
Buddhist Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
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.

W.C. (Win) Ark, PsyD
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.