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The Courage to Be Present

Ancient wisdom from Buddhism for today's therapists and clients.

Creativity
The Challenge of the Bardo in Everyday Life

Karen Kissel Wegela Ph.D. on April 2, 2016

When we are willing to be in the bardo, we may tap into our natural wisdom, our brilliant sanity. Our clarity and creativity have a chance to come into play.

When we are willing to be in the bardo, we may tap into our natural wisdom, our brilliant sanity. Our clarity and creativity have a chance to come into play.

Meditation
Mindfulness in Motion

Karen Kissel Wegela Ph.D. on June 10, 2012

By including walking in our meditation practice, we prepare to bring the fruit of our mindfulness practice into the rest of our lives.

By including walking in our meditation practice, we prepare to bring the fruit of our mindfulness practice into the rest of our lives.

Anxiety
Working Mindfully with Anxiety

Karen Kissel Wegela Ph.D. on July 15, 2010

A Buddhist-based mindfulness approach to working with anxiety suggests a couple of things. First, of course, if there's an easy way to relieve one's anxiety-a way that doesn't involve masking it or just distracting oneself-that should be used. The second approach is to work with anxiety by bringing mindfulness to our actual experience. For most of us, this feels counter-intuitive. We want to get rid of our anxiety, not get to know it better!

A Buddhist-based mindfulness approach to working with anxiety suggests a couple of things. First, of course, if there's an easy way to relieve one's anxiety-a way that doesn't involve masking it or just distracting oneself-that should be used. The second approach is to work with anxiety by bringing mindfulness to our actual experience. For most of us, this feels counter-intuitive. We want to get rid of our anxiety, not get to know it better!

Mindfulness
Practicing Mindfulness Without Meditating

Karen Kissel Wegela Ph.D. on February 18, 2010

As a Contemplative Psychotherapist, one who bases my psychotherapy practice on the Buddhist understanding of mind, I am especially interested in helping my clients to develop mindfulness. While the most direct way to cultivate mindfulness is the sitting practice of mindfulness-awareness meditation, not everyone is ready for, or interested in, doing that.

As a Contemplative Psychotherapist, one who bases my psychotherapy practice on the Buddhist understanding of mind, I am especially interested in helping my clients to develop mindfulness. While the most direct way to cultivate mindfulness is the sitting practice of mindfulness-awareness meditation, not everyone is ready for, or interested in, doing that.

Mindfulness
Should Therapists Teach their Clients to Meditate?

Karen Kissel Wegela Ph.D. on January 31, 2010

The question of whether therapists should teach their clients how to meditate is not as simple as it might seem. On the one hand, of course we'd like to share this powerful and practical technique with others who are suffering, but on the other hand lies the question of the appropriateness of therapists serving as meditation instructors to their clients.

The question of whether therapists should teach their clients how to meditate is not as simple as it might seem. On the one hand, of course we'd like to share this powerful and practical technique with others who are suffering, but on the other hand lies the question of the appropriateness of therapists serving as meditation instructors to their clients.

Mindfulness
A Gradual Path to Discovering Our Brilliant Sanity

Karen Kissel Wegela Ph.D. on January 9, 2010

The first three Noble Truths taught by the Buddha parallel the ancient Indian medical model of diagnosis, etiology, and prognosis. With the fourth Noble Truth, the last one, we come at last to the treatment.  What did the Buddha prescribe?

The first three Noble Truths taught by the Buddha parallel the ancient Indian medical model of diagnosis, etiology, and prognosis. With the fourth Noble Truth, the last one, we come at last to the treatment.  What did the Buddha prescribe?