Introduction to Buddhist Psychotherapy Foundations

Ended Feb 25, 2022
20 credits

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Course Description

Interest in mindfulness and use of meditation in psychotherapy has steadily increased over the past few decades. Research on mindfulness and meditation has proven it to be efficacious in treatment of a variety of illnesses ranging from cancer to stress. The theoretical basis from which mindfulness and meditation were derived have been either largely misunderstood or ignored. These series provide exposure and knowledge of early Buddhism and its theory of mind, which is the theoretical bases of mindfulness and many of the 3rd waive treatment interventions. Understanding the theoretical bases of mindfulness increases the range of useful techniques derived from Buddhism for psychotherapy.

Participants will gain an understanding of theory of mind in early Buddhist teachings, be introduced to early Buddhist meditation practice and use many of early Buddhist practice techniques in psychotherapy. Method for each unit will start with a sutta from the Nikāya, followed by detailed exploration of the meaning of the sutta from the stance of Early Buddhism, and conclude with exploration of various applications to psychotherapy.

Course Dates:

Sessions #1 and #2 February 26, 2022 8:30 am – 12:30 pm PT
Sessions #3 and #4 March 12, 2022 8:30 am – 12:30 pm PT
Sessions #5 and #6 March 26, 2022 8:30 am – 12:30 pm PT
Sessions #7 and #8 April 9, 2022 8:30 am – 12:30 pm PT
Sessions #9 and #10 April 23, 2022 8:30 am – 12:30 pm PT

Content for each of the 10 workshops

#1: History and philosophical context of Buddhism

#2: Pali Nikāyas and the three marks of existence: impermanence/anicca, suffering/dukka and not-self/anattā

#3: dependent arising and impermanence/anicca

#4: suffering/dukkha, the First Noble Truth

#5: definition of person = nāmarūpa + consciousness

#6: construction of notion of self by way of the aggregates

#7: construction of self: 5 aggregates subject to clinging

#8: Meditation as directed in the Satipatthana sutta: deconstruction of the self

#9: Mind state – the 5 hinderances

#10: Kamma

Course Instructor

Presenter’s Biography: Dr. Liang Tien Liang.Tien@alliant.edu

Dr. Tien holds a Psy.D. from the University of Denver, a M.A. in Buddhist Studies from the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, and is a Ph.D. candidate in Buddhist Studies. She was a founding faculty at Antioch University Seattle’s Psy.D. program and the program director and core faculty of the Psy.D. program at the California School of Professional Psychology, Alliant International University, in Hong Kong. She is an independent practitioner, currently practicing in Seattle, WA. Dr. Tien has published and presented in the area of multicultural counseling, as well as conducted workshops on ethics. She served on the Washington State Psychological Association’s Ethics Committee as a member for seven years and as Chair of the committee for three years, on their Ethics Hot Line for five years, and as a member of the Washington State Examining Board of Psychology for two years.

Course Date:

Feb 26 - April 23, 2022

Registration:

Enrollment will end on February 11, 2022.

Course Type:

Synchronous Zoom Workshops