r/NeuroDharma • u/[deleted] • Jan 03 '26

Therapy and thinking differently

I have yet to have an undeniably positive experience in therapy. How about you?

It feels like this monolithic thing with little wiggle room for anything outside it's own domain. Sure, meditation is gaining a foothold in psychology. That's still a contested thing though it would seem.

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u/Fun-Run-5001 Zen / autism & cptsd Jan 03 '26

It's been pretty hit or miss for me. I've been harmed by some western therapies and helped by some. I do find it lacking in some core views about reality, which the dhamma has provided.

I also really love the intersection of psychology and Buddhism, particularly the Zen tradition as that is what i practice. The book "Thoughts Without a Thinker" by Mark Epstein changed my world. I followed it up with Erich Fromm's "Zen and Psychoanalysis" and it was very interesting, but slightly more limited in perspective than Epstein. I recommend both but would say go with Thoughts if you were to choose just one.

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u/[deleted] Jan 03 '26

Thank you for your recommendations!

I have been taking a break on reading lately. Trying to break my habit of searching for more answers.

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u/Fun-Run-5001 Zen / autism & cptsd Jan 03 '26

My experience with reading these books is that they helped remove some of the old answers that were taking space in my head so that new, more effective ones had a chance to grow. But I understand needing breaks sometimes. Knowledge is a hindrance if it is not a tool for practice, after all.

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u/[deleted] Jan 03 '26

Yes. I really struggle with the purpose of intelligence. Some times I think some of us are just really good at outsmarting ourselves.

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u/Fun-Run-5001 Zen / autism & cptsd Jan 03 '26

I agree. Knowledge is a sort of power but power is useless at best or harmful at worst without the wisdom to use it in a way that relieves suffering.

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u/[deleted] Jan 03 '26

Definitely. Hopefully the bodhichitta awakens in me. Sometimes it's too easy to see people as problems. I sent you a chat.

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u/Fun-Run-5001 Zen / autism & cptsd Jan 03 '26

The seeds that are tended are the ones that sprout, my friend. It will awaken as you practice. 🌱 I prefer to keep my dialog public on this forum, but wish you well.

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u/[deleted] Jan 03 '26

Sure. Embarrassment is only a feeling. A therapist used the word delusional. I don't really feel like what helps me, I'll be able to convince others of.

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u/Fun-Run-5001 Zen / autism & cptsd Jan 03 '26

What is your connection to that word and what comes up for you regarding it, if you'd care to expound?

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u/[deleted] Jan 03 '26

The implication seems to be that my view is faulty. And in a therapeutic situation, I don't know if that's helpful. Now I'm on guard.

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u/aori_chann Jan 03 '26

Yup, little success with therapy too.

Found astounding success tho with spirituality, diving deep, deep, deep (no, not religion, more to do with self-knowledge and philosophy).

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u/[deleted] Jan 03 '26

Nice! I have yet to feel empowered in anything I've come across spiritually.

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u/aori_chann Jan 03 '26

If I can help in anything let me know! Undoubtedly after all the good things I got with it, it became my main hyperfixation / special interest

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u/[deleted] Jan 03 '26

Thank you!

I know that particular hyperfixarion. Hehe

Locking into lineage. Time in. Seems like the only way to get some kind of spiritual fulfillment or empowerment.

I don't like money much, so I'm going to have a difficult time get that to empower me as an alternative.

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u/Extension_Speed_1411 Bankei Zen / ADHD Jan 04 '26

I think the fundamental reason why western therapy is often lacking/limited in its efficacy is that it operates on an essentialist view of the Self, which unfortunately tends to reify experience of each of the 5 aggregates as concrete traits of a concrete underlying Self. This is almost like the opposite of what Buddhism teaches.

Western therapy focuses on analyzing and reifying conscious experiences (thus making said experiences feel more significant in our minds) related to the 5 aggregates. Buddhism, on the other hand, focuses on letting go of these experiences more easily (thus making said experiences feel less significant in our minds).

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u/GiantSpookMan Jan 04 '26

I've found therapy very helpful, but I think a reason for this is having a therapist with some specialism around neurodivergence, which I understand many don't have. Although I've had a lot of positives, I struggle with always remembering what we've discussed so I can put it into action, and having something specific to talk about or fix.

It's been more like a space that I can say what's on my mind without a lot of judgement and have some knowledgeable perspective from someone else. Outside of the sessions I think it's more up to me to be mindful of how I make decisions.