Mind & Life

Willoughby Britton - When Meditation Causes Harm

Listen Later

In this episode, Wendy speaks with clinical psychologist and meditation researcher, Willoughby Britton. Willoughby is a pioneer in contemplative research and one of the only people dedicated to understanding the possible negative outcomes from meditation (so called meditation-related adverse experiences). This conversation covers many topics, including:

  • how she came to study the negative side of meditation;
  • support and resources for those struggling with meditation-related difficulties (Cheetah House);
  • scientific research on meditation-related adverse experiences;
  • changes in perception and anxiety that can happen with meditation;
  • how the same experience can be positive or negative depending on context;
  • how the causes of adverse effects may be the same as for the benefits;
  • the science of measuring harms in meditation research;
  • what we know (and don't know) about these effects—who's at risk, how frequent they are, and how they show up for people;
  • whether or not these difficulties are "part of the path" of transformation;
  • grounding care in compassion;
  • and aligning practices with the outcomes you want.

    • Full resources and show notes

    ...more
    View all episodesView all episodes
    Download on the App Store
    Mind & LifeBy Mind & Life Institute
    • 4.8
    • 4.8
    • 4.8
    • 4.8
    • 4.8

    4.8

    263 ratings

    More shows like Mind & Life

    View all
    On Being with Krista Tippett by On Being Studios

    On Being with Krista Tippett

    10,182 Listeners

    Tara Brach by Tara Brach

    Tara Brach

    10,444 Listeners

    Sounds True: Insights at the Edge by Tami Simon

    Sounds True: Insights at the Edge

    1,831 Listeners

    Tricycle Talks by Tricycle: The Buddhist Review

    Tricycle Talks

    344 Listeners

    The One You Feed by iHeartPodcasts

    The One You Feed

    2,507 Listeners

    Heart Wisdom with Jack Kornfield by Be Here Now Network

    Heart Wisdom with Jack Kornfield

    1,439 Listeners

    Metta Hour with Sharon Salzberg by Be Here Now Network

    Metta Hour with Sharon Salzberg

    685 Listeners

    Insight Hour with Joseph Goldstein by Be Here Now Network

    Insight Hour with Joseph Goldstein

    903 Listeners

    The Wisdom Podcast by The Wisdom Podcast

    The Wisdom Podcast

    319 Listeners

    Untangle by Untangle

    Untangle

    825 Listeners

    10% Happier with Dan Harris by 10% Happier

    10% Happier with Dan Harris

    12,548 Listeners

    Being Well with Forrest Hanson and Dr. Rick Hanson by Rick Hanson, Ph.D., Forrest Hanson

    Being Well with Forrest Hanson and Dr. Rick Hanson

    2,409 Listeners

    Living Myth by Michael Meade

    Living Myth

    924 Listeners

    The Way Out Is In by Plum Village

    The Way Out Is In

    1,222 Listeners

    Sounds of SAND by Science and Nonduality

    Sounds of SAND

    110 Listeners