Auto Process Therapy: A Therapeutic Application of Buddhist Psychology

The Way is in the heart - Buddhist proverb“One of the Buddha's central teachings was anatta, a word which literally means ‘non-self’ but more accurately translates as ‘no unchanging self.’ Brian Ford translates it as ‘process-self.’ There was no word for ‘process’ in the language that the Buddha spoke. But if there had been, he would have used it. He consistently referred to the self as a fluid process rather than a stable essence. The Buddha did not intend anatta to be an esoteric doctrine for academic discourse. Rather, he meant it be a practical tool for relieving suffering. Like several others, Brian Ford brings the ancient wisdom of process-self to life by surrounding it with practices and techniques that can be used in the nitty-gritty of modern psychotherapy. In so doing, he makes the Buddha's teachings more accessible. And, more importantly, he helps infuse his clients with the practical, liberating insights of the Buddha.”― Doug Kraft, author of Buddha's Map: His Original Teachings on Awakening, Ease, and Insight in the Heart of Meditation.

John Brian Ford is a Marriage and Family Therapist licensed to practice in the state of California, USA. He has extensive training in meditative disciplines such as the modern Japanese budo, aikido, in which he holds the teaching rank of 4th Dan, Buddhist meditation practises, and chakra centred yoga. His work as a psychotherapist includes Auto Process Therapy, mindfulness-based therapeutic approaches for stress management, and emotional skill-building to Native American men who are in early substance abuse recovery.
He has worked extensively with populations having severe mental illness in an inpatient setting and at a level fourteen group home. In addition to having a Master's degree in Counselling Psychology, he is an artist and a writer. He currently lives in Sacramento, California with his partner and co-founder of enlightenupyourday.com, a self-paced online therapeutic resource, Theresa Fluty.