Integrating Buddhist Psychology and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Welcome to the homepage of Buddhist Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. On this site you will find information about my psychotherapy practice and other psychological services available. Please browse the site and feel free to contact me directly if you have any questions.
With Compassion,
Win Ark, PsyD
Buddhist Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is an integrated blend of traditional Buddhist psychology and contemporary cognitive behavioral strategies designed to alleviate psychological suffering and create a framework for healthful living. This type of therapy teaches you how to skillfully work with your thoughts, bodily sensations, emotions, and actions as a pathway towards psychological health and well-being. While having some past experience can be helpful, you do not need to consider yourself a Buddhist or have familiarity with Buddhism to benefit from this type of therapy. For more information please see the FAQ or articles on the blog.
I am a licensed clinical psychologist and meditation teacher based in San Francisco. I provide individual adult psychotherapy, psychological assessment, meditation instruction and consulting services. My passion is sharing my knowledge and experience of both traditional Buddhist principles and contemporary Western psychology with individuals from diverse walks of life in order to reduce mental suffering. I have been studying and practicing Buddhist meditation in the Theravadan tradition for over 15 years and am an officially Certified Mindfulness Meditation Teacher through my beloved teachers Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach and UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Foundation.
I received my Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (PsyD) degree from The Wright Institute and my undergraduate degree from the University of California, Berkeley. My doctoral dissertation researched the impact of Theravadan Buddhist meditation practices on measures of mental health. I was also part of a research team that published this article with meditation teacher and author of Buddha’s Brain, Rick Hanson.
I completed a predoctoral internship at The University of the Pacific and subsequently completed a postdoctoral residency in clinical psychology at Kaiser Permanente Hospital in San Francisco, CA. During my residency I was trained extensively in individual and group psychotherapy, clinical assessment, and neuropsychological testing and reporting.
Personally, I had a prior career in technology before finding my passion as a clinical psychologist and I come with a lifetime of real world experience. I have lost loved ones suddenly, experienced layoffs, been diagnosed with and endured life threatening illnesses including cancer, experienced challenging personal and work relationships, been a stay at home father, and along the way have dealt with the daily hassles of modern living in the San Francisco Bay Area. I use what I teach on a daily basis. I believe having this life experience helps me better connect, understand, and empathize with you and the situation(s) you want to address.
For enjoyment, in my spare time I enjoy meditating, reading, hiking, martial arts (Tai Chi, Qi Gong, BJJ), photography, foreign travel, working out, and spending time with my wife and daughter.
I strive to create a warm, safe, supportive environment for diverse individuals that encourages and promotes mental well-being and healing.
I utilize an integrated blend of traditional Buddhist psychology and contemporary cognitive behavioral therapy. This form of therapy was designed to be consistent with what was taught by the Buddha 2,500 years ago as the path to ending suffering at its root, while at the same time incorporating the latest methods and research from clinical psychology.
I have undergone specialized training and have prior experience in the clinical and neuropsychological assessment of adults. Please contact me to discuss specific assessment requests.
I offer mindfulness and meditation instruction to both individuals and groups. I am available to individuals, schools, businesses, and organizations for mindfulness and meditation instruction and can tailor presentations around your specific needs. Please contact me with your proposal.
You do not need to be a Buddhist or have meditation experience to gain the benefits of this type of psychotherapy. I enjoy working with people with little or no experience that are open to learning something new. Nor do I have any interest in “converting” you to become a Buddhist once you begin. It is my belief, backed by current scientific research, that people from any religion or spiritual background will benefit psychologically from these practices. That being said, it is ultimately up to you to decide if practicing meditation or the other practices offered interferes with your religious beliefs.
During a 1-hour session the first 5 minutes begins with a brief meditation to focus the mind, this is followed by 50 minutes of psychotherapy where we will discuss and explore your concerns together within a Buddhist and cognitive behavioral framework. The final 5 minutes is spent in guided meditation or practicing a specific exercise as a way of closing your therapy session and transitioning back to your daily life.
I am typically available for office appointments on Monday – Wednesday 9 AM to 8 PM; Thursday – Friday 9 AM – 5 PM; Saturday 9 AM – 12 Noon. Closed Sunday. 1-hour appointments begin on the hour.
The initial in-person evaluation is free of charge. Subsequent psychotherapy sessions are $220 per session. Sliding scale available.
At this time I do not bill insurance directly. I will provide an electronic invoice upon request that you can use for insurance reimbursement purposes. I accept cash, check, or major credit cards.
Sorry, at this time I only work with individual adults.
My office is located in the Lower Pacific Heights neighborhood of San Francisco and can be found near the corner of Sacramento and Divisadero Streets. The office is conveniently accessible by public transit.
2919 Sacramento Street, Suite 4
San Francisco CA 94115
(415) 420-6627
Note, there are limits to data security. Please limit emails to secured address below to brief appointment or consultation requests only. Please include a phone number to receive reply. For other requests or questions use the phone number above. Please allow 24 – 48 hour response time.
Buddhist Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy 