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Morita Therapy

Psychotherapy and Behavioral Therapy

Morita therapy was developed by Shoma Morita (1874-1938) with the goal of having the patient accept life as it is, emphasizing letting nature take its course and treating felt emotions as part of the laws of nature. It was originally developed to address shinkeishitsu, an outdated Japanese term for patients experiencing various types of anxiety, and was designed not to completely rid the patient of shinkeishitsu but to lessen its damaging effects. Morita therapy has been described as cognate to Albert Ellis's rational-emotive therapy and shares commonalities with existential and cognitive behavioral therapy, and substantial overlap with acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) in stressing acceptance of what cannot be changed and the healing power of acting, though ACT carries a grander vision of self-expression while Morita therapy holds the more modest ideal of finding harmony.

Facts
Classification
Status
Standard of Care 1
Origin Year
1928 2
FAQs

What are the stages of Morita therapy?

Four stages: absolute bed rest, light work, heavier work, then complex activities and a return to society.

Morita therapy is described as a four-stage process: absolute bed rest, light work therapy, heavier work therapy, and complex activities. In the first stage the patient stays on absolute bed rest, even for meals, rising only to use the restroom, and may move on when they express boredom. The second stage introduces light, monotonous work done in silence and takes three to seven days. The third stage allows moderate physical work but not social interaction, lasts three to seven days, and encourages the patient to spend time creating art. The fourth stage reintroduces the patient to society and can last one to two weeks.
Sources
1. Wikipedia
Wikipedia contributors, Wikimedia Foundation
2. Morita therapy (Wikipedia)
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morita_therapy, lead section
    Morita therapy is a therapy developed by Shoma Morita (1874-1938).
  • History (origin-year)
    Shoma Morita's work was first published in Japan in 1928.
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