Mindfulness, Acceptance, and the Psychodynamic Evolution: Bringing Values into Treatment Planning and Enhancing Psychodynamic Work with Buddhist ... Mindfulness and Acceptance Practica Series)

290 Pages·2014·4.52 MB·English

by  Jason M. Stewart PsyD

“While the world of psychotherapy has historically been divided into
separate spheres of isolated schools, modalities, and orientations, we
increasingly witness dialogue, borrowing, recognition of commonality,
and even efforts toward integration. Jason Stewart has gathered a first-
rate lineup of contributors who are known for their serious scholarship
on, and leadership in, psychotherapy integration from a broadly rela-
tional psychodynamic perspective. The book will advance this impor-
tant academic and professional trend.”
—Lewis Aron, PhD, director at the New York University
postdoctoral program in psychotherapy and psychoanalysis
and author of A Meeting of Minds: Mutuality in Psychoanalysis
“In this creative and scholarly volume, Stewart brings the integration of
mindfulness, acceptance, and relational psychodynamic therapy to a
new level. [The contributors’] combined vision is balanced, flexible, and
mature. Clinicians new to either psychoanalytic inquiry or mindfulness
will quickly find themselves drawn into this exciting conversation
through compelling case studies, historical background material, and
practical discussion about clinical decision-making. Lynchpin issues,
such as non-duality, compassion, mentalization, and the pursuit of a
valued life, receive special attention. This book will invite readers to
grow their work for years to come.”
—Christopher Germer, PhD, clinical instructor at Harvard
Medical School, coeditor of Mindfulness and Psychotherapy,
and author of The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion
“Acceptance and mindfulness have always been integral to therapeutic
change, but their roles and applications have only been recently recog-
nized. Editor Jason Stewart’s new book offers a penetrating and insightful
look at the natural overlap and differences between newly emerged
mindfulness-based therapies and psychodynamic work. This exploration
reveals a rich potential for clinicians who want to support and strengthen
their psychodynamic work through the integration of mindfulness-based
approaches.”
—Tara Brach, PhD, author of Radical Acceptance and
True Refuge
“Psychoanalysis, mindfulness-based psychotherapies, and traditional
Buddhist meditation practices have evolved from existing in non-com-
municating, conceptually dissociated spheres through a stage of over-
eager merger and identification, in which each was reduced to a variation
of ‘evenly hovering attention’ in the service of a presumed common goal
of engaging the totality of the mind. At last, we are moving into a more
sophisticated and challenging stage where genuine differences and con-
flicts are allowed to emerge and be meaningfully engaged. This volume
is a welcome addition to that process of genuine engagement and mutual
influence.”
—Barry Magid, MD, faculty at The Stephen Mitchell Center
for Relational Studies and author of Nothing Is Hidden:
The Psychology of Zen Koans and Ordinary Mind: Exploring
the Common Ground of Zen and Psychoanalysis
“As the evidence in support of Freud’s, Bowlby’s, and Winnicott’s (among
many others’) works accumulates through mindfulness research, the
neuroscience of psychotherapy, and interpersonal neurobiology, Jason
Stewart’s book comes along as a practical and engrossing guide to an
ongoing synthesis of ancient and modern wisdom aimed at addressing
human suffering. He has assembled an impressive group of authors who
remind us that when we are doing psychoanalysis, engaging clients in the
process of systematic desensitization, or teaching mindfulness medita-
tion, we are all involved in deeply interpersonal encounters with the
intention of helping people ‘pay attention’ and, eventually, change their
brains in salubrious ways. The highest praise I can give this book is that
it will become required reading for my current and future psychotherapy
students and supervisees.”
—Mark B. Andersen, PhD, professor and coordinator of the
doctoral program in applied psychology at Victoria University,
Melbourne, Australia
The
Mindfulness & Acceptance
Practica Series
As mindfulness and acceptance-based therapies gain
momentum in the field of mental health, it is increas-
ingly important for professionals to understand the full
range of their applications. To keep up with the growing
demand for authoritative resources on these treatments,
The Mindfulness and Acceptance Practica Series was
created. These edited books cover a range of evidence-
based treatments, such as acceptance and commitment
therapy (ACT), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT),
compassion-focused therapy (CFT), dialectical behav-
ioral therapy (DBT), and mindfulness-based stress re-
duction (MBSR) therapy. Incorporating new research in
the field of psychology, these books are powerful tools for
mental health clinicians, researchers, advanced students,
and anyone interested in the growth of mindfulness and
acceptance strategies.
Visit www.newharbinger.com for
more books in this series.

M I N D F U L N E S S ,
A C C E P T A N C E ,

A N D T H E
P S Y C H O D Y N A M I C
E V O L U T I O N
Bringing Values into Treatment Planning
and Enhancing Psychodynamic Work with
Buddhist Psychology
Edited by
JASON M. STEWART, P D
SY
C P
ontext ress
An Imprint of New Harbinger Publications, Inc.
Publisher’s Note
This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter
covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering psychological, finan-
cial, legal, or other professional services. If expert assistance or counseling is needed, the services of a compe-
tent professional should be sought.
“To Know the Dark” copyright © 2012 by Wendell Berry from NEW COLLECTED POEMS. Reprinted by
permission of Counterpoint.
“Wordlessly” from HSIN-HSIN MING: VERSES ON THE FAITH-MIND by Seng T’San, translated by
Richard B. Clarke. Copyright © 2001 White Pine Press, Inc. Reprinted by permission of White Pine Press.
Poems 16 and 19 from COLD MOUNTAIN: 100 POEMS BY THE T’ANG POET HAN-SHAN by Han
Shan, translated by Burton Watson. Copyright © 1970 Columbia University Press. Reprinted with permis-
sion of the publisher.
Chapter 4 of this text reprinted from Safran, J.D. (2006). Before the ass has gone the horse has already
arrived. Contemporary Psychoanalysis, 42(2), 197–211. Copyright © 2006 William Alanson White Institute
of Psychiatry, Psychoanalysis, and Psychology. Reprinted by permission of the publisher.
Copyright © 2014 by Jason M. Stewart
Context Press, An Imprint of New Harbinger Publications, Inc.
5674 Shattuck Avenue, Oakland, CA 94609, www.newharbinger.com
Distributed in Canada by Raincoast Books
All Rights Reserved.
Acquired by Catharine Meyers; Cover design by Amy Shoup; Edited by Jennifer Eastman; Text
design by Tracy Carlson;
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Stewart, Jason M., author.
Mindfulness, acceptance, and the psychodynamic evolution : bringing values into treatment planning
and enhancing psychodynamic work with Buddhist psychology / edited by Jason M. Stewart ; foreword
by Steven C. Hayes.
p. ; cm. -- (The Context Press Mindfulness and Acceptance Practica Series)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-60882-887-6 (paperback : alk. paper) -- ISBN 978-1-60882-888-3 (pdf e-book) -- ISBN
978-1-60882-889-0 (epub)
I. Title. II. Series: Context Press Mindfulness and Acceptance Practica Series.
[DNLM: 1. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy--methods. 2. Buddhism--psychology. 3.
Mindfulness--methods. 4. Psychotherapy, Psychodynamic--methods. WM 425.5.C6]
RC489.C63
616.89’1425--dc23
2014017236
Printed in the United States of America
16 15 14 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 First printing
To Theresa—my wife, my friend, my life companion
To my parents—whose love and support has allowed me
to develop the values that make my life sweet.

I prefer to retain the label of my forefathers as long
as it does not cramp my growth and does not debar
me from all that is good anywhere else.
—Mohandas Gandhi
Our appointment with life is in the present moment.
—Thich Nhat Hanh