About

Claire Greenwood

I hold a master's degree in Counseling Psychology from California Institute of Integral Studies. I've spent 10 years providing spiritual care and working in community mental health settings.

I spent my twenties as a Buddhist nun in a monastery in Japan, trying to be "independent" and "not be attached" to people. Although I did experience some calm in meditation and through communal living, eventually I came to see that true satisfaction, for me, lies not in rejecting human connection, but by engaging with it. Through my own therapy and my relationships with loved ones as an adult, I've come to appreciate the messiness, complexity, and joy of really being in the world with others. In addition to being a therapist, I also work at Institute of Buddhist Studies, a seminary and graduate school in Berkeley, CA. I've published widely on Buddhism, mindfulness meditation, and spirituality, including two books and articles in Spirituality & Health, Parabola, Lion's Roar, Tricycle, and Buddhadharma magazines.

People often ask me how I incorporate Buddhism into my therapy work. I don't bring any religious values or beliefs into therapy (I'm not sure I even have any religious beliefs to bring at this point!), and my training and orientation is primarily contemporary psychoanalysis. However, here are some ways Buddhist practice has influenced how I work as a therapist:

Focus on the present moment

Your session is your time. Whether you want to dish about the latest Drag Race episode, vent about how your mother in law folds napkins, or unpack some knotty psychological pattern you've noticed, I'll follow your lead. But from time to time I might invite us to notice what's going on in the present moment. How are you feeling? if that's a hard question to answer, what gets in the way? Can we notice what's happening in your body moment by moment? If your body doesn't feel like a safe place at all, we'll work together to make your body feel more like a home.

Beginner's Mind

Zen Master Shunryu Suzuki said "In the mind of the beginner there are many possibilities; in the mind of the expert there are few." Similarly, a famous psychoanalyst instructed therapists to begin session with "No memory and no desire." To me both of these statements inspire me to approach each session and each patient with fresh eyes. I'm interested in learning about your mind and how you understand the world. Although I'm an "expert" in one sense, I'm really the beginner when it comes to your unique reality. My hope is we can both have beginner's mind together and bring fresh curiosity to your life.

Increasing insight to reduce suffering

How does therapy work, really? I believe that part of how therapy works is by increasing insight. Oftentimes we're stuck in patterns we're not aware of (for example, maybe we keep falling in love with the wrong people), or we feel bad without really knowing why (why does everything feel so overwhelming all the time?). Together we can shine a light on the parts of yourself you can't see. Once we know what the problems really are, and where they came from, they're a lot easier to change.

Generosity

Generosity is at the heart of Buddhism and most other spiritual practices.

I reserve a certain number of sliding scale spots for low-income queer people of color, as well as artists of all demographics. I feel inspired and invigorated working with folks who normally wouldn't be able to afford therapy. Please inquire about my sliding scale slots if this description fits you.