The Practitioner's Heart: Practical Buddhist Wisdom for Therapists and Healthcare Professionals
The Practitioner’s Heart offers practical Buddhist wisdom to help therapists and healthcare workers stay grounded, open, and connected in their work and daily lives. Hosted by psychologist and Buddhist practitioner Poh Gan, this podcast explores how to integrate mindfulness, compassion, and awareness into real‑world clinical practice—beyond theory and into lived experience. Each episode includes gentle reflections, sharing of buddhist teachings, and conversations with fellow practitioners walking a similar spiritual path. Whether you’re seeking to calm a busy mind, deepen your inner resources, or reconnect with purpose, this is a space to feel supported, inspired, and be part of a community of helpers cultivating clarity and an open heart.
Episodes
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 spiritual identity — and how the Dharma its...
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 silent retreats, including a pivotal momen...
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 experiences that shaped her work — including m...
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's functional contextualism (focusing ...
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 guidance for our clinical work and our...
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, and what it means to create space t...
A Conversation with Dr. Louise Hayes: Integrating Buddhist Wisdom into Therapeutic Practice (Part 1)
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 psychology. They discuss the significanc...
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. The episode urges listeners, especial...
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 be considered an essential resource ...
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 weight, offering a blend of theory and ...
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 promote resilience. Listeners are gu...
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 neurodivergent therapist, advocating for the aut...
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 Buddhist wisdom, gentle reflections,...
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