Transpersonal Therapy

Reconnect with Yourself and the World through Transpersonal Therapy

Introduction:

The mind is our greatest wealth and the health of our minds should have supreme importance. The transpersonal therapy aims at attaining maximum mental health.

It is one of the leading therapies practiced by psychotherapists around the world and possible the one therapy that successfully incorporates techniques of the therapy into the daily life of the individual. The extent to which the transpersonal therapy can influence the individual and the healer is yet to be realized and the horizons of the therapy are still being explored.

Origin and concept of Transpersonal Therapy

This branch is believed to be a development of the branches of psychoanalysis, humanistic psychology and behaviourism.

Transpersonal therapy can have distinct effects on the client and the healer. This is due to the personal level at which the therapy shapes in the minds of the individuals involved. The name itself is suggestive of the main aspect of the therapy. This therapy works on the essence of the individual which is beyond the persona that others can see. “Trans” means beyond and “persona” means personality. Therefore, this is a therapy, which works with the innermost self of an individual which is above the ego.

Transpersonal Therapy and the Client:

Transpersonal therapy works to bring out the inner most self of the individual, which is what is left after peeling off the outer layers of the personality or the mask that the individual wears in front of the world. Basically, transpersonal therapy focuses on the essential self. Transpersonal therapy encourages the individual to get rid of the problems by helping them to recognise the hidden supply of power within themselves.

The therapy can help the real self of the individual to bloom in many different ways. The first and most essential concept of transpersonal therapy is to make the patient realise that there is hope. Most patients lose hope and this hinders the treatment. The hopelessness stems from the feeling of being totally powerless. Therapy can help the patient to feel more powerful and more responsible for their course of action.

Often the clients who come in for therapy feel that they are not given the complete freedom of choice or they are unable to execute their power of choice. Transpersonal therapy can help you to overcome this high wall in your personality to get a clearer look at the choices that are available and make a final decision.

Transpersonal Therapy and the Healer:

In transpersonal therapy, unlike in modern medicine, the therapist does not obtain a higher position. The client and the therapist have equal status and the therapist has no right and reason to pass judgements or believe themselves to be superior. This outlook stems from the fact that transpersonal therapy considers the consciousness of one person to have a profound effect on the persona of another person. They feel that when the consciousness of two people are connected then a common conscience is formed. This is what gives rise to true empathy and understanding. Another principle of transpersonal therapy states that the experiences of two people can be different but not separate. They are and will be connected at some level.

Having said that, it is not correct to assume that the therapist does not behave in an analytical mode. It is required for the therapist to be able to help the client. The therapist has to behave as a person and not treat the patient as a case study. He should genuinely listen to the client and be present with his complete mind and soul. The therapist should be genuine and authentic. This will enable the therapist to influence the patient to be equally self-aware and genuine. This makes the relationship between the client and the therapist a powerful one based on genuineness and openness. This kind of a relationship has the power to support growth and healing.

The Objectives of Transpersonal Therapy

The central and main concept of transpersonal therapy is based on self-transcendence or an identity that is more unified with the inner self of a person. The therapy attempts to imbibe different qualities into the life of an individual, which include finding a new meaning to the life of the individual, establishing a mission in life, recognising the sacredness of one’s life, idealism, altruism, compassion, forgiveness, establishing a better relationship with self, developing and recognising abundance and prosperity.

What are the Different Modalities?

All the different modalities used in transpersonal therapy are designed to uphold the principles of the therapy and to optimise the development of the patient’s inner self. The most popular method is meditation. Meditation is known to increase a person’s knowledge of self and one’s surroundings. The other benefits of meditation involve relief from stress, ability to deal with difficult and extreme emotions, increased concentration and even better control over the physical problems and conditions. There are many other modalities and techniques used in transpersonal therapy. They can be divided into methods of self-help and hands on treatment methods.

Modalities of Self-Help

Transpersonal therapy aims to inculcate self-confidence and a feeling of self-worth in the patient. This is the main reason behind the development and involvement of self-help techniques into the therapy. The main modalities of self-help are meditation and guided imagery. In this method the individual visualises a desired end or outcome. This enables the person to feel more positive and gain confidence. The physical symptoms also reduce significantly. The other methods are exercise to develop intuition, journaling, shadow work and belief work.

Modalities of Treatment

Many methods that help in the healing process have to be carried out with the help and guidance of a therapist. These can be focused on the mind and the body. The main methods of treatment that focus on the body along with the mind are breathing exercises, Alexander’s technique, yoga, bioenergetics, tai chi, Reiki, massages. Transpersonal therapist may be specialised in one area or another.

The other modalities or methods that concentrate on the spiritual and metaphysical side are dream analysis, lucid dreaming, chanting, music therapy, art, shamanistic healing and psychedelic drugs.

Transpersonal therapists can use various combinations of the above mentioned methods and techniques. The choices could be based on their personal experience, the result of the analysis of the patient, the need and attitude of the patients and the unique style of treatment of the transpersonal therapist.