Alleviates shame and self-criticism
• Helps to avoid unhealthy food

First Noble Truth to the Rescue

The Story of the Mustard Seed

For meditations & other resources: www.mindfulness-solution.com email: rsiegel@hms.harvard.edu