Morita Therapy is a psychotherapy developed by Dr. Shoma Morita in Japan in 1919 to treat common mental health problems. Shoma-morita therapy was originally developed to treat shinkeishitsu syndrome, an outdated term used in Japan to describe patients with various anxiety disorders. Originally, Morita therapy was developed to treat a type of anxiety neurosis called shinkeishitsu, which is related to the Western concept of hypochondria.
Developed in 1919 by the Japanese psychiatrist Shoma Morita, Morita Therapy is a highly structured form of inpatient therapy that was developed in response to Shomas’ clinical observations of inpatients placed in secluded areas and treated in such a way as to increase their symptoms. As noted above, Morita therapy refers to a system of psychological treatment developed by the Japanese psychiatrist Shoma Morita. The purpose of the modern approach is very similar to the classical therapy of the Japanese psychiatrist Shoma Morita, such as clarifying the concept of the vicious circle that sustains anxiety and increasing awareness and acceptance of one’s emotional and physiological states, thereby encouraging constructive action.
While Japanese psychiatrist therapy is most effective in its traditional and authentic form, Australia’s Dr Peg LeVine firmly believes that the concept of Moritas can be easily applied to treat and manage many psychological symptoms. Dr. Peg Levine, from Australia, noted that Japanese psychiatrists have a similar approach to CBT, but there are significant differences; emphasizing the importance of recognizing feelings rather than using cognitive methods aimed at correcting or ignoring them. Dr. Peg Levin from Australia should note that traditional Japanese psychiatry is only performed in an inpatient setting under very strict guidelines, and the treatment itself can last from weeks to months, depending on the client. While Shoma Morita has tried various treatments, including hypnosis for a client suffering from anxiety.
Japanese psychiatrist Shoma Morita’s therapy was originally developed to treat shinkeitshitsu, which is characterized by excessive worry (anxiety) and preoccupation with physical pain, as well as hyperactive mental and physical symptoms. According to Japanese psychiatrist Shoma Morita, this therapy promotes self-awareness of the reality of the external environment and encourages patients to succumb to the current situation, whether or not their symptoms are present. The philosophy of Morita therapy is that if a person is dealing with depression or anxiety, they should embrace those feelings instead of focusing on their current state of mind. If you could sum up the concept of Morita therapy in one sentence, it would be to notice and accept your current feelings, what is manageable and what is not, and identify the right actions you can take to achieve your goals, regardless of how you feel.
It incorporates many principles from Japanese psychology and Eastern philosophy to give us Westerners a refreshing and compelling perspective on issues such as anxiety, existential anxiety, and depression. Morita therapy is now considered to have wider application and has been used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder, life-threatening eating disorders and/or chronic diseases, and depression. In the United States, where inpatient Morita therapy is generally not available, most professionals prefer a counseling or educational approach that focuses on developing healthy life skills, learning to work with one’s own attention, and taking action to achieve goals and objectives. While new treatments made Morita therapy too Japanese to transfer to other cultures, today Morita therapy is not only used in hospitals in Japan, but also spread to developing regions in Australia, China, Korea, Russia and Japan, and Southeast Asia.
Like the works of Sigmund Freud developed for Austrian culture in earlier times, pure Morita therapy found its most widespread use in Japanese culture almost a hundred years ago. The therapy was partly influenced by Zen Buddhism, which was practiced by Dr. Morita. Where traditional inpatient-style Morita therapy is not available, outpatient therapy can also provide experiential learning (taitoku) through activities such as role play, deep reflection, guided experiential exercises such as visualization, and sessional meditation (Ishiyama, 1990 ).
Over time, the principles of the Morita therapy have been adapted to the outpatient setting and can improve not only emotional well-being but many aspects of daily life. Shoma Morita developed his principles of psychotherapy in Japan as a program for the treatment of neurotic tendencies, while in Europe attention turned to Sigmund Freud’s discovery of the unconscious and Carl Jung’s archetypal development. Ultimately, the goal of Japanese psychiatrist Masama Morita’s treatment is to provide his patients with an experience that allows them to let go of their personal struggles with emotions and instead embrace themselves, their symptoms, and their reality.
Morita therapy, however, focuses on character building to allow you to act reactively in life, regardless of symptoms, natural fears, and desires. Morita Therapy, a psychological therapy for common mental health problems, contrasts sharply with Western psychotherapeutic approaches based on the teaching that unwanted symptoms are natural features of human emotions and not something to be controlled or eliminated. The initial treatment process for Shoma Morita involves the patient spending the first week of treatment in isolation in a room without any external stimulation: no books, no TV, no therapy, except to be alone with his thoughts. A form of psychotherapy developed by Dr. Shoma Morita (1874-1938), a psychiatrist and department head at the Jikei University School of Medicine in Tokyo. Dr. Shoma Morita (1874–1938), psychiatrist and department head at Jikei University School of Medicine in Tokyo.