In 2022, a small group of mental health and allied professionals on Long Island, NY came together with a shared intention: to deepen and nourish their individual and collective interest in what has come to be known as Buddhist Psychology. This exploration draws from both ancient wisdom and contemporary secular philosophies—foundations that have quietly shaped many modern approaches to psychotherapy.
From the beginning, the founding members of the Buddhism and Contemplative Practices (BCP) group agreed on a “come when you can” format, typically meeting on Sunday mornings via Zoom. Our hope has been to invite experienced and like-minded teachers to lead each session. A typical gathering includes a brief opening meditation, a dharma talk offered by the teacher, and a sharing of resources and insights drawn from the teacher’s own personal experience. We’ve been fortunate to host both local and nationally recognized teachers—each generously offering their time, wisdom, and life’s work. With no formal sponsor and no external funding, participants are invited to offer a voluntary donation, which we pass along to the teacher as a token of our gratitude.
If this sounds like it might resonate with where you are in your life or work, please reach out. We’d be honored to make space at the table for one more.
As our learning has grown, many of us have found ourselves naturally integrating these teachings into our own psychotherapy practices. When mental health professionals seek to destigmatize and depathologize in favor of a more human, spiritually aware presence, we open the door to a deeper healing. In an age of digital overwhelm and cultural disconnection, what better offering can we give to those we serve than our shared humanity?
Welcome to the BCP Interest Group.