Core Process Psychotherapy

Buddhist psychology and Mindfulness-based psychotherapy

Core Process Psychotherapy, having been established in 1982, is one of the original mindfulness-based psychotherapy training programs. Buddhist psychology and mindfulness practice underpin this work. Teachings are drawn from different Buddhist sources and lineages to create a broad vehicle for the training of psychotherapists, which is integrated with western personality theory, psychodynamics and psychotherapy skills.

This training program draws on thirty years of experience in offering psychotherapy trainings based on mindfulness practice. Course participants develop the ability to deepen into a state of presence and learn to bring this state of awareness into relationship. Presence-in-relationship then becomes the ground of enquiry into the client’s arising process.

In Core Process work both therapist and client are engaged in a joint healing process where an awareness of the body, its feelings and feeling tones, and the content and states of mind that arise, are used to explore the nature of selfhood and suffering. The therapist's essential role is that of reflector and facilitator of awareness. The heart of Core Process work is oriented to the belief that true healing is only possible to the extent that we can be fully present to the immediacy of our inner and outer experience.

Although the principles and fundamental practices underpinning our Training come from Buddhism we are not training people to become Buddhists. We welcome people from all spiritual traditions or none. Our staff team represent a variety of worldviews. What we do seek to imbue through our trainings is a capacity for contemplative enquiry, offering trainees opportunities for the cultivation of embodied awareness and empathetic enquiry in relationship.

Maura Sills is the founder of Core Process Psychotherapy and together with Franklyn Sills she has developed the Core Process Psychotherapy approach for application in various clinical contexts.

Karuna Institute

International Training and Retreat Centre

Core Process Psychotherapy

Buddhist psychology and Mindfulness-based psychotherapy

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