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Using Meditative Techniques in Psychotherapy

Gary F. Kelly

Journal of Humanistic Psychology July 1, 1996 DOI: 10.1177/00221678960363004 (opens in new tab)

Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed
Citations 12
Key points Proposes a sequential, nonreligious meditative model for psychotherapy that addresses relaxation, self-awareness, inner control mechanisms, emotional felt senses, and intuition, aiming to bridge spiritual and pragmatic concerns and enhance therapy for practitioners and clients.

Abstract

Although research evidence exists concerning the efficacy of meditation in psychotherapeutic settings, therapists and counselors are often unfamiliar with meditative techniques and their usefulness. Those in professional fields frequently lack ways of bridging the gap between what may represent the spiritual domain of life and the more pragmatic concerns typically presented by clients. This article presents a model that employs meditative approaches to enhance the therapy process for practitioners as well as their clients. The model is designed to provide a sequential approach to dealing with relaxation, self-awareness, inner control mechanisms, emotional felt senses, and intuition, within a nonreligious context. It is applicable to holistic and experiential perspectives on the process of psychotherapy.