The meeting, 20 years ago, of meditation, psychiatry in several institutions (for children, teenagers and adults) and psychoanalysis have enriched each other.
In psychiatry, pathologies often reflect an obsession with the past or an anxious anticipation of the future which are incapacitating. Meditation makes it possible to re-invest or appreciate living in the present, a source of joy and security, and a real antidepressant. The present may be re-gained, celebrated. Living one’s life, in harmony with the environment which then feels less hostile and more invigorating, able to open one’s heart to others, which is so valuable and so essential.
In psychoanalysis, meditation helps release the control of one’s thought and find again a sense of the present which enables round trips between the present and evocation of life course. Traumas are not recollected but emerge in a comforting presence. The place where one talks is substantiated enough, so as to enable to immerse within oneself and not forget to come back to the present and invest it.
With meditation, feelings, emotions, thoughts, psychological functions become clearer. They are welcomed with the singular listening of psychoanalysis which allows a liberty of being. Hearing these words, having these feelings, give them meaning and should not be rushed too quickly.
For the therapist, meditation helps him find again his breathing, his physical and psychological support points, a sense of light and joyful quality of being in the present, a return to himself, a secure place in himself.
This can avoid a « burn out » of caregivers who too often become damaged.
But also for the therapist, a relief from what he has undergone and a coming back to himself which enables him or her to welcome the next patient in a new and good condition.
This led me to choose a place and a style of exercices.
In a yurt, a poetic and ephemeral place.
The sessions sometimes take place while walking in a tempo I suggest, which the other one suggests or which happens as a surprise, not pre-determined.
The focus on oneself in relation with the environment, in the « garden waiting-room » brings one back to basics, and to a feeling of relaxation.
All this entails a surprise which sometimes leads to a possible psychological change and to a joyful feeling of lightness.
I would just like to refer to some of these Meetings.