Merging Disciplines: Meditation and Psychotherapy
With Mark Epstein, MD
Wednesday, October 16th, 2019 | 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Join Buddhist psychiatrist and author Mark Epstein for a discussion about the relationship of Buddhism and psychotherapy and how each tradition has something important to learn from the other.
In a series of books written over the past 25 years, beginning with Thoughts without a Thinker and ending most recently with Advice Not Given: A Guide to Getting Over Yourself, Epstein has explored the relevance of Buddhist thought for psychotherapy. But he is also increasingly aware of how much Buddhism can learn from contemporary therapeutic traditions.
Many Westerners, in their embrace of mindfulness, hope and expect that mindfulness will heal them. But there is a danger of ‘spiritual bypass’ in this, a tendency to use meditation to ignore personal issues rather than treating them as worthy subjects of meditative exploration.
This evening’s conversation will not only address how an immersion in Buddhism can affect one’s approach to therapy, but how an appreciation of therapy can enhance one’s understanding of Buddhism.
Registration:
Registration Fees include Teacher Support
New York Insight Meditation Center has streamlined the registration fee levels. Members of our Circle of Friends are eligible to receive 20% off of the Sustaining Rate via a code provided in the email confirming membership, which you can enter after clicking the Sustaining Level registration.
*Benefactor Level: Supports NYI’s ability to offer the Subsidized Base.
**Sustaining Level: This level reflects the actual costs to support this program. Circle of Friends members eligible for 20% discount with code. Click here to join.
***Subsidized Base: Made possible by the generosity of Benefactor Level above and other donations to ensure participation by those requiring financial assistance.
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If you are unable to pay the Subsidized Base Fee, you can learn about volunteering to offer work exchange and letting us know how much you are able to pay for this program by emailing registration@nyimc.org.
Teacher(s)
Mark Epstein
Mark Epstein, M.D., a psychiatrist in private practice in New York City, is the author of a number of books about the interface of Buddhism and psychotherapy, including Thoughts without a Thinker, Going to Pieces without Falling Apart, Going on Being, Open to Desire, Psychotherapy without the Self, The Trauma of Everyday Life and Advice Not Given: A Guide to Getting Over Yourself. His latest work, The Zen of Therapy: Uncovering a Hidden Kindness in Life, was published in January 2022 by Penguin Press. He received his undergraduate and medical degrees from Harvard University.