Buddhism and Mindfulness in Psychotherapy

CE Hours 2

About this course

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 connected 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.

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.
Discuss the links between mindfulness/sati meditation techniques with behavior/sila and wisdom, vipassana/insight.

Course Instructor(s)

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.

Disclosure

DISCLOSURE OF RELEVANT FINANCIAL RELATIONSHIPS CE Learning Systems adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Medical Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CE activity ― including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others ― are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (formerly known as commercial interests). The following relevant financial relationships have been disclosed by this activity’s planners, faculty, and the reviewer: PLANNERS AND REVIEWER The planners of this activity have reported that they have no relevant financial relationships. FACULTY The faculty of this activity have reported that they have no relevant financial relationships.

References

Bodhi, B. (2013). What does mindfulness really mean? A canonical perspective. In Mindfulness (pp. 19-39). Routledge.
Kelly, B. D. (2022). Beyond mindfulness: Buddhist psychology and the Abhidharma. Journal of Spirituality in Mental Health, 25(1), 71–82. https://doi.org/10.1080/19349637.2022.2081952
Khong, B. S. L. (2021). Revisiting and re-envisioning mindfulness: Buddhist and contemporary perspectives. The Humanistic Psychologist, 49(1), 3–18. https://doi.org/10.1037/hum0000238.
Khong, B. S. L. (2021). Walking with Buddha: Are we there yet? The Humanistic Psychologist, 49(1), 19–39. https://doi.org/10.1037/hum0000241.
Bhikkhu Bodhi. (2016). The Transformations of Mindfulness. Mindfulness in Behavioral Health. Springer International Publishing https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-44019-4_1
Anālayo, B. (2018). Satipaṭṭhāna Meditation: A Practice Guide. Windhorse Publications.

CE Process Info

Content

Materials

2 parts
- Recording
- Slides

Joint Accreditation (JA)

In support of improving patient care, CE Learning Systems is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
American Psychological Association (APA)

Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs.
New York Education Department's State Board for Social Work (NYEDSW)

CE Learning Systems, LLC (d/b/a impactce.com) is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #0060.
New York Education Department for Licensed Mental Health Counselors (NYSEDLMHC)

CE Learning Systems, LLC (d/b/a impactce.com) is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0072.
New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology (NYEDPSY)

CE Learning Systems, LLC (d/b/a impactce.com) is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #PSY-0016.
New York Education Department's State Board for Marriage and Family Therapy (NYEDMFT)

CE Learning Systems, LLC (d/b/a impactce.com) is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Marriage and Family Therapy as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MFT-0045.

Buddhism and Mindfulness in Psychotherapy

About this course

Learning Objectives

Course Instructor(s)

Disclosure

References

CE Process Info

Content

Joint Accreditation (JA)

American Psychological Association (APA)

New York Education Department's State Board for Social Work (NYEDSW)

New York Education Department for Licensed Mental Health Counselors (NYSEDLMHC)

New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology (NYEDPSY)

New York Education Department's State Board for Marriage and Family Therapy (NYEDMFT)

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