What is your path? If your psychotherapy only uses methods that largely work with Negative states, and if those methods are effective, the best that you get out of that relationship is a relative reduction of, or an absence of Negative states. That, in and of itself, does not translate into the development of Positive states-it just means the absence of Negative states. You need a whole other set of methods designed to cultivate Positive states. Positive states flow from a sense of self- a strong, solid, tangible sense of your strengths and virtues- essentially, who you are as a person. Without a healthy-enough sense of self, psychotherapy methods can make things worse. Going over and focusing on negative emotions may contribute to greater disorganization of mind. However, developing positive internal representations (having positive experiences) has an organizing effect on the mind that leads to happiness. Certain developmentally informed approaches to psychotherapy (Accelerated Experimental Dynamic Psychotherapy, Hypnosis, Schema Therapy, and Mentalization Based Treatment- in which we specialize and integrate the latest research and developments) actually have a self-organizing quality and increase the organization and coherence of mind. If your Eastern interventions are leaving you feeling confused, doubtful, or empty, and therefore worse off, then you are working in the wrong direction.
