Meditation and Therapeutic Resistance

I have been a mediation practioner for the past 11 years, 5 of which I spent in a Zen Buddhist Monastary, studying Tai Chi Chuan, Martial Arts, and Zen mediation. Those 5 years had a profound impact on my life. I vowed I would find a way to integrate this experience into my life's work. I went on to get my graduate degree at The Naropa Institute in Contemplative Psychotherapy: A program that uniquely integrates Buddhist Philosophy and practice with Western Psychotherapy.

An interesting difference between my orientation in meditation and psychotherapy, and the viewpoints presented in the dialogue of this forum is - I would not view meditation as a technique or tool to be used on the client, but rather a tool of training to help the therapist stay open to the process of the client.

Some concerns I would have in introducing the practice of meditation to my clients would be - resistance. I find the practice of meditation to be a valuable and profound path to Self realization, and therefore, I believe it is one that must be taken up with a deep personal conviction. To have meditation prescribed, assigned, or instructed by the therapist leaves the practice vulnerable to therapeutic resistances. Resistance is inherent in both- psychotherapy and the discipline of meditation- to marry the the two together without such considerations would seem less than helpful to the client.

I would like very much to hear Dr. Spira's views on how resistance is addressed when introducing meditation instruction to his clients.

I also would like information on the Cape Cod forum.

• Meditation and Therapeutic Resistance by Gary Van Arman, 6/27/98
• Meditation and Therapeutic Resistance by Andrew Stone, 7/6/98
• Where lies the resistance? by Jim Spira, 7/19/98