The Practitioner's Heart: Practical Buddhist Wisdom for Therapists and Healthcare Professionals

In this episode of The Practitioner’s Heart , we explore the powerful difference between cognitive insight and embodied clarity — and why this distinction matters so deeply for therapists, psychologists, counsellors, social workers, and all helping professionals. As modern practitioners, we are trained to analyse, understand, formulate, and conceptualise. Yet many of us still struggle with the sam...

In this reflective and heartfelt episode, host Poh Gan explores a question many modern therapists quietly hold: How do we stay grounded, wise, and spiritually aligned in a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence? As AI tools become woven into our clinical work, personal lives, and even our contemplative practice, Poh invites us to pause and consider what makes us uniquely human — our...

In this episode of The Practitioner’s Heart , we explore one of the most powerful – and often misunderstood – sources of support for therapists: dharma friendship. Whether you call it spiritual friendship , kalyāṇamitta , fa lü , or simply “wise companions,” having people who share your aspiration for awakening can transform your personal and professional life. Drawing from 22 years of practice in...

In this episode, Poh explores how Buddhist practice can support therapists in cultivating secure attachment within themselves — and how this inner steadiness naturally supports nervous system regulation, compassionate presence, and therapeutic effectiveness. As therapists, we often become the emotional anchor for others while quietly carrying our own stress, attachment wounds, self-doubt, or emoti...

In Part 2 of my deeply nourishing conversation with Dr. Hayley D. Quinn, we turn toward the realities so many therapists, psychologists, and helping professionals quietly carry: burnout, self‑neglect, emotional labour, and the pressure to keep going even when our bodies and hearts are exhausted. In this grounded and compassionate dialogue, Hayley shares her lived experience of profound burnout, ho...

In this spacious and nourishing episode of The Practitioner’s Heart , Poh sits down with Dr. Hayley D. Quinn — mindset and wellbeing coach, former clinical psychologist, author of From Self‑Neglect to Self‑Compassion , autistic/ADHD woman, and one of the most compassionate humans you will meet. This conversation unfolds like a heartfelt offering — exploring joy, identity, compassion, and what it m...

In this episode, we explore one of the Four Immeasurables that feels profoundly essential for the world we’re living in right now: equanimity . As global instability, the war in the Middle East, and the ongoing energy crisis ripple through our collective nervous system, many therapists are finding themselves holding their clients’ fears while carrying their own . This episode offers a grounded, em...

Have you ever wondered whether women can truly attain enlightenment in Buddhism — or felt subtle doubt about your own capacity for awakening? In this deeply personal episode of The Practitioner’s Heart, Poh explores the enduring question: “Can women awaken?” Drawing from her Asian upbringing and early encounters with patriarchal conditioning, Poh examines how cultural narratives have shaped spirit...

Welcome back to the second and final part of my conversation with the wonderful Amiee Pember, an autistic and ADHDer perinatal psychologist. In Part 1, Amiee shared her powerful journey of self-discovery. Now, we dive deep into the heart of practice. How do we integrate ancient wisdom into our modern, often overwhelming, lives as practitioners? Amiee shares profound insights from her time on silen...

In this moving and deeply human conversation, Poh sits down with Amiee Pember , an autistic and ADHD perinatal psychologist and board‑approved supervisor based in regional Western Australia. In true Amiee fashion, she shows up with honesty, warmth, and profound self‑reflection. In Part 1, Amiee shares the story of her early life, her intuitive path into psychology, and the transformative experienc...

In this episode of The Practitioner’s Heart , psychologist and Buddhist practitioner Poh Gan explores the powerful connection between Buddhist teachings and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) . Long before ACT introduced concepts like psychological flexibility, acceptance, defusion, and self‑as‑context, the Buddha was teaching remarkably similar principles 2,600 years ago. She links ACT'...

In this Lunar New Year special, Poh reflects on the rich cultural and spiritual significance of this season — especially for Asian diaspora therapists and healthcare workers navigating multiple identities, traditions, and inner parts. This episode explores the deeper Buddhist meaning behind Maitreya Bodhisattva , the figure often known as the Laughing Buddha, and how his teachings offer profound g...

In Part 2 of my conversation with Dr. Louise Hayes, we shift into the clinical and developmental heart of her work. Louise shares what she hopes practitioners pay attention to when learning new therapy models, and how to support young people with presence, curiosity, and compassion. We also talk openly about burnout, compassion fatigue, and therapist wellbeing —how they show up, how they change us...

In this inaugural episode of the Practitioner's Heart Podcast, host Poh Gan introduces the show’s mission to offer practical Buddhist wisdom for therapists and healthcare workers. The episode features part 1 of an in-depth conversation with Dr. Louise Hayes, a psychologist, author, and expert in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), who shares her journey of integrating Buddhism with psych...

In this episode of the Practitioner's Heart Podcast, host Poh emphasises the profound role of gratitude within Buddhist practice, highlighting the importance of acknowledging the teachings and compassion received from parents and Dharma teachers. Poh shares personal reflections on the impactful teachings from Venerable Master Shen-Kai and other spiritual guides from the Buddhahood Lineage. Th...

In this episode of 'The Practitioner's Heart Podcast,' host Poh Gan delves into the pervasive habit among therapists and healthcare workers of treating rest as a reward that needs to be earned. Drawing on Buddhist teachings and personal experiences, Poh discusses the concept of the Middle Way, a balanced path between extreme discipline and indulgence, to illustrate how rest should b...

In this episode of the Practitioner's Heart podcast, host Poh Gan explores the 'invisible emotional load' that therapists often carry. Drawing on Mahayana Buddhist psychology, Poh shares insights into how thoughts and emotions are like dust on a mirror—transient and not defining who we are. The episode discusses practical techniques for therapists to manage stress and emotional weig...

In this episode of The Practitioner's Heart Podcast, host Poh Gan, a psychologist and Buddhist practitioner, shares practical Buddhist wisdom to help therapists and healthcare workers cultivate loving-kindness and manage the inner critic. Poh introduces a simple yet profound practice using Metta (loving-kindness meditation) that can be integrated into daily life to soothe self-criticism and p...

In this episode of The Practitioner's Heart podcast, host Poh Gan introduces herself, sharing her journey as a psychologist and Buddhist practitioner. She explores the intersection of psychology, Buddhist wisdom, culture, and identity, emphasizing the importance of decolonizing spiritual practices in therapy. Poh discusses her challenges as a first-generation Asian immigrant and neurodivergen...

After the therapy room door closes and the day’s stories soften into silence, what helps your heart settle? The Practitioner’s Heart is a new podcast for therapists and healthcare workers who want to feel grounded, steady and spiritually nourished. If you've ever ended a day feeling mentally full, emotionally stretched, or longing for deeper clarity, this space is for you. Through practical B...