Integrating Metta Into CBT: How Loving Kindness and Compassion Meditation Can Enhance CBT for Treating Anxiety and Depression

Abstract

[Background] Loving kindness meditation and compassion meditation are traditional Buddhist practices that have recently been introduced and investigated in psychotherapy with promising results. Both meditation practices emphasize metta, a mental state of positive energy and kindness towards oneself and other beings, as opposed to the anger, hostility, or self-loathing that often accompany emotional problems. [Method] We conducted a qualitative review of the literature to produce an integrative review. [Results] Metta meditation appears to be particularly useful for treating depression and social anxiety, both characterized by low positive affect and negative attitudes and core beliefs about the self. [Conclusion] Metta meditation can aid therapy by promoting more adaptive self-images, social connectedness, and emotional experiences.

Keywords

• meditation
• cbt
• depression
• anxiety
• loving kindness
• compassion