Psychotherapy Through Eastern vs. Western Lenses: A Journey Into Healing
As an integrative psychotherapist who has been profoundly influenced by Eastern philosophy, I often integrate Eastern wisdom into my approach. Since Western approaches to mental health are more common and mainstream, I thought it might be helpful to explain some of the benefits of an Eastern approach to psychotherapy and highlight some of the differences between the two perspectives.
Western approaches to psychotherapy are seen primarily through the lens of scientific methods; they utilize observation and measurable data to understand human behavior (often only looking at that which can be quantified and measured). They are heavily influenced by Western cultural values, and tend to be academic and rational. They emphasize individualism and often neglect the importance of social and cultural contexts that are prevalent in non-Western cultures.
Francis Weller shares, “We have become so rooted in individualism that we’ve lost a cosmological sense of being. Our gaze is narrowed down to the singularity of ourselves, and we are watching ourselves chronically to see “am I doing it right?” We’ve demarcated ourselves from the world. The human and the sacred has been forgotten. We’ve exchanged a cosmology of connection for an ideology of separation.”
Eastern approaches to psychotherapy are deeply influenced by spiritual traditions that emphasize the collective and the interconnected nature of existence. They offer frameworks for understanding the mind and promoting mental health by viewing the individual within the larger context of community.
Whereas Western psychology often sees mental illness as evidence of the person who does not fit in with society, Eastern schools of thought often view society itself as being the ill one, and takes the perspective that the symptoms that individuals experience are often healthy responses to an unhealthy societal environment.
Western approaches tend to operate under a medical model, viewing the human psyche as something to be understood, diagnosed, and treated, and perceiving psychological suffering as something to be identified, named, and alleviated through therapeutic intervention. Conversely, Eastern approaches encourage us to listen to our suffering, to consider that the “symptoms” we are experiencing may actually be messages that need to be heard, held, and honored. Eastern influenced psychotherapeutic models invite us to incorporate spaciousness to the process of healing; they invite us to become larger containers for our own beingness.
“It is never about resolution, it is more about spaciousness. Can I welcome this piece? Can I welcome that piece? How expansive can I become? Become immense.” - James Hillman
Summary
True healing lies not in choosing one path over another, but in weaving together the strengths of both Eastern and Western traditions. Western approaches help us develop insight into our cognitive processes and our behaviors, and to name and understand our suffering, while Eastern practices invite us to attune to a deeper level of ourselves, to deeply listen and honor the messages our symptoms are communicating, and to remember we are part of a larger collective. In the space where these traditions meet, we can find a deeper sense of wholeness—a healing that is both grounded and expansive.
“If we look deeply into such ways of life of Buddhism and Taoism, Vedanta and Yoga, we do not find either philosophy or religion as these are understood in the West. We find something more nearly resembling psychotherapy”– Alan Watts
--
About Michele
My approach is relational, trauma informed, somatically oriented, and non-judgmental. I offer an open mind and heart, along with evidence-based tools, to help individuals face the human challenges of grief, depression, anxiety, life transitions, isolation, and complex trauma. I hold a master’s degree in clinical psychology with a specialization in Spiritual and Depth Psychology, and have training in a wide variety of modalities including Somatic Experiencing, Hakomi, Internal Family Systems (IFS), mindfulness, and Ecotherapy. The work I do addresses the whole person, weaves somatic and mindfulness-based approaches, and incorporates creative practices that align with each client’s core values. I work from a trauma informed lens and draw from somatic, humanistic, depth and transpersonal models of psychology. In addition to individual psychotherapy. In addition to individual psychotherapy services, I also offer process groups and women’s circles.
I currently have openings for in-person clients in my Venice/Santa Monica office, as well as openings for virtual clients throughout California. I also offer process groups and women’s circles.
