Buddhism and Mindfulness in Psychotherapy
Mindfulness-based and meditative interventions have become popular in the U.S. with guided meditations apps, YouTube instructional videos, and mindfulness-based mental health intervention programs such as Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). These mindfulness-based interventions have proven to be efficacious in the treatment of a variety of mental disorders. However, the Buddhist theoretical and conceptual bases of them are often missing in the practitioner’s therapeutic training.
In this presentation, the early Buddhist texts that are connecte...Read mored to these interventions are introduced. The presentation will begin with a history of Buddhism and Buddhist based interventions in the U.S. We then discuss the Buddha Gotama’s research project, his findings in the three marks of existence, the Four Noble Truths, and his interventions as explicated in the Eightfold Noble Path, which include instructions on mindfulness meditation. The presentation will end with questions from the participants. Less...
Learning Objectives
- Explain the difference between early Buddhism, as a meditative and contemplative practice, and Buddhism as a religious spiritual practice.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the mechanism linking the mind and the body, thus able to fluidly move between affecting the mind through the body and visa-versa.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the links between mindfulness/sati meditation techniques with behavior/sila and wisdom, vipassana/insight.
Friday, April 17, 2026
Live Interactive Webinar
01:00 PM EDT - 03:00 PM EDT
$125.00
EARN 2 CE Credit Hours
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About the speakers
Debra Kawahara
Executive Director of the Illumination of Mindfulness Institute
Dr. Debra M. Kawahara is the Executive Director of the Illumination of Mindfulness Institute, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Distinguished Professor in the California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University and the 2025 President of the American Psychological Association. She is a widely published multicultural feminist scholar whose work centers on intersectionality, Buddhist psychotherapy, women’s issues, and the application of multicultural and feminist values and social justice principles. She is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association as well as the Asian American Psychological Association.
Dr. Liang Tien
Dr. Tien holds a Psy.D. from the University of Denver, a Ph.D. in Buddhist Studies from the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka. She was a founding faculty at Antioch University Seattle’s Psy.D. program and the program director and core faculty of the Psy.D. program at the California School of Professional Psychology, Alliant International University, in Hong Kong. In addition to her work in Buddhist psychotherapy, Dr. Tien has published and presented in the area of multicultural counseling, as well as conducted workshops on ethics and Buddhism. She practices in the tradition of Theravada Buddhism.
Agenda
1. Buddhist psychotherapy: What it is (5 minutes)2. History of Buddhism (10 minutes)
3. Research Question by Buddhism: What is existence (10 minutes)
4. Three Marks of Existence (10 minutes)
5. Impermanence (10 minutes)
6. Dukka (10 minutes)
7. Not-self (10 minutes)
8. Four Noble Truths (10 minutes)
9. Noble Eightfold Path with a few examples (20 minutes)
10. Questions & Answers (15 minutes)
11. CE process (5 minutes)
12. Conclusion (5 minutes)
CE Information - Earn 2 CE Credit Hours
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