In this episode, Wendy speaks with psychologist and contemplative researcher Simon Goldberg. Simon uses tools drawn from psychotherapy research to better understand the therapeutic processes and outcomes of mindfulness and meditation-based interventions. This conversation covers many topics, including:

• coming to practice through one's own suffering;
• what we know from science about whether and how meditation "works;"
• the nuts and bolts of meditation research, and the importance of control groups;
• the file drawer effect and publishing negative findings;
• common factors in healing interventions;
• working with the self in psychotherapy vs. Buddhism;
• the critical role of acceptance;
• some challenges when measuring effects of meditation;
• individualizing contemplative practice to suit the person;
• delivering and studying meditation interventions through apps;
• and the possibilities of AI to help support meditation practice.

Full show notes and resources