Eastern Vs Western Psychotherapy

Eastern versus Western Psychotherapy

Lisa Farley

PSYC3540

Unit 8 Assignment 1

Capella University

September, 2015

Introduction

Cultures are different in many different ways, beliefs, religion, and healing to name just a few.  The way we deal with physical and mental illness can greatly vary from Western culture, to Eastern culture.  “Indigenous healing encompasses therapeutic beliefs and practices that are rooted within a given culture” (Matsumoto, 2012).  And while “The goals of the East and West may appear the same; however the paths are often unique and diverse” (Edmunds, 2013).  This is where we can see how the collectivist nature of Eastern society, maintains a stark contrast from Western individualism.  I will attempt to explore a few of these differences throughout this paper.  

Western

        For centuries men have tried to figure out “what makes a man tick”, inside and out.  Physically, doctors had to wait until someone had expired to study the inner workings of the body.  However, when exploring the mind, one did not have to wait until death.  Aritippus (435-356 B. C.) and his hedonistic followers thought that the ego’s lust for pleasure, and avoidance to pain, was what drove man (Sommers, 2013).  In my opinion this is what still drives most Westerners still to this day.  Western psychology seems to follow along these lines since it focuses more on actions and consequences, rather than a spiritual well-being.  In the Western world, we value individualism, and our approach to psychotherapy is the same.  “In western psychology, people dwell on the problems, the cause of the problems, rehash it, relive it and thereby keep it alive under the guise of releasing it” (Samuel, 2013).  Western psychotherapy also depends on medication to produce the desired effects.  Antidepressants, antipsychotics, and behavioral modification are used in conjunction with therapy to treat most, if not all, psychological disorders.  “Cognitive behavioral interventions emphasize the development of strategies for teaching cognitive skills” (Matsumoto, 2012).  Cognitive behavioral therapy was developed under the theory that if we can change our behaviors, we can change our thinking.  This therapy is thought to work by teaching a person struggling with depression how to deal change their negative outlook on life, into a more positive one.

Eastern

In Eastern psychology, a lot of emphasis is put on spirituality, and wholeness.  The body and mind are viewed to work together.  This follows along the lines with the collectivist Eastern culture.  Instead of focusing on how to change one’s behavior by looking at self, they try to include the entire family.  “In the eastern view, what is past is past and to be accepted then let go, the present is the only moment of value and the only thing we should be fully focused on” (Samuels, 2013).  An example of Eastern therapy would be Naikan therapy developed by a Jodo Shinshu Buddhist.  Naikan therapy is a week-long contemplative practice that involves reviewing one's life from the perspectives of others (Ozawa-de Silva, 2010), and it literally means to look within.  “In inpatient Naikan therapy, one reflects upon what they received from others and what they gave in return. There are also periods of isolated reflection. In outpatient Naikan therapy, there is daily reflection and exploration over what feelings one has control and the ones they do not” (Joshanloo, 2014).   The three questions that Naikan therapy focuses on what a person gave to me, what did I do for this person, and did I cause this person any harm (Ozawa-de Silva, 2010).