The Zen of Therapy

Uncovering a Hidden Kindness in Life

By: Mark Epstein M.D.

Narrated by: Mark Epstein M.D.

“A warm, profound and cleareyed memoir. . . this wise and sympathetic book’s lingering effect is as a reminder that a deeper and more companionable way of life lurks behind our self-serious stories."—Oliver Burkeman, New York Times Book Review

Drawing on decades of personal and professional experience, Dr. Mark Epstein considers how his practice of psychotherapy and meditation can be used in tandem to lead his patients, and himself, to greater awareness and fulfillment.

For much of his career, Dr. Mark Epstein kept his beliefs as a Buddhist separate from his work as a psychiatrist. But as he became more forthcoming with his patients about his personal spiritual leanings, he was surprised to find how many of them were eager to learn more. The divisions between the psychological, emotional, and the spiritual, he soon realized, were not as distinct as one might think.

In The Zen of Therapy, Dr. Epstein reflects on a year’s worth of selected sessions with his patients and observes how, in a given hour, his Buddhist background influences his work. He emphasizes how Western therapy can be considered a two-person meditation, and how mindfulness, much like a good therapist, can “hold” awareness, creating the necessary conditions for inner peace. Throughout this deeply personal and wise inquiry, Dr. Epstein illuminates the therapy relationship as a spiritual friendship, and reveals how a therapist can help us realize that there is something magical running through our fraught lives. For when we understand how readily we have misinterpreted ourselves, when we touch the ground of our own being, we come home.

Critic reviews

“A warm, profound and cleareyed memoir . . . this wise and sympathetic book’s lingering effect is as a reminder that a deeper and more companionable way of life lurks behind our self-serious stories.” —Oliver Burkeman, New York Times Book Review

“Epstein draws on a lifetime of personal and professional experience to deliver a profound and optimistic examination of the links between psychotherapy and meditation . . . A warm and accessible explanation of topics that defy easy explanation . . . Epstein makes abstract concepts understandable, and his accounts of his patients’ struggles and progress are laced with humor and hope . . . It’s a message receptive readers will embrace in these dark and difficult times. Empathetic and persuasive—one of the better books on psychotherapy and meditation in recent years.” —Kirkus (starred review)

As usual, Mark does not disappoint. Excellent book.

As a Buddhist I just love the way Mark includes so naturally the Buddhist perspective in his daily work. It seems as if he does it so effortlessly. It is my first time with an audio book, and I so enjoyed that it was him who read the material. Just amazing. I keep in my mind concepts and passages that I’ve found tremendously useful for my life. It was like doing h to wrapt myself. What a gem!

Absolutely loved it

I’d heard a podcast by the author referencing this book and had a credit waiting. I received very good therapy from a Buddhist therapist in my teens thirty years ago. I’ve forgotten so much from our sessions but this book helped me recall some of our best breakthroughs. I’m going to look her up and thank her again.
The author is pleasant to listen to and I appreciate the honesty his clients were willing to reveal. I’m sharing this book with a friend right now. What a nice opportunity to hear big and small problems (blockages?) through both lenses.

Fantastic

Every facet of this book is incredible. This is the type of book that has many layers and will bring something new to light with each read.

Interlocking centers

I really enjoyed this book and made my way through it very quickly. It’s a beautifully conceived and communicated study. Having some background in the Buddhist ideas the author often references made it easy for me to follow along with the larger argument he makes, but I still think the text would be accessible for people with less of a background in eastern thought. And since it is an audiobook, it is worth mentioning that I found it a real pleasure to have the author himself read it.

Phenomenal and enlightening

The depth and insight shared gave me a deeper lens at which to lead life mindful and aware. Phenomenal book I highly recommend.