Meditative Dialogue: Cultivating the Transformative Theater of Psychotherapy

Abstract

This article offers a selective review of literature on the use of improvisation and play to promote "the bursting forth from the unknown in the moment" (Kindler, 2010, p. 224) in what I term the "theater of psychotherapy." It presents an innovative Meditative Dialogue process through which clients and their therapists are able to cultivate and access this "theater" as they co-create creative spaces in which transformative experiences are accessible. A brief vignette offers an illustration of how the Meditative Dialogue process helps to develop intimacy, presence, and focus through a collaborative positioning of curiosity, openness, and enlivenment in the therapeutic relationship.

Systemic innovators, past and present

“…Kabat‐Zinn, cited in Lord (), defines mindfulness as ‘paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment and non‐judgementally’ to open up the space in between words and to transcend language.…”