Inspiring Links and Ideas
The major inspiration and influence on my approach to psychotherapy from the perspective of Western psychology is, without a doubt, Carl Rogers. He was one of the most dominant and influential figures in the world of counselling and psychotherapy in the 20th century. Rogers almost single handedly reinvented psychotherapy from the entrenched, psychoanalytic, pathologizing model, to what he called, client-centered therapy.
He believed, and actually proved through years of well-documented clinical research, that clients have the solutions they need within themselves; and that the job of the therapist was only to “work with” the client to help them discover this inherent truth. As strange as it may sound, Rogers was actually a pioneer in the use of empathy as a core principal in psychotherapy. Near the end of his illustrious career, his work became known as person-centered-psychotherapy. In his later writings, Rogers also began to speak about his own experience of an unconditional presence that began to occur spontaneously with clients in the therapeutic setting. Most people do not know this about Carl Rogers. This unconditional presence that Roger's also experienced with clients is often described as simply a subtle manifestation of love.
In regard to Eastern influences, I have been most deeply affected by Advaita Vedanta. The core message of Advaita Vedanta is nonduality, or as expressed in a more common parlance, the Unity of All, or the Oneness of All. Advaita masters that have had the most powerful and on-going influence on me are Sri Ramana Maharshi, Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj, and Adyashanti (a living master). I have also been greatly influenced by Zen Buddhism, Theravada Buddhism, Dzogchen (a form of Tibetan Buddhism), and Taoism.
Some web links that I find inspirational:
www.ramana-maharshi.org
www.nisargadatta.net
www.adyashanti.org
www.nonduality.com
www.realization.org
www.members.shaw.ca/burtharding
www.nrogers.com/carlrogers
www.ship.edu/~cyboeree/rogers
Note: Please read disclaimer regarding these web site links, quotes, and all other information provided on this web site
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