ZHI MIAN INSTITUTE
FOR
COUNSELING & PSYCHOTHERAPY
SINCE 2002
ABOUT US
The Zhi Mian Institute for Counseling and Psychotherapy (ZMICP), founded in April 2002 in Nanjing, is a professional organization integrating psychological counseling practice, training, research and publication. The institute comprises the Zhi Mian Counseling and Psychotherapy Center, the Zhi Mian Academy of Cultural Studies focusing on study and application of Zhi Mian Thinking and Existentialism through psychological practice and training, in collaboration with the international community of existential psychology/therapy.
Zhi Mian Institute is formed by a team of professionals who have received systematic training both domestically and internationally. Since its founding in 2002, leveraging its rich practical experience, Zhi Mian Institute has developed a Chinese indigenous approach to psychotherapy known as "Zhi Mian Therapy".
With compassion, patience, and faith embodied in expertise, Zhi Mian Institute hopes to encourage the discouraged, support the weakened, heal the wounded, and awaken the escaped. The purpose of our service is to restore people's sense of self-esteem, confidence, and hope for life, enabling each of them to face the challenges of life and fulfill their potential for self-actualization and spiritual transcendence.
What is Zhi Mian Therapy?
Zhi Mian Therapy is developed by Wang Xuefu based on the legacy of Lu Xun who is the most influential writer and thinker in modern China. Zhi Mian Therapy can be seen as an extension of Lu Xun’s literary work and cultural thinking in form of psychotherapy.
Its features can be generalized as follows:
01
Zhi Mian Therapy is inspired by Lu Xun’s Zhi Mian Thinking which penetrates the essential and especially the shadowy part of traditional Chinese culture and psyche. In the beginning of the 20th century, a New Cultural Movement swept across China for a critical reflection of Chinese tradition, during which Lu Xun emerged as a brilliant writer and an acute examiner of culture in advocacy of establishing individual with respect, independence and freedom of choice.
03
The goal of cultural transformation, furthermore, is to promote authentic living. Lu Xun pointed out that the greatest tragedy in Chinese culture is the suppression of authenticity and courage. Zhi Mian Therapy proposes that such lack of authenticity and courage results in trauma and pathological escapism (over-reliance on defense mechanism for avoidance). To facilitate cultural transformation is to liberate the individual from the prevalent unexamined cultural norms, and to unveil the suppressed authenticity and courage.
05
Zhi Mian Therapy views psychological disorder as forms of mental escapism driven by excessive fears that are imposed by threats of culture while not biologically inflicted. Symptom of various kinds serve as an “iron house” (Lu Xun’s metaphor) which allows one to hide and avoid the inevitable imperfection, uncertainty, and suffering in his/her life (Wang, 2011), preventing one from living an examined, authentic life. Psychological disorder is essentially a phobia of life.
02
The primary goal of Zhi Mian Therapy is building individual by actualizing Lu Xun’s axiom that
“In order to establish a nation, one must first establish her people” through working with clients at individual level.
04
Zhi Mian Therapy inherits the literary legacy of Lu Xun and believes in the transformative power of literature.
Zhi Mian therapists rely on rich and vivid narratives (such as fables, metaphors, symbols, etc) as a therapeutic and transformative resource.
06
Zhi Mian Therapy achieves healing through facilitating clients to explore their lives and face themselves and reality by walking through and transcending the inevitable difficulties, challenges and sufferings of life.
The treatment of Zhi Mian Therapy can be seen as exposure therapy of life.
07
Zhi Mian Therapy resonates in affection with Existential Therapy by practising and actualizing the fundamental concerns of Existentialism, such as cultural examination. This also exemplifies Lu Xun’s existential philosophical thoughts and his engagement in critical reflection of Chinese traditional culture with a galaxy of reform-minded intellectuals of his time, echoing Nietzsche’s “Re-evaluation of Values”.
Where does “Zhi Mian” originate?
01
The widely quoted "Zhi Mian" originates from Lu Xun’s literary works: “The real warrior dares to face life directly as it is, no matter how gloomy it might be; and to look unflinchingly at one’s circumstances, no matter how blood drenched it might be” (Lu Xun, 1932/1981a, p.274; Wang, 2016, p.9).
02
"Zhi Mian" is consistent with existentialism. Wang Xuefu admits that many Chinese do not understand the full meaning of the Western term “Existence”, but he is confident that Chinese people understand "Zhi Mian". He hopes that Chinese people can arrive at an understanding of “Existence” through their understanding of "Zhi Mian". Conversely, Westerners can come to a better understanding of "Zhi Mian" through the understanding of the term “Existence”. “Existence” and "Zhi Mian" are synonymous. (Dueck & Qi, 2019, p.39)
