B. RudolphDecember 15, 1999Naikan TherapyNaikan Therapy DefinedThe man responsible for the development of Naikan Therapy is Mr. Ishin Yoshimoto. Mr. Yoshimoto developed Naikan therapy as a short term structural treatment that is useful in treating marital and familial conflicts, interpersonal relationship issues, depression and anxiety, self-esteem issues, behavioral disorders, and addictive behaviors (Ramaswami & Sheikh, 1989, p. 106). Nakian translates to mean ‘to look within one’s self. The purpose of Naikan therapy is to increase awareness of oneself as well as acceptance without becoming judgmental (Walsh, 1989). Naikan therapy was developed in the 1950’s with its roots being maintained in Buddhist philosophy and practice. Similar to Morita therapy and other Asian therapies, Naikan therapy’s main focus is primarily on transpersonal and existential levels and relies very little on pathology. In Japanese Nai means inner and Kan means observation and introspection. It is believed in Japanese Buddhist philosophy as well as Naikan therapy that personal problems and dissatisfaction with life issues or often between a person’s ideal self and their actual self (Walsh, 1989, p.547). Naikan Therapy ProcessNaikan therapy hopes to allow the individual to realize that they have a responsibility to how they relate to other people and their environment. In order to do this; Naikan therapy combines meditation and Buddhist therapy models to fortify western psychotherapy models. It does so in the following ways, “ 1) by offering insight into P.2self-defeating behaviors by focusing on them and exaggerating them; 2) by severing the tight grip of thinking on behavior by retraining attention; and 3) by producing an integrated hypothalamic response that decreases sympathetic activity” (Ramaswami and Sheikh, 1989, p.109). People using the Naikan therapy approach are assisted in letting go of selfish at...
