01-11-18 Author Dr. Pilar Jennings-To Heal a Wounded Heart

About To Heal a Wounded Heart: The Transformative Power of Buddhism and Psychotherapy in ActionEarly on in her clinical practice, psychoanalyst Pilar Jennings was presented with a particularly difficult case: a six-year-old girl who, traumatized by loss, had stopped speaking. Challenged by the limitations of her training to respond effectively to the isolating effect of childhood trauma, Jennings takes the unconventional path of inviting her friend Lama Pema—a kindly Tibetan Buddhist monk who experienced his own life-shaping trauma at a very young age—into their sessions. In the warm therapeutic space they create, the young girl slowly begins to heal. The result is a fascinating case study of the intersection of Western psychology and Buddhist teachings. Pilar’s story is for therapists, parents, Buddhists, or any of us who hold out the hope that even the deepest childhood wounds can be the portal to our capacity to love and be loved. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit moderateddf652d2726bd44d880ef877.substack.com