Journal of Meditation based Psychological Counseling
April 30, 2026
Gwiyeon Jeong
A meta-analysis of 138 studies with 6,366 participants found that Buddhist meditation intervention programs have a small-to-medium positive effect on psychological health (overall effect size g = .250). MBSR/MBCT programs showed the largest effect (g = .766), followed by other mindfulness-based programs (g = .716) and yoga meditation (g = .726). Compassion meditation and counseling-therapy meditation did not reach statistical significance. Effects were most pronounced among children (g = 3.364) and adults (g = 1.360), and long-term programs exceeding 12 sessions showed the largest significant effect (g = .776). The programs enhanced self-compassion, mindfulness, life satisfaction, and problem-solving, while reducing depression, perceived stress, anxiety, and emotion dysregulation.
Journal of Meditation based Psychological Counseling
April 30, 2026
J. Kim
A guided imagery meditation program that combines generative AI with Seon Master Daehaeng's Hanmaum Ogong philosophy helped six middle-aged women experiencing existential anxiety and relational disconnection. Over eight sessions, participants showed that AI helped visualize and objectify unconscious content, their self-perception shifted toward autonomy reflecting the values of Gongsaeng and Gongche, and their relational patterns were reconfigured through intersubjective receptivity based on Gongsim and Gongyong. The circulation of life energy, rooted in existential connectivity and practical will, pointed toward holistic subjectivity by internalizing Gongche and Gongsik. The work suggests that blending traditional philosophy with AI offers a modern counseling and meditation framework.
Journal of Meditation based Psychological Counseling
April 30, 2026
Kangsuk Shon
Meditation practiced as part of daily life produces subjective experiences of rest, relaxation, mental stability, peace, and inner self-encounter, and is viewed as training and process. Practitioners report improved emotional recognition, regulation, growth through reflection, better interpersonal emotion regulation, reduced negative emotions, and increased positive emotions. Changes in coping include increased self-reflection, more deliberate actions, gentler interpersonal attitudes, greater consideration in family relationships, new ways of responding to conflict, and more relaxed actions. The findings suggest meditation is a sustainable daily practice, not limited to specific spaces or times.
Journal of Meditation based Psychological Counseling
August 31, 2025
Kim Seonhwa
Reading Buddhist scriptures, particularly the Lotus Sutra, can function as both a contemplative practice and a form of psychological healing. The literary devices in these texts—metaphors, symbols, poetic language, and narrative structures—arouse emotions, foster self-reflection, and provide existential insight. This process parallels mindfulness practice by helping readers focus on the present moment and accept internal emotions, thereby promoting mental and physical well-being. Scriptural reading combines concentrative and insight meditation, facilitating emotional healing, self-regulation, and compassion. The paper proposes that scriptural reading could be a meaningful contemplative practice in education, counseling, and personal development, though empirical validation is needed.
Journal of Meditation based Psychological Counseling
April 30, 2025
Joonhee Kim
Comparing Buddhist sati (mindfulness) with Aristotelian catharsis reveals complementary paths for emotional healing. Sati involves observing negative emotions without suppression, deepening positive states like joy and equanimity. Catharsis purifies emotions through art (tragedy, music), restoring reason and moral judgment. Both combine direct emotional experience with cognitive contemplation, contributing to psychological liberation and maturity. The integrated approach suggests applications in psychotherapy, education, and social communication.
Journal of Meditation based Psychological Counseling
April 30, 2026
Dae Yong Ha
The Cūḷasuññata Sutta (MN 121) presents a formula—'there is only this measure of agitation'—across nine stages of perceptual transition. Analysis of this formula reveals three dimensions of daratha (agitation): perceptual, where previous agitation becomes transparent while new agitation remains; ontological, where agitation tied to body and life conditions emerges after perceptual agitation ceases; and dissolution of the formula itself through insight into conditioned phenomena. Correlating this structure with clinical cases and the taxonomy of challenging meditation experiences suggests that the Sutta frames agitation not as something to be eliminated but as an object to be discerned. Meditation adverse effects are thus reframed as structural residual agitation accompanying the transition toward emptiness, and ethical foundations are argued to be a structural prerequisite for stable observation.
Journal of Meditation based Psychological Counseling
April 30, 2026
Minseo Song
Through narrative inquiry with three middle-aged participants who completed ten sessions of RHS meditation-based psychological counseling, the study describes a progression in self-awareness: participants moved from emotional avoidance to emotional awareness and eventually to observing experiences as they are. Within the counseling relationship, participants felt safety and relaxation and expanded their awareness. The presence of a guide, a safe space, and extending mindfulness into daily life were also important. Participants came to understand their emotions and experiences in new ways and reconstructed their relationship with their authentic selves. The study does not verify effectiveness but focuses on understanding the meaning of change as revealed through participants' experiences.
Journal of Meditation based Psychological Counseling
December 31, 2025
Jeong Gwiyeon
A keyword network analysis of 1,442 meditation intervention studies published in Korean journals between 2016 and 2025 revealed 'Mindfulness' as the dominant core concept. Mental health keywords such as 'Depression,' 'Stress,' and 'Anxiety' were key application areas. The analysis showed a three-stage paradigm shift: from a traditional theory focus before COVID-19, to a clinical application transition during the pandemic (with surges in centrality of depression and stress), and finally to an integrated development phase after COVID-19 that balanced traditional theory with modern psychological mechanisms, as seen in the re-emergence of 'Vipassana' and consolidation of 'Self-Compassion'. The findings suggest meditation intervention research is maturing into an integrated structure responsive to external shocks.
Journal of Meditation based Psychological Counseling
December 31, 2025
Hyunjin Kim
A Compassion Toward Others meditation program increased empathy, compassion, and helping behavior in middle-aged adults. After the program, the experimental group showed significant increases in empathic arousal, emotional empathy, compassion toward acquaintances and strangers, and overall compassion toward others compared to before participation. The post-test mean score for compassion toward acquaintances was significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group, and helping behavior also significantly increased. The study empirically demonstrated the effectiveness of a Buddhist-based meditation intervention for enhancing these qualities in middle-aged adults.
Journal of Meditation based Psychological Counseling
December 31, 2025
Poongryun Chung
A single-case study of a middle-aged woman with childhood emotional deprivation, sexual trauma, bereavement, and chronic conflict with her mother-in-law found that six sessions of emotion-focused Reflected Image Meditation (RIM) reduced depressive symptoms by 48.6% on the Burns Depression Checklist and stress-related symptoms by 31.8% on the Stress Response Inventory. Qualitative analysis of transcripts, drawings, and process notes revealed a progressive emotional shift “from suppression to integration” as the client encountered inner figures representing unmet needs and shame. The authors propose that emotion-focused RIM facilitates the release of suppressed emotions, self-compassion, and emotional integration in middle-aged women with chronic depressive affect.
Journal of Meditation based Psychological Counseling
December 31, 2025
Jihyeon Cho
A breathing meditation program increased early childhood teachers' job satisfaction, including sub-factors of relationships with co-teachers, compensation and benefits, and social recognition, as well as overall satisfaction. The program also raised post-test mindfulness scores compared to pre-test scores, but this increase was not statistically significant.
Journal of Meditation based Psychological Counseling
August 31, 2025
Yuri Jang
A middle-aged man with depressive affect described feeling 'trapped' and 'like he was wearing a straitjacket,' with ruminative thoughts and suppressed emotions that manifested as psychosomatic symptoms. His depression stemmed from childhood loneliness and abandonment anxiety. After an 8-session Reflective Image Meditation (RIM) counseling program, his BDI score dropped from 20 (severe depression) to 6 (normal range). Qualitative improvements included overcoming helplessness, recognizing his right to be protected, and practicing daily meditation. The case suggests RIM may help middle-aged men with depressive affect by enabling them to safely confront repressed emotions and develop self-empathy.
Journal of Meditation based Psychological Counseling
April 30, 2025
Eunju Lee
Reflected Image Meditation (RIM) therapy reduced scores on tests of early maladaptive schemas and dysfunctional beliefs, particularly the distrust/abuse schema. Participants reported emotional relief, freedom from irrational beliefs, and resolution of unresolved issues. They also gained insight into how childhood experiences of mistrust/abuse shaped their current personality and family conflicts, enabling them to plan new behaviors. The authors argue that RIM shows healing effects on the distrust/abuse schema but note that further research is needed to distinguish RIM's spiritual growth component from the imagery work of standard schema therapy.
Journal of Meditation based Psychological Counseling
April 30, 2025
Seongryong Kim
Participation in a pilgrimage meditation program centered on the holy sites of Great Master Hui Neng of China was associated with increases in self-compassion (specifically universal humanity and mindfulness subscales), spiritual well-being, and quality of life. No statistically significant change was observed in mindfulness subfactors or the overall mindfulness scale. The findings suggest that pilgrimage meditation may benefit individual psychological well-being and offer a basis for psychological interventions using this practice.
Journal of Meditation based Psychological Counseling
April 30, 2025
Kum-Soon Lim
Interviews with 18 middle-aged women who practiced body feeling observation meditation revealed their perceptions of aging, coping strategies, and changes experienced through the meditation. The analysis identified categories in each area: seven categories on aging perception, six on coping responses, eight on changes from meditation, and ten on plans for successful aging. The authors conclude that body sensation meditation may support successful aging in middle-aged women.
Journal of Meditation based Psychological Counseling
December 31, 2024
Bomi Lee
Reflected Image Meditation may help adolescents develop emotional insight, self-awareness, and emotional regulation. In a small qualitative study, six graduate students in psychotherapy who practiced the meditation in a group setting reported four main themes from their experience: emotional insight and acceptance, self-awareness and readiness for change, emotional relaxation and stability, and challenges with emotion regulation. They also identified four potential benefits for adolescent counseling: increased self-awareness and willingness to confront emotions, better emotional regulation and coping, improved understanding of relationships and context, and the ability to explore and correct cognitive distortions. The authors suggest the meditation could be a useful new counseling approach.
Journal of Meditation based Psychological Counseling
December 31, 2024
Seyun Ahn
A mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) program increased mindfulness—particularly observing, non-reactivity, and describing—and reduced experiential avoidance, including procrastination and behavioral avoidance, in 35 college students. The program did not change perceived stress, depression, or trait anxiety levels.
Journal of Meditation based Psychological Counseling
December 31, 2024
Donguk Im
Among 58 foreign participants in a meditation program at Woljeongsa Temple, older participants and those with prior meditation experience scored higher on measures of mindfulness, self-compassion, gratitude disposition, and psychological well-being. Self-kindness (a component of self-compassion) differed depending on why participants joined the program. Whether participants had a religion or not did not relate to any of the measured traits. The results provide guidance for tailoring temple-based meditation programs for foreigners.
Journal of Meditation based Psychological Counseling
December 31, 2024
Hyunjin Kim
A self-compassion meditation program for middle-aged women improved mindfulness and self-kindness, two components of self-compassion, and increased positive affect, a component of life satisfaction. However, the program did not produce a statistically significant change in existential well-being. The findings indicate that Buddhist meditation practices adapted from temple settings can enhance certain aspects of psychological well-being in this population.
Journal of Meditation based Psychological Counseling
December 31, 2024
Y. Choi
Participants in the Sixth Patriarch Huineng pilgrimage meditation program reported eight categories and 38 subcategories of experiences, including their vows, experiences, and changes during the pilgrimage. The study analyzed written interviews with 85 participants using a modified consensual qualitative research method. The findings suggest that the pilgrimage meditation had a profound effect on participants, as evidenced by the range of experiences and transformations reported.