Core Process Psychotherapy

Core Process Psychotherapy is based on a depth understanding of human personality process and human potential. The Core is understood to be an inherently open and luminous state at the heart of our being. It manifests as a state of presence and awareness at the core of our self-system whose qualities are equanimity, compassion, loving kindness and joy. Core Process describes the developmental process involved in the generation of a sense of self from the earliest moments of life through to adulthood, which stems from a process of responding to the relational environments that are encountered.

Core Process Psychotherapy facilitates an awareness of this moment-to-moment shaping process as we bring awareness to inner and outer experience. It holds the possibility that we can let go of these self-views we have created and rest in our potential for pure awareness, compassion and joy. In Core Process work both therapist and client are engaged in a joint healing process where an awareness of the body, its feelings and feeling tones, and the content and states of mind that arise, are used to explore the nature of selfhood and suffering. The therapist's essential role is that of reflector and facilitator of awareness. The heart of Core Process work is oriented to the belief that true healing is only possible to the extent that we can be fully present to the immediacy of our inner and outer experience.

Buddhist psychology and mindfulness or awareness practices underpin the work, and western personality theory, psychodynamics and psychotherapy skills are integrated within the Core Process model to support this understanding. This Course is at the cutting edge of contemporary psychotherapy, and draws on over twenty years experience of offering Psychotherapy Trainings based on depth mindfulness practice in relationship. Presentations of dharma teachings are drawn from different Buddhist sources and lineages to create an integrated vehicle for the training of psychotherapists.

Although the principles and fundamental practices underpinning our Training come from Buddhism we are not training people to become Buddhists. We welcome people from all spiritual traditions or none. Our staff team represent a variety of worldviews. What we do seek to imbue through our Trainings is a capacity for contemplative depth enquiry. There is one intention informing all years of the Trainings and that is to offer trainees opportunities for deepening embodied awareness and cultivating presence and open-heartedness in relationship.

Maura Sills is the founder of Core Process Psychotherapy and together with Franklyn Sills she has developed the Core Process Psychotherapy approach for application in various clinical contexts.

Karuna Institute

International Training and Retreat Centre

Core Process Psychotherapy

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