Founded by Abraham Maslow in the 1960s, Transpersonal Psychology is a school of psychological theory and practice which recognizes the human capacity for spiritual experiences and transpersonal awakening, i.e. awakening of the potentialities beyond the ego. Transpersonal psychotherapy provides a spiritually-based approach to counseling and psychotherapy focusing on harmonizing and integrating both personality and spirituality.
I trained in Transpersonal psychology at the California Institute of Integral Studies and for the past three decades have worked as a transpersonal psychotherapist providing people with a safe and supportive therapeutic setting in which to explore the healing of the psyche and personality; growth of the whole person; and the awakening of spiritual potential.
Transpersonal psychotherapy can be provided in conjunction with bereavement counseling and utilizes a variety of experiential mind/body/spirit techniques for understanding and resolving problems, conflicts and concerns of one’s life situation including:
- guided imagery
- dreamwork
- Gestalt techniques
- body movement
- stress education
- mindfulness meditation
- prayer and ritual
- journal writing
- emotional release work
- past-life regression, and
- symbolic artwork
Some of the issues which can be worked on in transpersonal psychotherapy include:
- relationships
- life transitions
- low self-esteem
- depression, anxiety
- vocational goals
- grief and bereavement
- addiction and recovery
- sexual abuse and trauma
- sexuality and gender
- existential crises
- relationship with God
- spiritual experiences
- meditative and prayer experiences
- past life memories
- spiritual emergency and awakenings
- religious identity and spiritual calling