meditation and therapy

My therapist has incorporated meditation into how she practices (just my perception, not exactly what she has said).

She does not "teach" me meditation, although she has mentioned teaching other clients mindfulness for stress reduction or the like. For various reasons, I am wary of combining my spiritual practice and therapy... which is immensely silly... I should be seeing a different therapist, if I truly feel that way... so maybe I don't feel that way, maybe I am just moving a bit slowly, therapeutically.

What I find amazing about meditation and mindfulness is how uncovering of "self" they have been. I can "dig and dig" in session and never achieve the inner awareness and integration I get from "looking at the wall". :) Most of what comes up for me now, meditating, and which generally I can release and move on from, is traumatic childhood stuff (abuse and attachment deficits). What I find compelling is that I am aware, very much so, of that being very "superficial" stuff: please don't repeat that to anyone who's been abused and who is in a different place, I know it may sound very invalidating.

But for me, my essence, and awareness of interbeing, is somewhere beneath or away from all that superficiality. Meditation give me hope of reaching and dwelling within that (un) self, at least for moments, in moments.

If that makes sense...

I have had various therapists, of varying degress of competence. I wish ALL therapists were trained in, and practiced, mindfulness. It has so much to offer to the "therapeutic" process, the process of life... I love Carl Rogers and his insistence on authenticity and engagement with the client. Good ideas for human relationships in general... and meditation points the way, with it's openness to and awareness of self.

Replies:

Re:meditation and therapy, by Darrell Peter, 11/04/02 Re:meditation and therapy, by mandala, 11/10/02

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