Spiritual Bypassing
RisksUsing spiritual beliefs or practices to sidestep unresolved emotional pain or unfinished psychological work, rather than actually addressing it.
Example: Psychotherapist John Welwood coined the term in 1984 after noticing the pattern in his own Buddhist community — and in himself — describing people using sincere spiritual practice as a way to avoid, rather than process, real developmental and emotional work.
What is spiritual bypassing?
Using spiritual beliefs or practices to sidestep unresolved emotional pain or unfinished psychological work, rather than actually addressing it.
Who coined the term "spiritual bypassing"?
Psychotherapist John Welwood coined the term in 1984 after noticing the pattern in his own Buddhist community — and in himself — describing people using sincere spiritual practice as a way to avoid, rather than process, real developmental and emotional work.