Main description:

This user-friendly guide to the basics of Buddhist psychology presents a roadmap specifically designed for cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) practitioners. It explains central Buddhist concepts and how they can be applied to clinical work, and features numerous experiential exercises and meditations. Downloadable audio recordings of the guided meditations are provided at the companion website. Essential topics include the relationship between suffering and psychopathology, the role of compassion in understanding and treating psychological problems, and how mindfulness fits into evidence-based psychotherapy practice. The book describes an innovative case conceptualization method, grounded in Buddhist thinking, that facilitates the targeted delivery of specific CBT interventions.

Contents:

Foreword, Robert L. Leahy
1. Introduction to the Functional Relationship between Buddhist Psychology and CBT
2. The Foundational Elements of Buddhist Psychology
3. The Middle Path and Adaptive Conduct
4. The Middle Path, Mental Discipline, and Wisdom
5. Mindfulness as a Foundation in Buddhist Psychology and CBT
6. Mindfulness as a Context for the Cultivation of Compassion
7. Cultivating the Compassionate Mind in Buddhist Psychology and CBT
8. Behavioral Bodhisattvas: Systematic Compassion Interventions
9. Deeper into the Middle Path Evidence Base
10. The Question of Enlightenment and Case Formulation
Appendix. Foundational Elements of Buddhist Psychology