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 :: Winter 2009
Mindful Motherhood
Pregnancy and the postpartum period are times of enormous transition for women. Up to eighteen percent of new mothers experience some form of perinatal mood disorders, and many more experience subclinical levels of mood disturbance, high levels of stress, and adjustment issues. Becoming a mother, or adding to one's family, also affords opportunities for transformation and adult development that are underappreciated. Mindfulness is a practice that can reduce stress during pregnancy, and may have beneficial effects on childbirth outcomes and mother-infant attachment postpartum, whether difficulties with mood are present or not. In this presentation, Dr. Vieten will talk about the Mindful Motherhood program, developed at California Pacific Medical Center, and her new book, Mindful Motherhood: Practical Tools for Staying Sane During Pregnancy and Your Baby's First Year (New Harbinger/Noetic Books, May 2009). She and Dr. Shapiro will also discuss the potentials of practicing mindful awareness for conscious parenting beyond pregnancy and infancy, throughout childhood.
Cassandra Vieten, PhD is a licensed clinical psychologist, Associate Scientist at the Mind-Body Medicine Research Group at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco, is Associate Director of Research at the Institute of Noetic Sciences, and is co-president of the Institute for Spirituality and Psychology. She is also mom to a spunky seven year old. In addition to Mindful Motherhood, she was co-author of Living Deeply: The Art and Science of Transformation in Everyday Life (New Harbinger/Noetic Books, January 2008).
Shauna L. Shapiro, PhD is an assistant professor of counseling psychology at Santa Clara University. Dr. Shapiro’s research focuses on mindfulness meditation and its applications for psychotherapy, health, education and parenting. She began her study of meditation in Thailand and Nepal and continued in the West with meditation scholars and teachers Jack Kornfield, Sylvia Boorstien, Roger Walsh, Alan Wallace, and Shinzen Young. She further trained in mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) at the University of Massachusetts with Jon Kabat-Zinn and colleagues, and in mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) with Zindel Segal, John Teasdale, and Mark Williams. Dr. Shapiro has conducted numerous clinical research studies exploring the effects of mindfulness-based therapies across a wide range of populations. She has published over 50 journal articles and book chapters, and presented her work nationally and internationally. Dr. Shapiro recently co-authored, The Art and Science of Mindfulness with Dr. Linda Carlson, which will be published by American Psychology Books in June 2009. Download MP3
Spiritual Teachers and Psychotherapists Integrating Psychological and Spiritual Counseling: Insights, Issues, Boundaries, and Collaborations (March 24, 2009)
How do spiritual teachers work with “psychological” material when it appears on retreats or in spiritual counseling relationships? How do they use more psychological perspectives and methods and integrate them with, for example, Buddhist perspectives and tools? Similarly, we can ask how psychotherapists work with “spiritual” material, perspectives, and methods. What kinds of issues arise and what boundaries, if any, make sense? Richard, as a long-time therapist and spiritual practitioner, and Donald, as a Spirit Rock teacher with psychological training, will offer reflections drawing from their own practical experience and then engage in dialogue with each other, followed by discussion with the audience.
Donald Rothberg, PhD, a member of the Spirit Rock Teachers Council and the Executive Faculty at Saybrook Graduate School in San Francisco, writes and teaches on meditation, daily life practice, transpersonal psychology, and socially engaged Buddhism. He completed the two-year Hakomi Institute Comprehensive Training in body-based psychotherapy, and is working on a book on “transforming the judgmental mind.” Donald is the co-editor (with Sean Kelly) of Ken Wilber in Dialogue: Conversations with Leading Transpersonal Thinkers and the author of The Engaged Spiritual Life: A Buddhist Approach to Transforming Ourselves and the World.
Richard Heckler, PhD, has trained psychotherapists for the past 30 years throughout the U.S., in both somatic and contemplative approaches to psychotherapy. Founder of the Hakomi Institute of San Francisco, a training institute for therapists and allied health practitioners, Richard is also a graduate professor of Counseling Psychology, Holistic Studies program, at John F. Kennedy University. Richard is author of the critically acclaimed, Waking Up Alive, a nationwide study of the recovery from suicidality, and Crossings, an exploration of the psychology of the unexpected. A semi-professional photographer who specializes in images of pilgrimage, mostly in Asia, Richard is a graduate of Spirit Rock’s Community Dharma Leaders program. Download MP3
Spiritual Teachers and Psychotherapists Integrating Psychological and Spiritual Counseling: Insights, Issues, Boundaries, and Collaborations
How do spiritual teachers work with “psychological” material when it appears on retreats or in spiritual counseling relationships? How do they use more psychological perspectives and methods and integrate them with, for example, Buddhist perspectives and tools? Similarly, we can ask how psychotherapists work with “spiritual” material, perspectives, and methods. What kinds of issues arise and what boundaries, if any, make sense? Richard, as a long-time therapist and spiritual practitioner, and Donald, as a Spirit Rock teacher with psychological training, will offer reflections drawing from their own practical experience and then engage in dialogue with each other, followed by discussion with the audience.
Donald Rothberg, PhD, a member of the Spirit Rock Teachers Council and the Executive Faculty at Saybrook Graduate School in San Francisco, writes and teaches on meditation, daily life practice, transpersonal psychology, and socially engaged Buddhism. He completed the two-year Hakomi Institute Comprehensive Training in body-based psychotherapy, and is working on a book on “transforming the judgmental mind.” Donald is the co-editor (with Sean Kelly) of Ken Wilber in Dialogue: Conversations with Leading Transpersonal Thinkers and the author of The Engaged Spiritual Life: A Buddhist Approach to Transforming Ourselves and the World.
Richard Heckler, PhD, has trained psychotherapists for the past 30 years throughout the U.S., in both somatic and contemplative approaches to psychotherapy. Founder of the Hakomi Institute of San Francisco, a training institute for therapists and allied health practitioners, Richard is also a graduate professor of Counseling Psychology, Holistic Studies program, at John F. Kennedy University. Richard is author of the critically acclaimed, Waking Up Alive, a nationwide study of the recovery from suicidality, and Crossings, an exploration of the psychology of the unexpected. A semi-professional photographer who specializes in images of pilgrimage, mostly in Asia, Richard is a graduate of Spirit Rock’s Community Dharma Leaders program. Download MP3
Wisdom Therapy: Reducing Anxiety and Anger
The wisdom we gain throughout our life includes communication and social skills, Humility, empathy and compassion for others, emotional intelligence, specific thought patterns, mindfulness, a practice of appreciation and gratitude for the things we take for granted like being able to walk or see, and a sense of awe, respect, and perspective for the big picture and nature. Skills in all of these areas can be gained through several months of practice. Wisdom Therapy aims to provide that practice. Among the key components of Wisdom Therapy are Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness Meditation, and the active cultivation of Humility Decades of research has shown that each of these alone has remarkable benefits for relieving suffering and conflict.
Shani Robins, PhD is a licensed psychologist and an Assistant Professor at the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology & President of the Wisdom Therapy Institute, www.wisdomtherapy.com. Download MP3
Integral Awakening Process and Soulcentric Developmental Wheel
The Integral Awakening Process is a simple facilitated group process that anybody can use to experience a taste of living as a whole human being. It includes the best of western therapy and eastern meditation practices, including: Voice Dialogue (Hal and Sidra Stone), meditation (Soto Zen and Ramana’s “Who Am I Inquiry”), Soulwork (Bill Plotkin) and adaptations of the Big Mind Process (Genpo Roshi) and Self-Inquiry (Byron Katie.) The Integral Awakening Process allows beginners to experience a taste of: physical embodiment, nature communion, ego integration, soul embodiment, and spiritual transcendence.
Jonathan Gustin, MA, MFT, teaches twin paths in spirituality: the path of transcendence, where we go beyond the boundaries of our everyday personalities to experience non-separation from all of life, and the path of descendence, a burrowing down into our depths where we encounter soul, the essence of our specific life purpose. Jonathan is the founder of Green Sangha and San Francisco Integral Life Practice, where he teaches meditation and integral spirituality. He is a psychotherapist and integral mentor in private practice in San Francisco and San Rafael. www.jonathangustin.com John Gustin has authored a book on this topic that is being published winter 2009. :: Download MP3 9 (part 1) :: Download MP3 (part 2)
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. :: 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
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.
Download MP3 (part 1) :: Download MP3 (part 2) :: View PDF
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
Download MP3 (part 1) :: Download MP3 (part 2) :: View PDF
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
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.
Download MP3 (part 1) :: Download MP3 (part 2) :: View PDF
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.
Download MP3 (Part 1) :: Download MP3 (Part 2) :: View PDF
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.
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.
