What Lies Between Enlightenment Porn and Stress Reduction?
Mindfulness Meets Depth Psychology
A Live Webinar for the Benefit of the Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy with Robert Waldinger, MD, Ron Siegel, PsyD, and Sean Witty, MS, MTS
Monday, September 8
1:00–2:30 PM EST (Recordings available to all who register)
Cost: Free of charge, though your voluntary support helps make these offerings accessible to people
with limited financial means. The Institute is a member-supported 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and every
donation directly funds educational and community programs, including scholarships.
https://meditationandpsychotherapy.org/contribute/.
Just click here to register for free (and receive a recording if you can’t attend live).
Mindfulness has gone mainstream. It’s presented as a tool to manage stress, boost productivity, and stay positive. Spiritual circles suggest it’s a path to enlightenment—in fact some say you’re
already enlightened, you just need to stop believing in your stories!
But both approaches can miss something vital.
Focusing on stress-reduction or imagining ourselves to be more awakened than we are can neglect the deep wells of hurt and trauma we all carry. Yet, when mindfulness is used to foster relational connection and engage our vulnerabilities, it can be profoundly healing.
Join us for a rich online exploration of the deep connections and important distinctions between meditation and psychotherapy.
About the speakers:
● Robert Waldinger, MD – Psychiatrist, psychoanalyst, Zen priest, and Director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development.
● Ron Siegel, PsyD – Assistant Professor of Psychology, Harvard Medical School, and a longtime leader in integrating mindfulness into psychotherapy.
● Sean Witty, MS, MTS – Psychotherapist, ordained minister, and educator, bridging contemplative practice with community-based mental health.
Questions we’ll explore:
● Where do meditation and psychotherapy overlap – and where do their goals and
methods diverge?
● How does each approach address suffering and foster growth?
● How can the strengths of both be blended in personal practice and clinical work?
● How do you know which tool is right for which moment?
● How can these practices help us meet the challenges of our time – from AI’s rapid rise to
growing autocracy to the epidemic of anxiety?
Whether you are a clinician, a committed meditator, or simply curious, this conversation will deepen your understanding of two transformative paths and how they can complement each other in meaningful ways.
Just click here to register for free (and receive a recording if you can’t attend live).
Please feel free to forward this to friends and colleagues that might be interested.
We hope you can join us!
– Bob, Ron, & Sean