This presentation gives an overview of application of Indian Mental Health Concepts to Modern Psychotherapy.

1. Application of
Indian mental
health concepts
to modern
psychotherapy
Dr.Sujit Kumar Kar, MD (Psy)
Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry
King George’s Medical University, Lucknow, U.P.,
India

2. Introduction
• Indian mental health
concepts
– Born in Indian culture
– Nurtured in Indian
culture
– Influence Indian culture

3. Introduction
• Indian mental health concept
– A boon for applying in psychotherapy in Indian
patients
Culture
• Allows a
behavior
• Controls a
behavior

4. Introduction
• Why Indian mental health
concepts for
psychotherapy?
– Readily available
– Easily accessible
– Culturally acceptable
– Significant & sustainable
impact
– Easily understandable

5. • Religious beliefs and practices associated with
significantly lower anxiety, lesser degree and
frequency of depression, lower suicide rates,
less substance abuse but they are also
associated with greater wellbeing, hope and
optimism, more purpose and meaning in life,
greater marital satisfaction and higher social
support.
1. Koenig HG. Religion, spirituality and medicine: Research findings and
implications for clinical practice. South Med J 2004;97:1194-200.
2. Chattopadhyay S. Religion, spirituality, health and medicine: Why should
Indian physicians care?. J Postgrad Med 2007;53:262-6

6. Indian Mental Health Concepts
in
Psychotherapy

7. Yoga & Meditation

8. Yoga….

9. Yoga
•An integral part
of Indian culture
Importance of Yoga emphasized
in every Indian ancient
literature
•Each chapter of Bhagavad Gita
is named as “Yoga”

10. Yoga - Implications
Yoga
Physical
Wellbeing
Mental
Wellbeing
Spiritual
Wellbeing

12. A complete exercise of body & Mind

13. Relaxation breathing exercises

14. Yoga & Cognitive Stimulation

15. HYPNOSIS & YOGA
Trance of hypnosis
•Quiet, calm and peaceful state
of mind
•A general sense of wellbeing
•Loss of boundary between
past, present and future
•Perception is clarified
•Heightened attention &
concentration

16. HYPNOSIS & YOGA
Patanjali Yoga
oSeven states of consciousness
oProgressive deepening
oSamadhi is the deepest state,
characterized by sat-chit-
ananda
oSamdhi is the goal in Yoga
Chowdhary S, Gopinath JK.
Clinical hypnosis and Patanjali yoga sutras.
Indian J Psychiatry. 2013 Jan; 55(Suppl 2):
S157–S164.

17. Similarity between Yoga and Hypnosis
• Induction of trance states
• Relaxation response
• Alteration in perception
• Unreality
misinterpretation
• Increased concentration
• Temporary nature of the
phenomenon

18. GITA and Psychotherapy

19. Basic Skills:
Empathetic
listening

20. Basic Skills:
Normalization
Concept of life & death
Even explained life after death
Everything pre-decided
You are just a medium, not the cause
Minimizing guilt &
distress

21. Basic Skills: Uniqueness of Questions

22. Gita in Therapy

23. Crisis intervention
•Identity crisis
•Moral & Ethical conflict
•Guilt and self blame
•Going against
attachment figures

24. Existential Psychotherapy
Four important dimensions of human existence
Physical
Personal
Social
Spiritual
Accomplishment in these dimensions lead to

25. Self actualization (Abraham Maslow)
A move towards
accomplishment

26. Guru-chela relationship
• Guru – Chela relationship as a therapeutic
paradigm was suggested by Neki in 1973
• Direct guidance and advice by therapist
• Inoculating self-discipline

27. Behere PB, Das A, Yadav R, Behere AP. Ayurvedic concepts related to psychotherapy. Indian J
Psychiatry. 2013 Jan; 55(Suppl 2): S310–S314.
• Guru in Indian culture
– A teacher
– A role model
– A reformer
– A spiritual guide
• Guru guides chela in the experiential journey
of self-exploration with an aim to liberate
from all sufferings

28. CBT: Cognitive restructuring and many more…..

29. Psychodynamic psychotherapy
Dealing with
conflicts related to
unacceptable
aspects of self

30. Mindfulness

31. Detachment from thoughts

32. Motivation enhancement

33. Shamasundar C. Therapeutic wisdom in Indian
mythology. Am J Psychother. 1993 Summer;47(3):443-
50.
• Vast therapeutic potential
in mythologies
• Usefulness of anecdotal
analogies from Indian
mythology in therapeutic
work with rural mental
health patients

34. Sex Education
Openness in verbal
expression may be
inadequate
But the paintings and
architecture speak a
lot…..

35. Conclusion
The ocean looks
blue, but
The fact is, ocean
water is not blue
It is as
transparent as
BISLERI
Indian Culture
looks religious,
but
The fact is, it is
more scientific

36. If we apply Indian mental concepts successfully …..