Already free : Buddhism meets psychotherapy on the path of liberation

The developmental view -- The fruitional view -- A dialogue between the developmental and fruitional views -- Experiencing anxiety and struggle -- Embodied awareness -- All relative experience is relational -- Relationship as an evolving path -- A good state of mind, regardless of circumstance.;"Both psychotherapy and Buddhism seek to provide freedom from suffering," writes Bruce Tift, "yet each offers a completely different approach to this intention." Each way of working contains valuable tools to help us heal, grow, and find happiness-but how can we know which one to choose when these methods appear to contradict each other? Already Free opens a fresh and provocative dialogue between these two profound perspectives on the human condition. 'Already Free', therapist and Buddhist practitioner Bruce Tift examines how psychotherapy's "Developmental" approach of understanding the way our childhood experiences shape our adult selves both challenges and supports the "Fruitional" approach of Buddhism, which tells us that the freedom we seek is always available. Here he offers unique wisdom and imminently practical guidance on, Therapy and meditation-the strengths and limitations of each practice, and how you can use them together effectively, What is freedom? How our assumptions about personal liberation often undermine our ability to experience it. How we can stop generating unnecessary anxiety for ourselves without numbing our emotions, why we use "neurotic organization" to limit our life experience, and how to challenge this self-perpetuating process, cultivating a healthy state of mind regardless of our history or current circumstances, uncovering and untangling codependent dynamics, the four evolving stages of relationships, and much more. Why are more and more psychotherapists embracing meditation practice, while so many Buddhists are exploring psychology? "Both psychology and Buddhism seek to provide freedom from suffering," explains Bruce Tift, "yet each offers a completely different approach for reaching this goal." In Already Free , Tift opens a fresh and provocative dialogue between these two profound perspectives on the human condition. Tift reveals how psychotherapy's "Developmental" approach of understanding the way our childhood wounds shape our adult selves both contradicts and supports the "Fruitional" approach of Buddhism, which tells us that the freedom we seek is always available. In this investigation, he uncovers insights for connecting with authentic experience, releasing behaviors that no longer serve us, enhancing our relationships, and more. "When we use the Western and Eastern approaches together," writes Bruce Tift, "they can help us open to all of life-its richness, its disturbances, and its inherent completeness." "Buddhism and western psychotherapy seek to provide freedom from suffering, yet each offers a completely different approach for reaching this goal. How can we know which one will help us most? With Already Free, Bruce Tift presents an insightful and practical investigation into two profound perspectives on the human condition -- and how we can use both together to help us open to the richness, disturbances, and inherent completeness of our lives"--Page 4 of cover