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Dharma Therapy for True

Well-Being

By Beth Patterson

Benny: You have been a successful
entertainment lawyer and now a
counselor and psychotherapist, as
well as a Buddhist teacher. What
inspired you in Buddhism initially
and until now?

Beth: I grew up in the Jewish
tradition, which, like Christianity,
is a monotheistic religion. I
remember questioning at a young
age the idea that there was a being
Beth Patterson is a Licensed Psychotherapist and Grief Counselor more powerful than me, to whom
in Oregon, USA. She is also a Clinical Supervisor for crisis workers I needed to hand over my power
at CAHOOTS – Crisis Assistance Helping Out on the Streets -- a to achieve happiness. From that
mobile crisis intervention program that provides support for the time on, I ’ve believed believe
police departments in Eugene and Springfield, Oregon, providing that we have the inherent power
initial contact and crisis counseling for people who are dealing with in ourselves to grow and heal. I
homelessness, substance abuse or illness. discovered Buddhism in college,
and its tenets validated my beliefs.
Beth’s professional practice is informed by her longtime Buddhist
practice and deep belief that we all have the inherent wisdom to use I began studying and practicing in
our losses and other life challenges and transitions to grow and heal. the Tibetan Buddhist tradition in the
As a former attorney and executive in the music industry, Beth also late 1980’s 1980s, and took refuge
counsels musicians and others in the arts. with Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche in
New York City in the early 1990s,
and later became his student. I
She explains to Benny Liow what brought her to Buddhism, the have served in Ponlop Rinpoche’s
inspiration she had from her Tibetan Buddhist teacher Ponlop international organization,
Dzogchen Rinpoche, and what is true happiness and well-being, Nalandabodhi International, out
especially the usual material happiness we are familiar with and the of my devotion to Rinpoche and
kind of happiness taught by the Buddha. She also shared suggestions the Three Jewels – the Buddha, the
from her e-book Love without Limit: Reflections of a Buddhist Dharma and the Sangha.
Psychotherapist on how to deal with depression, anxiety, grief and
trauma, and in navigating life’s challenges with mindfulness, love and I am grateful every day for the
compassion. support of the Three Jewels: The
Buddha as an inspiration that
enlightenment is available to all