Buddhist Psychology: Grounding, Presence and Containment (Caroline Brazier)

Introduction to Buddhist Psychology and its Therapeutic Applications Series.

Session One – Space to Practice: Grounding, Presence and Containment.

This is the place to book the first session only. If you would like to book the entire ten-session series at a discount of £50, you can do that here.

This first workshop of the series explores the ground of practice from which spiritual and therapeutic exploration takes place. The Buddha's own journey in its early stages involved learning from many teachers, gaining mastery of meditative and other reflective practices, and these provided the foundation for his subsequent insights. As we start to investigate the psychological aspects of Buddhist teachings, we will therefore look at these vital underpinnings in practice and the ways in which they can inform our work. Creating calmness and offering presence allows therapeutic interaction to take place. In particular we will look at the importance of the therapist's groundedness and embodiment in creating the therapeutic container and also at the ways in which these skills can help those with whom we work to be more present to their own material. In this, we will look at ways in which a depth of presence can be experienced and offered to others, but also we can look at the presence which is offered by other features in the therapeutic process such as the environment in which therapy takes place and its importance as a holding space for the work. We will look at practices such as mindfulness, meditation and therapeutic presence and what that might mean within this model.

About Caroline Brazier: Author of seven books on Buddhism, psychotherapy and ecotherapy and many chapters, papers and articles. Caroline has taught Buddhist psychology, ecotherapy and psychotherapy for more than thirty years, latterly through the Tariki training programmes. Alongside this, she has worked as a therapist and supervisor; work which continues now that she is semi-retired. She has also worked in a number of community settings over the years including community education, women's health projects, community arts and running residential retreats. A Buddhist for many years with experience in a number of traditions, Caroline took Tokudo ordination in the Jodo Shinshu school in 2018. She is also a mother and grandmother and enjoys plenty of family time.