Daoism and Modern Psychology

"Taoism and Modern Psychology" is designed to bridge Eastern philosophical insights with contemporary psychological theory and practice:


📘 Course Title: Daoism and Modern Psychology

Format: 12-week course (can be adapted for university, retreat, or online format)

Target Audience: Psychology students, spiritual seekers, therapists, educators, and anyone interested in integrating ancient wisdom with modern science.


🧭 Course Objectives

  • Understand core concepts of Taoist philosophy.
  • Explore intersections between Daoism (Taoism) and modern psychological schools (e.g., CBT, depth psychology, mindfulness, humanistic psychology).
  • Apply Taoist principles to personal development, therapeutic practice, and emotional regulation.
  • Cultivate self-awareness and non-dual awareness through experiential learning.


📚 Weekly Breakdown

Week 1: Introduction to Daoism and Psychology

  • Overview of Daoist origins (Laozi, Zhuangzi, Dao De Jing)
  • Key psychological movements of the 20th & 21st centuries
  • The role of worldview in shaping mental health models

Week 2: The Tao and the Self

  • Wu Wei (non-action) and psychological flow
  • Taoist concept of self vs. ego in psychoanalytic theory
  • The paradox of control and surrender

Week 3: Yin-Yang and Dialectical Thinking

  • Balancing opposites in Taoism and DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy)
  • Psychological integration of shadow and light
  • Gendered archetypes and emotional balance

Week 4: Emptiness, Space, and the Unconscious

  • Taoist view of emptiness as potential
  • Jungian psychology and the collective unconscious
  • Creative void vs. pathological emptiness

Week 5: Nature, Rhythm, and the Nervous System

  • Attunement to natural cycles and circadian rhythms
  • Polyvagal theory and Taoist calm
  • The therapeutic power of nature (ecopsychology)

Week 6: Mindfulness, Presence, and the Here-and-Now

  • Zhuangzi’s spontaneity and the modern mindfulness movement
  • Taoist meditation vs. Vipassana vs. MBSR
  • Grounding, breathwork, and the parasympathetic system

Week 7: Language, Paradox, and Cognitive Flexibility

  • Language limitations in Taoism (e.g., “The Tao that can be spoken…”)
  • Cognitive reframing, metaphor therapy, and neuroplasticity
  • Humor, koans, and cognitive dissonance

Week 8: Illness, Healing, and Acceptance

  • Taoist medicine and energy flow
  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
  • Surrender and non-resistance in therapeutic settings

Week 9: Death, Grief, and Impermanence

  • Taoist views of death and return to the source
  • Psychological models of grief (Kübler-Ross, dual-process model)
  • Embracing loss as transformation

Week 10: Taoist Ethics and the Psychology of Virtue

  • Wu Wei and the virtue of humility
  • Altruism, empathy, and prosocial behavior
  • The Sage as a psychological archetype

Week 11: Taoism in Practice: Case Studies and Therapies

  • Taoist-informed psychotherapy
  • Somatic therapies with Taoist principles
  • Client case discussions (optional: practitioner guest lecture)

Week 12: Integration and Final Reflections

  • Personal Tao: crafting a modern Taoist-psychological framework
  • Reflective journaling and presentation
  • Group discussion: where do we go from here?


🧘‍♂️ Course Features

  • Readings: Selections from the Dao De Jing, Zhuangzi, Jung, Alan Watts, Jon Kabat-Zinn, Carl Rogers, etc.
  • Experiential: Guided meditations, embodiment exercises, group dialogue
  • Assignments: Reflective journaling, response papers, integration projects