About Eastern Psychologies in Therapy
Eastern psychologies bring wisdom traditions like Buddhism, yoga philosophy, and mindfulness into therapeutic practice. While our network of specialists in Eastern approaches is growing, you can explore therapists who integrate contemplative practices.
Eastern psychologies refer to therapeutic approaches that integrate wisdom traditions from Asian cultures, including Buddhist psychology, yoga philosophy, Taoist principles, and other contemplative frameworks. These approaches often emphasize concepts like mindfulness, interconnection, impermanence, and the nature of suffering as pathways to healing and self-understanding.
Many Western therapeutic approaches have incorporated Eastern elements, particularly mindfulness-based therapies. If you're drawn to contemplative approaches, you can explore therapists on First Session who offer mindfulness-based therapy, meditation-informed approaches, or holistic therapy that considers mind-body-spirit connections.
Jordan Kritzinger
Jordan Kritzinger
Therapy is hard work.
Eastern psychologies encompass therapeutic approaches informed by Asian philosophical and spiritual traditions. This includes Buddhist psychology's understanding of the mind and suffering, yoga's framework of consciousness and well-being, and Taoist principles of balance and flow. These traditions offer unique perspectives on human experience that complement Western psychological approaches.
Eastern-informed therapy may offer benefits like greater present-moment awareness, acceptance of difficult emotions, understanding of thought patterns, and a broader perspective on suffering and healing. Many people find these approaches helpful for reducing anxiety, managing stress, developing self-compassion, and finding meaning. The emphasis on direct experience rather than just intellectual understanding can feel particularly transformative.
People drawn to contemplative practices, meditation, yoga, or spiritual exploration often resonate with Eastern-informed therapy. These approaches may appeal to those seeking a more holistic view of mental health, interested in mindfulness practices, or looking for frameworks that address existential questions about meaning and purpose. They can complement other therapeutic approaches.
While our network of therapists specializing in Eastern psychologies is growing, you can explore therapists on First Session who integrate mindfulness, meditation, or contemplative practices. Look for mentions of mindfulness-based approaches, Buddhist psychology, or yoga-informed therapy in therapist profiles. Many therapists with meditation training bring Eastern perspectives into their work.
Mindfulness-based therapy directly incorporates Buddhist meditation practices. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) draws from Buddhist concepts of acceptance. Meditation-informed therapy uses contemplative practices therapeutically. Transpersonal therapy explores spiritual dimensions of human experience.
First Session helps you find therapists who take holistic, integrative approaches to mental health. Watch intro videos to understand each therapist's philosophy, filter by approaches like mindfulness or holistic therapy, and book directly online. Many therapists offer free consultations to discuss how they integrate contemplative practices into their work.