Facilitating professional development: An application of Buddhist and psychoanalytic concepts

Lisa J. Condon (2005)

This paper discusses the challenges faced by psychology interns in negotiating the task of professional identity development. Buddhist and psychoanalytic concepts are integrated in an effort to provide a framework for both understanding and addressing these challenges. Literature on professional identity development is reviewed, with a focus on both obstacles and facilitating factors during internship. The history and key concepts of Buddhism are summarized and major contributors to the integration of Buddhism and psychoanalytic theory are outlined. A review of current mindfulness meditation research is also discussed. This paper ends with a discussion of the ways in which mindfulness meditation during internship can help facilitate professional identity development of psychology interns.

Last Updated: 7/21/09