ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the nature of silence, psychologically and theologically, and the possible applications of this study to the practice of psychotherapy with persons with bipolar disorder. Psychological resources include the major models of Western psychology and Eastern Buddhist practice. In Buddhism the working of the mind is the focus of meditation, then the practice of meditation according to Buddhist principles might be supportive of the work of any form of psychotherapy with the same goals-nonattachment, insight, and concentration. One criticism of the blending of psychology and spirituality in therapy is that it will relieve the client of responsibility for tackling the difficult issues of their emotional history. In traditional psychotherapy, the goal would be to gain some insight into the source of the problem, to modify the more extreme behavior, and find an appropriate medication to stabilize moods and psychotic symptoms.
