De Silva, Padmal See all items with this value

2000

1

169-182

1530-4108 See all items with this value

This paper discusses an aspect of Buddhism that has clear relevance to present-day psychotherapy. The focus is on Early, or Theravada, Buddhism. Buddhism stresses self-development, and offers many strategies for achieving changes in behaviour and emotional reactions. These strategies have relevance to psychotherapy, where the remediation of disordered or maladaptive behaviour/emotions is one of the primary aims. It is argued that these Buddhist strategies represent a therapeutic model which treats the person as his/her agent of change, rather than as the recipient of externally imposed interventions. This Buddhist approach can make a valuable contribution to the development of a humanistic psychotherapy. It is also argued that the Buddhist approach has relevance for the prevention of psychological disorders, an acknowledged - and higher order - aim of psychotherapy.