Clinical Round Table 10 - Ontological Astonishment: Encountering Awe and Wonder in Cognitive-behavioral Therapy

The philosopher William Desmond (2018) describes ontological astonishment as "a shared sense of the mystery of being," an experience of wonder at existence itself that is "impossible to pin down in a fully determinate way." Such moments of astonishment, Desmond suggests, give rise to awe, a paradoxical experience of dawning awareness that is simultaneously startling and serene. Although cognitive-behavioral therapists have traditionally prioritized pragmatic solutions over poetic epiphanies, moments of ontological astonishment occur often in our work, conveying a sense of both vitality and vulnerability amid life's anxieties (Chen & Mongrain, 2021). Innovations in psychedelic-assisted interventions have also foregrounded experiences of astonishment and self-transcendence (Hendricks, 2018; Luoma & Lear, 2021). This panel explores the value of awe and wonder in cognitive-behavioral therapy, with an emphasis on mindfulness and compassion processes that promote flexible, appreciative perspective-taking. Questions that panelists will consider include: (1) in what ways do experiences of awe and wonder contribute to psychotherapy and behavior change? (2) what role do imagery, poetic language, and the arts (e.g., music) play in mindfulness-based and compassion-focused interventions? (3) what therapist characteristics and practices facilitate the acknowledgement of mystery and the emergence of awe? (4) how can the client and therapist's spirituality or faith tradition contribute to (or distract from) experiences of wonder? (5) in what ways do experiences of awe and wonder -- and the importance of these experiences -- differ across diverse populations? (6) what challenges do intervention researchers face in the study of seemingly inscrutable emotional experiences like awe and wonder?