Rande Brown

Rande Brown joins us to talk about why mindfulness is not a substitute for therapy.

I often cringe, inwardly and outwardly, when during a retreat someone proudly announces they are stopping their prescribed medications because of their experiences. While I certainly find contemplative practice to be helpful in many ways, it’s not a cure all, not magic, and the conditions which are likely very different from one’s at-home routine can create a false perception of being cured. How would you know if it was the practice, or the environment in which the meditation took root, as the source of one’s change? No one would; meditation can complement therapy but is rarely a full replacement for working through the complexities of a lifetime.

Rande Brown, L.C.S.W., is on the board of the William Alanson White Psychoanalytic Society. She writes on Buddhism and psychoanalysis and is in private practice in the West Village in Manhattan. Rande is a founding board member of the Tricycle Foundation and was its Executive Director from 2002–2006.

So, sit back, relax, and have a nice Herbal Calm tea.

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Web Links

• The Couch and the Cushion: Why Mindfulness Is No Substitute for Therapy
• Rande Brown, LCSW, Psychotherapist and Psychoanalyst

Music for This Episode Courtesy of Rodrigo Rodriguez

The music heard in the middle of this podcast is from Rodrigo Rodriguez. You can visit his website to hear more of his music, get the full discography, and view his upcoming tour dates.