Meditation and psychotherapy

Abstract

This review of methods necessarily excludes some. For instance, the procedures of biofeedback are included by some reviewers as being basically a meditational approach. Despite the existing reviews of the topic (see above) meditation is a seldom-used therapeutic practice and the reasons for this neglect are worth consideration. Craven (1989) wrote: '... meditation has not been easily accepted as a psychotherapeutic modality on its own, or as an adjunct to psychotherapy. This is in part due to a paradigm clash between the disciplines from which the techniques of meditation and psychotherapy arise resulting in mutual misunderstanding between the adherents of the consciousness disciplines and adherents of modern psychological formulations'. Apparent simplicity is another factor and Smith (1975) wrote: 'To the casual observer it may seem implausible that a simple mental exercise could have any effect on widespread problems of neurosis and anxiety'. However, all reviewers point to benefits reported in reduction in anxiety. Meditational methods fall firmly into the realm of self-management and it may be supposed that few patients would be motivated to take over the major role in their own treatment. This supposition can be contested but careful explanation, preferably with some written guide, is necessary. The advantages of self-management, by meditation or other means, include the abbreviation of therapist time, which has not only financial implications but also confers the ability to offer help to large numbers of people. A further advantage is perceived self-efficacy (Bandura, 1977) and the importance to the individual of the realisation that he or she has played the major part in improvement, with consequent increase in self-esteem having wide implications for generalisation of the beneficial effect.