- Wellness EditorDhesh Muniswamy MS
Dhesh Muniswamy MS
Wellness Editor
As a health and wellness expert with over 20 years of practice and 10 years of teaching experience, I’m dedicated to guiding people through life’s challenges by helping them find peace and balance through holistic wellness practices.
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Transpersonal Psychology: A Transformative Psychology
Transpersonal psychotherapy is a school of modern psychology that integrates the center of internal cognition with a deeper and more expansive reach that embodies both spiritual and humanistic growth.
Transpersonal psychology focuses on both psychological and spiritual growth.
Transpersonal psychologists believe that psychological development can go beyond the traditional limits of improving mental health. They propose that human experience can extend beyond the mental restrictions of the egoic self and reach higher levels of consciousness.
Transpersonal theorists refer to higher levels as non-ordinary states of consciousness.
Transpersonal psychologists believe individuals can move beyond ego-driven concerns and discover a more profound sense of purpose and meaning.
According to wellness author Margarita Tartakovsky, MS, transpersonal psychology suggests that one’s current beliefs, life purpose, interests, values, and environment play important roles in mental and physical well-being.
Consequently, transpersonal theory led to the practice of transpersonal psychotherapy, an intervention approach that incorporates traditional therapy techniques with holistic practices like meditation, yoga, journaling, and breathing exercises.
Transcendent States
The transcendent state involves those aspects of the conscious mind that extend beyond the interior experience of the self and into an expansive state of sensory perception.
Dr. Abraham Maslow, known as the father of humanistic psychology and an expert in the field, believes these experiences allow a person to develop beyond conventional psychological conditions, leading to what he calls a life-changing peak experience commonly referred to as states of self-knowing and self-actualization.
These are transpersonal levels of consciousness where the separation between the observer and the observed evaporates and forms a cognitive union.
Philosopher Ken Wilber introduced a model in which human development progresses through discreet stages: pre-personal (driven by basic needs), personal (focused on the ego), and transpersonal (connected to a deeper reality).
In the transpersonal stage, the boundaries of the ego dissolve, leading to experiences of interconnectedness with the world around us. A transpersonal experience moves the ordinary experience beyond finite duality (separation) and into an experience of infinite unity. An experiential state that metaphysicians and experiencers of non-ordinary states believe represents a shift in dimensional states beyond what we presently know as three-dimensional time and space.
Stanislav Grof, another critical figure in transpersonal psychology, introduced Holotropic Breathwork. This practice combines deep breathing, evocative music, and therapeutic techniques to access altered states of consciousness. While in these states, participants claim they can tap into repressed emotional trauma and move them beyond the control of the ego.
Peak Experiences
Humanistic Psychologist and Author Abraham Maslow characterizes a peak experience as one in which there is an overwhelming sense of unity, transcendence, and connection to a universal intelligence.
Dr. Maslow attributes to these experiences:
- Perceptual Shift Beyond the Egoic Self: The individual’s sense of self fades into the background, and boundaries between self and others dissolve.
- Heightened Sense of Unity: A deep sense of connectedness and belonging to a larger whole.
- Feelings of Awe and Wonder: The experience is often imbued with a sense of the sacred or profound, inspiring feelings of deep respect and admiration.
- Intense Joy and Bliss: Peak experiences typically accompany an intense and profound sense of well-being and joy.
- Perceptual Loss of Time and Space: A state that leading quantum physicists today call a quantum state: A timeless and spaceless state in which all events are happening simultaneously.
- State of Absolute Clarity: The individual may experience heightened sensory awareness, greater clarity of thought, and deeper insights into themselves and the world.
- Freedom From Physical Restraints: Actions and thoughts flow effortlessly and spontaneously, without conscious effort or struggle.
- Loss of Duality: A state where contradictions and opposites (positive and negative) merge into a single state.
Life impact on peak experiencers:
Peak experiences can impact an individual’s values, beliefs, and behavior, leading to increased self-awareness, compassion, and appreciation for life.
Maslow believed that peak experiences are not limited to mystics or spiritual practitioners but are accessible to everyone, although their frequency and intensity may vary. Maslow saw them as glimpses into our inherent potential for self-actualization and a reminder of our connection to something greater than ourselves.
In India, this type of peak experience is called Kundalini. It is believed that those on a metaphysical level possess an unrelenting appetite to seek the truth, which can be found through self-contemplation, meditation, and yoga.
Meditation, Spiritual Practices, and Personal Growth
Meditation and mindfulness are essential elements of transpersonal psychology. These practices calm the mind, allowing individuals to connect deeply with the present moment, which is believed to be an aspect of the higher self.
Spiritual and religious traditions such as Buddhism, Christianity, and Hinduism all contain deeply spiritual and esoteric practices that claim to open up new ways of seeing and experiencing the world.
Transcendent and Timeless State of Infinite Unity
In this state of self-actualization, individuals experience a transcendent unity, perceiving reality as a singular, interconnected whole. This is in contrast to the division between the inner and outer worlds that most people experience.
The actualized individual sees reality as a unified field of diverse interconnectedness. In this state, the observer and the observed share a singular and simultaneous experience.
Mystical Experience vs. Psychosis
Transpersonal psychology also helps the patient distinguish between mystical experiences and psychosis. While both may involve transcendent feelings and mystical experiences, psychotic states tend to be disruptive and harmful.
By exploring a person’s psychiatric history and spiritual experiences, a transpersonal psychologist can help determine whether the individual is experiencing a mystical awakening or a psychotic event.
Transpersonal Psychology Resources
Transpersonal psychology is growing, but few counseling groups and clinics focus on this practice. To locate transpersonal professionals, you will find national and international resources below:
Association for Transpersonal Psychology
(ATP) is a membership-supported international coordinating organization for scientific, social, and clinical transpersonal work that serves the world community.
Spiritual Competency Resource Center
The Spiritual Competency Resource Center provides access to online resources that enhance the cultural sensitivity of mental health professionals.
Dr. Orloff links physical health, mental well-being, and spiritual connectedness. She has worked as a board-certified psychiatrist and assistant professor of psychiatry at UCLA and is an internationally known writer and lecturer. She is the author of Guide to Intuitive Healing and Second Sight.
Holos Institute is a non-profit organization offering holistically oriented psychotherapy and educational programs.
Their counseling offices are located in Oakland and San Francisco. They provide a range of affordable, high-quality psychotherapy services, with advanced marriage and family therapist interns participating in the Holos ecopsychology training program.
California Institute of Integral Studies
The California Institute of Integral Studies is an accredited institution of higher learning and research that strives to embody spirit, intellect, and wisdom in service to individuals, communities, and the Earth.
Center for Spirituality & Psychotherapy
The Center for Spirituality and Psychotherapy (CSP) was formed in response to the rapidly growing interest in the relationship between spirituality and psychotherapy.
Five Misconceptions about Transpersonal Psychology:
Misconception #1: Transpersonal psychology is a religious practice.
Reality: Transpersonal psychology incorporates spiritual experiences but is grounded in psychological theory and research. It is not affiliated with any specific religion.
Misconception #2: It’s a pseudoscientific or unscientific field.
Reality: Transpersonal psychology is based on psychological research and the work of renowned psychologists, including Maslow, Grof, Wilber, and Jung. It is scientifically grounded in humanistic psychology and experiential approaches to healing.
Misconception #3: It’s just about altered states of consciousness.
Reality: While altered states are explored, transpersonal psychology also focuses on personal development, self-actualization, and the integration of the self.
Misconception #4: Peak experiences are rare and are only for spiritual masters.
Reality: Peak experiences are moments of profound insight and connection accessible to anyone through contemplative truth-seeking, meditation practices, and a sincere and driven desire for personal growth.
Misconception #5: It’s the same as traditional psychotherapy.
Reality: Unlike traditional psychotherapy, transpersonal psychology goes beyond the ego and explores deeper, often spiritual, levels of consciousness and personal meaning.
Five Fears Related to Transpersonal Psychology:
Fear #1: I worry that transpersonal experiences may lead to psychosis.
Reality: Although transpersonal experiences can feel overwhelming, they are distinct from psychosis. Transpersonal psychologists are well-trained in psychotherapeutic practices and can differentiate between mystical and psychotic states.
Fear #2: Transpersonal techniques, like holotropic breathwork, are dangerous.
Reality: When facilitated by a trained and credentialed professional, techniques like holotropic breathwork are safe and designed to promote healing and well-being.
Fear #3: I’m concerned that transpersonal psychology might conflict with my religious beliefs.
Reality: Transpersonal psychology respects all religious, mystical, and secular belief systems and focuses on individual experiences, not imposing any specific spiritual dogma.
Fear #4: Exploring deeper consciousness might lead to loss of identity.
Reality: Rather than erasing the ego, transpersonal psychology works to expand self-awareness and integrate a sense of interconnectedness and stability. The personal sense of self is not lost.
Fear #5: Transpersonal therapy might bring up repressed trauma I’m not ready for.
Reality: Therapists are trained to pace the process, ensuring you only face difficult emotions or memories when ready to manage and handle them.
People Also Ask:
How can transpersonal psychology benefit my mental health?
Engaging with transpersonal psychology can help individuals expand and deepen personal growth by accessing more authentic states of consciousness. Practices such as contemplative meditation, mindfulness, and holotropic breathwork can assist in processing repressed emotions and increasing self-awareness and peace of mind.
How does transpersonal psychology differ from traditional psychology?
While traditional psychology focuses on diagnosing and treating mental health disorders, transpersonal psychology emphasizes personal growth, the exploration of consciousness, and the transformation of the human experience to a more evolved state of being.
How can I find a transpersonal therapist?
To find a transpersonal therapist, consider exploring resources such as the Association for Transpersonal Psychology, the Spiritual Competency Resource Center, and educational institutions like the California Institute of Integral Studies.
The organizations listed above, under the header Transpersonal Psychology Resources, provide directories and information on professionals specializing in transpersonal psychology.
Watch Transpersonal Psychology Experts ANJA BJORLO and KENNETH SØRENSEN discuss the topic of achieving Balance Between The Ego and The Higher Self:
References and Sources:
Transpersonal Psychology: Principles and Applications.
Chall, A. (2023). Awe and Positive Affect: The Role of Self-Transcendence and Self-Focused Attention
International Transpersonal Association
Transpersonal Video With Kenneth Sorenson
Maslow, A. H. (1962). Toward a psychology of being, Princeton (D. van Nostrand Company) 1962.
Wilber, K., Engler, J., & Brown, D. (1986). Transformations of consciousness: Conventional and contemplative perspectives on development. Boston: Shambhala.
Grof, S. (1988). The adventure of self-discovery: Dimensions of consciousness and new perspectives in psychotherapy and inner exploration. State University of New York Press.
Kasprow, M. C., & Scotton, B. W. (1999). A review of transpersonal theory and its application to the practice of psychotherapy. The Journal of psychotherapy practice and research, 8(1), 12.
Luoma, J. B., Chwyl, C., Bathje, G. J., Davis, A. K., & Lancelotta, R. (2020). A meta-analysis of placebo-controlled trials of psychedelic-assisted therapy. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 52(4), 289-299.
Fourianalistyawati, E. The Effectivity of Transpersonal Therapy (Visualization, Affirmation, Release) to Reduce Depression in Women with Breast Cancer.
Mallamace, M., De Luca, B., & Aragona, M. (2021). The effect of transpersonal group psychotherapy on depression, anxiety and post-traumatic disorder on cancer patients.
Buckler, S. (2012). Hermeneutic analysis of transpersonal education: Policies, principles, and practices. Literacy Information and Computer Education Journal, 3(1), 560-567.
