Mindfulness meditation and psychotherapy have many points of conversion and overlap. Both have the ability to heal and help people increase their sense of wellness and wellbeing.
But is mindfulness a stand-alone therapy in itself? And can psychotherapy benefit from using mindfulness and incorporating meditation skills into clinical work with clients?
These are some of the questions we recently asked of Sydney Zen Buddhist and Insight Meditation teacher Subhana Barzaghi.
As a somatic psychotherapist who has been cultivating a meditation practice since the age of 20, she has a wealth of experience and knowledge about both areas of practice.
In this interview, Subhana shares:
- How she came to be interested in meditation and mindfulness
- How a mindfulness approach can help your work as a psychotherapist
- Whether mindfulness can be considered a stand-alone therapeutic approach
- The overlap between mindfulness and psychotherapy
- How therapists can incorporate mindfulness into their clinical work
- The value of therapists incorporating mindfulness and meditation as a part of their practice
- Whether you need to teach your clients to meditate
- The benefits of our clients learning mindfulness as a life skill
- Where she sees psychotherapy and mindfulness going in the future development of our field
Click below to watch the video or listen to the podcast audio using the player at the top of this page.
About Subhana:
Subhana Barzaghi is a Zen Buddhist & Insight Meditation teacher. She is the resident teacher and Spiritual Director of the Sydney Zen Centre and founder of Blue Gum Sangha Sydney and the Kuan Yin Meditation Centre in Lismore. Subhana teaches regular intensive Zen meditation and Insight Meditation retreats throughout Australia, New Zealand and India. Subhana has been a psychotherapist for 20 years and has a private therapy practice in Sydney. She hasa B.A.Soc.Sci, and a Masters Degree in Applied Psychotherapy. She is also a graduate of Hakomi Integrative Psychotherapy. Subhana leads a range of workshops on a range of topics including death and dying, Jungian dream work, Zen and the Arts, Stress management for health practitioners and workshops on the four divine qualities of heart and mind, – loving-kindness, compassion, equanimity and sympathetic joy. Visit her website www.subhana.com.au for more information.
Listen to the audio with the player at the top of this post, or listen on SoundCloud, Stitcher Radio, or subscribe in iTunes.
Resources mentioned by Subhana in the interview:
Australian Association of Buddhist Counsellors and Psyhotherapists
Flyer for Buddhism and Psychotherapy training in Sydney
Dharma.org.au: An Australian Insight Meditation Network
photo credit: AlicePopkorn
