Repentance in Chinese Buddhism: Implications for mental health professionals

Abstract

Repentance in Chinese Buddhism is a common practice for monastics and lay practitioners to repent for transgressions and commit to corrective actions guided by Buddhism. Regardless of the significance and prevalence of repentance, little is known about its psychological effects and implications for counseling. In response to the American Psychological Association’s guidelines to respect clients’ cultural practices, this article addresses the research gap by elucidating the practices and implications of repentance, the psychological significance, and implications for mental health professionals to consider and apply repentance in counseling. A hypothetical case example was used to illustrate the pragmatic application of repentance.