What this knowledge base covers

Here, “Natural Psychotherapy” refers to the approach described by Prof. Zhang Xiangyang in the courses and introductory talk on this site. This entry records the conceptual framework presented in those lectures and helps readers find its original context.

In the introductory talk, Zhang describes his team's practice and adaptation of Morita therapy, and the incorporation of ideas from Chinese cultural traditions. This is the speaker's account of the approach's origins.

Main themes

The lectures often summarize the approach as “accept distress and take constructive action.” They explore:

• The relationship between natural acceptance and action.
• The distinction between thoughts, emotions and behavior.
• Primary and secondary thinking, and the two layers of suffering.
• The contexts of the 24-character principles, 14-character principles and three-step method.

These terms are related and are best read alongside the lectures.

Courses and the knowledge base

The six Tsinghua lectures form a complete series. Session 12 of the Alumni Health Salon is a separate introductory talk. “Session 12” is the event's numbering, not a continuation of the six lectures.

The course pages retain the recordings and learning materials; the knowledge base brings concepts together. Claims about effectiveness, research and applicability require the relevant research materials and cannot be generalized from lecture examples alone.