Transpersonal Psychology: The Psychology of Spiritual Awakening
Written by Kirsti Formoso, MSc. Transpersonal Psychology, BSc. Psychology
Wondering what transpersonal psychology is — and why you’ve never heard of it before?
When I discovered it nearly 15 years ago, it felt like all my dreams had come true at once: psychology and spirituality, all wrapped up in one!
By the time I finally began my master’s in transpersonal psychology, I was already well into my second mystical experience, and transpersonal psychology gave me a grounded, expansive framework to make sense of what I was going through.
In this article, I’ll share what transpersonal psychology is, how it differs from conventional approaches, and why it can be such a valuable lens for anyone navigating a spiritual path or awakening process.
WHAT IS TRANSPERSONAL PSYCHOLOGY
Simply put, Transpersonal Psychology is the psychology of spiritual development and spirituality. Sometimes called spiritual psychology.
It’s the study of the human spirit and spirituality through a psychological lens. It acknowledges and studies our spiritual dimension, spiritual awakening and our spiritual journey.
Transpersonal Psychology and transpersonal theory take a more inclusive and expansive view of human experience and are, therefore, more holistic than traditional psychologies such as behavioural and cognitive psychology.
Transpersonal psychology is a fascinating subject full of mysteries and wonders that ignite the magic and miracle of what it means to be spirit living in a physical body. So, let's dive in and explore this enchanting and fast-growing discipline of psychology.
WHAT TRANSPERSONAL PSYCHOLOGY MEANS
Believe it or not, within the discipline of Transpersonal Psychology, this is actually a hotly debated topic. As the discipline evolves, transpersonal psychologists have struggled to come up with a concise definition.
It can be challenging to define transpersonal psychology because, as a discipline, it investigates quite a broad spectrum of human experience and is interested in the subconscious, the conscious and the superconscious.
But is that the end of consciousness? How far does consciousness go? Does it extend beyond the individual? The personal? And if so, how far? Are we all connected as one? Are we connected to nature? Are we connected to our ancestors and previous generations? And if so, are we also connected to future generations?
And, is our normal state of consciousness our optimal state of consciousness? Or is there an altered state of consciousness that is more optimal for well-being, human flourishing, and world peace? And if there is, how do we develop the ability to move into that state at will and orient ourselves to that state over the egoic state?
Transpersonal psychology is interested in all these questions. It’s interested in exploring, charting and understanding consciousness, our spiritual dimensions and our spiritual journey towards spiritual awakening. It is spiritual psychology!
SO WHAT DOES TRANSPERSONAL MEAN?
Bit of semantics here, so feel free to skip past to my easy definition of transpersonal psychology :)
Transpersonal is the combination of two words. Trans and personal. Trans is a Latin prefix that means beyond or across, as in trans-Atlantic.
When we see it in a word like transform, it implies that a form has crossed into another form. As a prefix to personal, as in transpersonal, it means beyond the personal. It also suggests that the personal is not a stable entity but one that is inherently alchemic.
MY EASY DEFINITION OF TRANSPERSONAL PSYCHOLOGY
When people ask me what I do and I tell them I’m a transpersonal psychologist, I’m usually met with a screwed up face of total confusion followed by a quick exit. It’s worse than telling someone you’re a quantum physicist!
I usually follow up with: It’s just a fancy word for spiritual psychology, but this doesn’t do the discipline of transpersonal psychology any justice.
So, like many transpersonal psychologists, I’ve found myself looking for a definition of transpersonal psychology that’s short, gets to the point, and that people can get in one sentence. And it’s this;
“Transpersonal Psychology is the study and application of spiritual concepts, practices, and states of being for psychological well-being and human flourishing.”
TRANSPERSONAL PSYCHOLOGY EXAMPLE
Have you ever had an experience where you felt a deep stillness within or that your consciousness expanded so much that you felt connected to your surroundings and perhaps even something far greater than you? Or maybe you just experienced such a deep sense of awe that your thoughts momentarily stopped, and you felt a sense of profound well-being, joy, or love?
That, right there, is your transpersonal self. Hidden deep beneath the everyday layers of sensory, perceptual, and cognitive noise. Hidden quietly beneath all the distractions of daily life that pull your energy and attention into the external world.
Just like a noisy classroom full of children, it’s so loud that there is one child you can not hear and don't even notice. Your transpersonal self is like that child. It's there all the time. It exists, but you just don't notice it, are not interested in hanging out with it, and certainly don't give it a word in edgeways.
That still, quiet, and ever-present spiritual self is the root of your power, your innate well-being, and your inner peace. And that is what transpersonal psychology seeks to understand.
IS TRANSPERSONAL PSYCHOLOGY LEGITIMATE?
Today, Transpersonal Psychology is a flourishing branch of psychology that is gaining more and more recognition. While it still comes under the branch of humanistic psychology in the United States, it has its own designated branch within The British Psychological Society (BPS) and an associated journal, The Transpersonal Psychology Review.
So, yes, transpersonal psychology is totally legit. It’s also a rapidly growing discipline of psychology. And maybe that's because it’s the only discipline of psychology that aligns with how we see ourselves today as human beings.
But where did it all start?
HISTORY AND ORIGINS OF TRANSPERSONAL PSYCHOLOGY
Transpersonal psychology has actually been around for more than 50 years. It was well ahead of its time. A small group of pioneers worked to develop a psychology that was more inclusive and that acknowledged our spiritual dimension and gradual spiritual awakening through life. And how that path had a positive effect on our well-being and psychology.
They believed in its validity, power, and potential to transform at both the individual and the collective levels, making this world a brighter place to live in all around.
The Four Forces of Psychology
In the Flower Power sixties, two psychology schools reigned: behaviourism and Freudian psychology, later termed the First and Second Forces of Psychology by Abraham Maslow.
But these schools of thought reduced the human experience to behaviour and psychopathology at a time when people en masse were accessing altered states of consciousness and delving into the world of the human potential movement, Eastern philosophical teachings, world religions, mystical traditions, and shamanism.
Humanistic Psychology
Riding this wave, Abraham Maslow and Anthony Sutich launched the Association for Humanistic Psychology (AHP), which honoured the whole person, their consciousness, and their ability for introspection and reflection.
While humanistic psychology (the Third Force of psychology) gained tremendous popularity, the founders soon realised that humanistic psychology, too, had limitations. They had not accounted for the profoundly central aspect of being human, the spiritual dimension of the human psyche. They needed a more spiritual psychology.
Transpersonal Psychology
Back to the drawing board with a desire to build on the already established humanistic psychology, Abraham Maslow and Anthony Sutich were joined by Stanislav Grof, James Fadiman, Miles Vich, and Sonya Margulies, who created the Fourth Force of Psychology.
A cross-culturally valid psychology that would honour the whole spectrum of human experience, from cosmic consciousness and mystical experiences to trance, journeying, and depth psychology (Grof, 2008).
A psychological theory partly influenced by Eastern spiritual traditions, partly by indigenous and pagan traditions, partly by the human potential movement, and partly by traditional psychological theory.
This new discipline, which encompasses different spiritual traditions, would carry humanity and its evolution into the future.
The Fourth Force would be called Transpersonal Psychology, signifying a psychology interested in discovering that which is beyond the concerns of the personal identity or ego, that which recognises our deeper spiritual selves.
By the end of the seventies, the Association of Transpersonal Psychology, the Journal of Transpersonal Psychology, the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, and the International Transpersonal Association were launched.
Transpersonal Psychology's Inspirations
We can’t leave the history and origins of Transpersonal Psychology without mentioning one of the greatest psychologists of all time, and a pioneer who led the way for our group of sixties psychologists.
Though transpersonal theory was formally created many decades later, William James, in his infamous lectures on the Varieties of Religious Experience in 1902, called for the psychological study into the varieties of human experience that traditional and Western psychology has always shied away from. Namely, altered states of consciousness found in scriptures, mystics' accounts, and under the influence of certain psychoactive substances.
Other prominent psychologists whose work is fundamental to transpersonal psychology theory are;
Carl Jung, for his work on the collective unconsciousness and transformation
Roberto Assagioli, for his psychosynthesis theory
Nor can we move on without a nod of respect to our ancestors who valued the benefits of altered states of consciousness and the transcendent realms years before it became a scientific field. The mystics of ancient times, the shamans, the Yogis, the Taoists, the Buddhists, the Bwiti, the Aboriginals, the Celts, the Egyptians, our forefathers and mothers, medicine men and women, and deeply spiritual communities. We are the result of thousands of generations who honoured the spiritual realm of human consciousness.
POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY VS TRANSPERSONAL PSYCHOLOGY
The founders of Transpersonal Psychology are not the only psychologists frustrated with the limitations of traditional psychology and its focus on psychopathology.
At the beginning of the 21st century, psychology saw a new wave of interest and investigation. This time, its sights were set slightly lower than the transcendent heights of transpersonal psychology.
In 2000, following the publication of a foundational paper by Martin Seligman and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Positive Psychology was born. While neither Transpersonal Psychology nor Positive Psychology has a focus on psychopathology or mental disorders, and they both aim for higher levels of well-being, there are some marked differences between the two disciplines.
Positive psychology focuses on studying and promoting well-being, strengths, and optimal human functioning. It emphasises empirical research into happiness, resilience, and positive emotions.
Transpersonal psychology, on the other hand, explores spiritual and transcendent aspects of human experience, including altered states of consciousness, mystical experiences, and self-actualisation beyond the ego.
While positive psychology is grounded in measurable, secular outcomes, transpersonal psychology integrates spiritual dimensions and non-ordinary states that are harder to measure.
MODERN PSYCHOLOGY AND TRANSPERSONAL THEORY
Many great Transpersonal Psychology theorists have added to our understanding of Transpersonal Psychology. Below, I will focus on one of the fathers of Transpersonal Psychology, Abraham Maslow. However, I encourage you to delve into the work of other major contemporary transpersonal theorists, such as:
Stanislav Grof, for his work on altered states of consciousness
Ken Wilber, for his integral and developmental theories
Jorge Ferrer, for his participatory theory
Michael Washburn, for his work on the ego and the transpersonal
ABRAHAM MASLOW’S HIERARCHY OF NEEDS
A central root of the transpersonal theory comes from Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, “a theory of psychological health predicated on fulfilling innate human needs” (Wikipedia, Maslow).
Maslow's model suggests that well-being is achieved through having our needs met. Maslow initially identified five levels of needs: physiological, safety, belonging/love, self-esteem, and self-actualisation. As each level of needs is met, from basic survival needs and psychological needs to self-fulfilment needs, well-being increases.
According to this model, if you have a comfortable home with food on the table, you should be happy, and if you have reached the top of your game and have a good network of friends, you should be even happier and replete with psychological well-being – you are self-actualised! But that's not what we're seeing.
What is Self-Actualisation
Self-actualisation, as Maslow described it, is reaching your full potential and being successful at what you do. Self-actualisation is goal-oriented. It's excelling at your chosen sport; it's putting into action your skills and knowledge base to be successful in your career or mission. It's where traditional psychology stops and where positive psychology and coaching start.
When Maslow originally formulated the hierarchy of needs, he suggested that politicians, presidents, CEO’s, and Olympic athletes were self-actualised people.
For many years, self-actualisation, or in other words, getting to the top of your game and having a successful career, was considered to be the top of Maslow's hierarchy of needs.
From Self-actualisation to Self-transcendence
What many people don’t realise is that before Maslow died, he had realised that there was a problem with his hierarchy of needs theory. Maslow noticed that most self-actualised people were still lacking in some way.
He began to identify a new group of people that displayed a different set of characteristics from self-actualised people. This new group of people he called ‘transcenders’. He noted that they valued connection and service rather than the self-serving attributes of power and domination.
These people enjoyed innate well-being versus the goal-oriented well-being of the self-actualisers. Unlike the self-actualisers, people who had self-transcended had a deep, innate, and enduring sense of well-being, gratitude, and love and spoke with kindness and empathy. They live in the ever-present now, a truly magical realm.
What did Maslow Mean by Self-transcendent?
Self-transcendent means transcending the self, the ego, the personal identity. Self-transcendence is when we identify not as the personal self or ego but as something less personal and more expansive and connected, like cosmic consciousness, oneness, unity, or part of nature.
Unlike the rest of the hierarchy of needs, where you had to achieve one before you could move onto the next, Maslow noted that one didn’t have to be self-actualised to become self-transcendent. Anyone could become self-transcendent. You could be homeless and become self-transcendent.
This transformation could be sudden or gradual. Transpersonal Psychology investigates this transformation, which we sometimes call a spiritual awakening into the transpersonal.
TRANSFORMATION INTO THE TRANSPERSONAL
Transpersonal psychologists are interested in this spiritual transformation. How do we evolve and grow as human beings? How do we develop our spiritual dimension? How do we manage our egoic tendencies, our monkey minds, and our desires and fears? How do we reconnect with our transcendent selves? How do we orient ourselves every day to a more expansive beingness? How do we find innate well-being? How do we become ‘transcenders'?
TRANSPERSONAL PSYCHOLOGY AS A DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY
Developmental psychology is interested in human development, human growth, and change across our lifespan. But, as with all traditional branches of Western psychology, it tends to cut short and ignore the human experiences of self-transcendence and our spiritual path towards it.
In contrast, transpersonal psychology focuses on our ability to change and transform at higher levels. Transpersonal psychologists view personal development and spiritual growth as valid and necessary endeavours of human life. After all, it is human nature to learn, grow, and develop.
The most comprehensive theory of development that includes the full spectrum of what it means to be human, from the subconscious to the higher realms of our consciousness, was developed by Ken Wilber.
This developmental path, or 12 levels of consciousness, integrates theories from prominent developmental psychologists like Piaget and Kohlberg and more traditional schools of thought like the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.
A notable line of research into the transpersonal developmental path came from Rhea White and her theory of exceptional human experiences. Research into exceptional human experiences (EHEs) has found a correlation between exceptional human experiences and multiple well-being markers.
These findings suggest that the more exceptional human experiences we have, the more human consciousness is transformed into states that transcend the ego.
SPIRITUAL AWAKENING
Many people are totally unaware of the theory and research being carried out by transpersonal psychologists into the nature of spiritual awakening and development.
Transpersonal psychology investigates and charts the experiences, events, patterns, qualities, and processes involved in being on the spiritual path and spiritual awakening.
It works to understand the path of spiritual awakening, not just from a feel-good positive stance. Spiritual awakening can be a bumpy and confusing ride and has many challenges and pitfalls, such as;
Spiritual crisis
Spiritual bypassing
Existential dread
Integration
Attachment to spiritual experiences
Ego inflation
Lack of integrity and discernment
Over-reliance on external guidance
Resistance to shadow work
Spiritual materialism
Finding guidance on the path to spiritual awakening can be challenging, as many psychology practitioners, therapists, doctors, and counsellors don’t understand transcendent states, experiences, and spiritual dimensions.
TRANSPERSONAL STATES AND EXPERIENCES
Naturally, then, transpersonal studies strongly focus on spiritual experiences, exceptional human experiences, near-death experiences, mystical experiences, kundalini experiences, religious experiences, and altered states of consciousness like the mystical state. These transpersonal experiences are integral to transpersonal development and human consciousness studies.
Developing and engaging in spiritual practices and spiritual hobbies that help us reach such states is a cornerstone of transpersonal psychology. Understanding how mystical experiences happen or how we come to experience an EHE then becomes a primary goal for the transpersonal psychologist, practitioner or coach.
In contrast, core disciplines within Western psychology, such as clinical psychology, have traditionally seen such experiences as pathological.
Even more modern disciplines, such as positive psychology, do not place much emphasis on the psychological benefits of such experiences, let alone recognise their intrinsic role in higher developmental stages.
ALTERED STATES OF CONSCIOUSNESS
While Western psychology pays little attention to altered states of consciousness, within transpersonal psychology, certain kinds of altered states of consciousness stand as a cornerstone and gateway to innate well-being and spiritual awakening.
These special types of altered states of consciousness transcend the egoic tendencies of human nature and orient us to our transpersonal selves. In these states, we feel more connected to something greater than ourselves, increasing awe, reverence and compassion.
Holding such an important and powerful key to human evolution, it's no wonder transpersonal approaches focus on developing these altered states of consciousness. They are an intrinsic part of our spiritual development.
TRANSPERSONAL APPROACHES TO SELF-TRANSCENDENCE AND HEALING
You might be inclined to think that on the spiritual path to self-transcendence, you must focus solely on reaching for spiritual heights. You might think meditation and other spiritual traditions will lead the way to transpersonal experience.
And while they may get you somewhere, most transpersonal theorists and psychologists, such as John Welwood, Ken Wilbur, Jack Engler, and Jorge Ferrer, advocate for a much more balanced approach.
It is not enough to ignore and forget about the ego and focus solely on the spiritual. The transpersonal approach is a multi-dimensional approach to innate well-being.
If you want to find inner peace and innate well-being, you must also encompass ego work. If you want to be a transcender, you must dive deep into the depths of your soul. Find the source of your triggers, reveal your shadows, and release your trauma.
It sounds like a counterintuitive process, but you will only ever transcend to the extent you have delved. Yes, people transcend for a while without doing any in-depth psychology work, but their transcendence is temporary. Enter the fallen gurus of the world.
🔶 Welwood's Theory of Inner Work
My favourite transpersonal approach is the very simple and economical theory of Inner Work offered by transpersonal psychologist, John Welwood, a psychotherapist, practising Buddhist, and the man who coined the term spiritual bypassing.
This transpersonal theory directly addresses the need to balance transcendent practices and psychological work. A combination that is key to finding inner peace, innate well-being, and the sacred.
In the words of Jack Engler, you have to be somebody before you can be nobody. In other words, you have to work on the psychological aspect as well as the transcendent aspect.
🔶 Integrative and Integral Practice
Most transpersonal psychologists today advocate for an even broader spectrum of development. After all, transpersonal psychology is interested in the whole spectrum of what it means to be human and advocates for a balanced approach to development.
In the West, we are very cognicentric and physical. We spend all day at the office deploying our cognitive brains, then go to the gym and work out our bodies. However, transpersonal psychology approaches encourage us to develop our other dimensions through integrative or integral practice.
🔶 Meditation Techniques
Any conversation about the transcendent and transpersonal psychology is only complete with the inclusion of meditation. And while mindfulness is the most popular form of meditation in the West, there are many meditation techniques.
What needs to be more commonly understood is that different types of meditation practice affect the human mind and brain in different ways. And, therefore, our personal development and spiritual growth.
🔶 Breathwork
Breathwork is a powerful tool for self-transcendence, altered states of consciousness, healing, and emotional regulation. Much of our breathwork practice in the West came from eastern spiritual traditions such as Yoga and Buddhism, and has been popularised by characters such as Wim Hof.
However, holotropic breathwork, developed by transpersonal psychologist Stanislav Grof, facilitates an altered state of consciousness useful to the transpersonal therapeutic process.
🔶 Mindfulness
Mindfulness, both formal and informal, is a powerful approach to spiritual awakening. Being aware of the stories we tell ourselves and how we’re engaging in the world in the present moment is instrumental to self-transcendence.
For me, it has been a fundamental part of my spiritual awakening, with one of my mystical experiences happening during a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) course. Informal practice is easy to integrate into everyday life and so more manageable and sustainable for many people.
🔶 Psychology and Shadow Work
Let's balance out the spiritual practice with psychological work. Having a daily or weekly practice where you work alone on the emotional dimension can be very powerful.
Journaling, workbooks, self-inquiry, art, dream analysis, yoga, breathwork, and reading books are all powerful ways to work alone. I encourage you to take charge of your psychological and transpersonal development and to know yourself better than anyone else.
But it's good to ensure you are supported in your work. I once dove in so deep, visited one of the most traumatic days of my life, gained a ton of clarity, cried buckets, released what was held in my body, and emerged lighter with more love in my heart.
I didn't expect to go that deep, but once I did, I grabbed the opportunity before me. But it wasn't a good example of self-care. In the depths of agony, despair, and pain, I realised I should have had someone there to hold the space for me as I do for others.
So, I also encourage you to find your sangha so that you can do so within a supportive community. Today, in our secular world, we are all too often out there, on our own, exploring transpersonal realms of consciousness and the depths of our psyche with little support. But finding a sangha or spiritual community can provide good support and structure and be rewarding, too.
🔶 Psychedelic Assisted Transpersonal Psychotherapy
While psychedelic drugs and their effects were intrinsic to the initial development of transpersonal psychology, transpersonal theory, and transpersonal therapy, today, most research is carried out by psycho-pharmacologists with promising effects.
Few methods have the potential for immediate human transformation that can match psychedelic drugs.
Under the right set and setting, psychedelics can potentially help us discover and work with both our subconscious and the superconscious. This extraordinary ability is unique to psychedelic substances, which makes them a powerful player in the world of transpersonal psychology.
Added to that, with the right set and setting, psychedelic compounds can facilitate a psychedelic mystical experience. The therapeutic effects of psychedelic mystical experiences are profound and long-lived. They are considered to be a fundamental part of the success of psychedelic therapy.
Psychedelic-assisted therapy is used to treat a wide variety of mental health issues, from depression and addictions to PTSD and eating disorders.
Within this structure, people can process and heal from past traumas that are potentially at the root of some mental health problems. Psychedelics have the potential to help us access repressed memories. In this state, we can process the traumas and gain clarity, understanding, and healing.
Unfortunately, psychedelic-assisted transpersonal psychotherapy is not available to all at present. Spiritual seekers, people interested in personal development and biohacking, and people looking to resolve personal issues often turn to spiritual tourism to attend a retreat or ceremony where they can safely use ayahuasca, peyote, psilocybin truffles and mushrooms, DMT, and iboga, amongst other psychedelic substances.
There is a growing body of research into these experiences and their integration within the discipline of transpersonal psychology. Hopefully, one day, more people will have safe access to such substances for personal and spiritual development closer to home.
🔶 Transpersonal Ecology
When we talk of transcenders and transpersonal experiences, we talk about the human potential to expand beyond the self and become one with all that exists. We are not only connected to Mother Nature and our world, but we are that.
Transpersonal approaches include learning from the ancient and earthy practices of the shamans, the ayahuascaros, the Bwiti, and the native peoples of our lands, whose connection to the earth's ecology is still very much intact.
TRANSPERSONAL TOOLS
There are so many ways to tap into our transcendent selves and develop our spiritual dimension. From yoga and tai chi to gratitude practice and embodiment. Check out my articles on spiritual practices and surprising spiritual hobbies for some ideas. Practising these activities regularly leads to spiritual awakening, transformation, and a more stable sense of self.
These same tools in times of calm and normality strengthen us, support us, help us grow and evolve, and find our centre of power so that next time we face a challenge, we are resourced from the inside and not dependent on external calm for our inner peace. Grow your inner sanctuary now through transpersonal tools and techniques.
TRANSPERSONAL PSYCHOLOGY AND MENTAL HEALTH
Transpersonal psychology views all human beings as being on a healing path to wholeness. We are all healing the wounds of separation, the wounds of developing a personal identity, and the wounds of the collective unconscious.
That means that transpersonal practitioners are not on a high seat of morality pointing the finger at their pathological clients, but rather viewing their clients as the wise souls they are, with their own wisdom, their own inner guidance, and their own journey.
They are the experts of their lives, and transpersonal practitioners hold a safe space for their exploration. In this way, transpersonal therapy and support is a gentle person-to-person approach that involves co-creating the healing space.
Mental health comes in many shapes and sizes. For the majority of people, the majority of the time, mental health seems to be adequate so that they can continue with their lives. But from time to time, our mental health can take a bashing. We can suffer from bouts of depressive moods, anxiety, confusion, lethargy, crisis, and lack of will.
Transpersonal therapy, counselling, and coaching use emotional and intuitive processes to help people respond to what's arising so that they can learn, evolve, grow, and develop.
The transpersonal perspective sees these times as an opportunity to resolve psychological difficulties, nurture personal development, and transform into a more authentic version of themselves.
Transpersonal psychology recognises our need for meaning and purpose and a healthy spiritual dimension, and we nurture that.
Sometimes, people have a religious or spiritual problem or spiritual emergency. In these cases, transpersonal practitioners are well-placed to support the unfolding and understanding of this bumpy ride.
We are so much more than we imagine ourselves to be
Soar high in transcendence
Dive deep into soul
To know your true self
Is to go boldly into all.
HOW CAN TRANSPERSONAL PSYCHOLOGY PRACTITIONERS HELP YOU ON YOUR SPIRITUAL PATH
There are many types of transpersonal psychology practitioners. Whether it's transpersonal therapy, transpersonal psychiatry, transpersonal psychotherapy, transpersonal coaching, or transpersonal group psychotherapy, working with a transpersonal practitioner will help you to understand your shadows, repressed memories, blocks, and blind spots.
Other therapists, besides therapists trained in transpersonal psychology, can help you delve into your shadows and hidden traumas. Any depth psychological work will help reveal the egoic program and develop a healthy, balanced ego.
However, the difference between transpersonal therapy, transpersonal psychotherapy, and transpersonal coaching is that your practitioner can also support you in your transpersonal explorations and situate your experiences in the broader spectrum of human experience.
Having someone on your side who knows about and understands transpersonal experiences and the spiritual path can help you to adjust and integrate your experiences better, resulting in lasting transformation and a smoother spiritual journey.
On the other hand, traditional psychology practitioners like clinical psychologists can view mystical, religious, enlightening, kundalini, exceptional human experiences, and transcendent experiences as pathological.
They may not be equipped to support or understand what you are going through. This can be highly distressing and unsupportive for the experiencer. If you can’t find a transpersonal psychologist or practitioner, the next best thing would be to find a practitioner with a background in humanistic psychology.
The list of ways to work on the human psyche is endless, from music therapy, art therapy, somatic therapy, and nature therapy to family constellation work, shadow work, and sweat lodges.
Different modalities work for different people at different times and for different issues. It can be good to follow your instincts and go with what you're drawn to. As long as it involves real and honest reflection on your egoic and psychological self, you're on the right path.
TRANSPERSONAL PRACTITIONERS
As a result of walking this path, transpersonal psychology practitioners tend to have their own personal and spiritual growth practices, enabling them to hold a space for their clients based on honesty, trust, open-mindedness, self-awareness, and presence (PsychologyToday.com).
With a focus on transformation, a transpersonal practitioner assists their client in exploring their transpersonal selves through developing expanded awareness.
By delving into the depths of the subconscious, becoming adept at being intimate with the conscious, and reaching for the super-conscious, their client is drawn to reconnect with their true self. A self that is more subtle yet enduring than the self they formerly took themselves to be.
The self that is beyond their personal identity, the self that can access their inner wisdom, strength, and innate well-being, thereby unleashing a more balanced and authentic life.
With transformation at the heart of my business, my goal is to help you transform along the spiritual path.
To step into your power, step into your purpose, step into your wisdom, step into your truth, and step into your unique and dynamic selves unbound, energised, inspired and excited about life. To transcend your egoic stories and orient yourself towards a more expansive, connected and joyful life.
It is only by embracing ourselves fully that we can truly let go of that which is not us – that which hinders us, blocks us, and restrains us, leaving space for the self-transcendence that offers effortless joy and enduring gratitude.
Now is the time to transform and live a life full of effortless joy, supreme wisdom, and pure beingness, in the confidence of knowing who you truly are.
We are so much more than we imagine ourselves to be.
Transpersonal Psychology helps us to discover the full spectrum of who we are.
Are you ready to discover more of yourself?
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