Suffering loves and needs company: Daoist and Zen perspectives on the counselor as companion

Mindful of living in a multicultural and cross-cultural society, this article introducesand presents Buddhist and Daoist philosophy, psychology, and practice along with thepotential for their application in psychotherapy within the context of the theme of thepsychotherapist or counsellor accompanying the suffering person. The theoretical grounding for this application is the understanding that the suffering person has an underlying need for ontological security. It is suggested that this is made possible by a twofold connection:intra-subjective connection to self through integration of emotions, thoughts, and psycho-physical states; and inter-subjective connection to others. A case is made in this article that the therapist’s mindful and energetic presence is key to the development of this connection.