Compiled by Diana Whitmore, Irene Brankin, Marilyn Kernoff and Judith Firman
This is a collection of some of the core values of psychosynthesis that can inform the stance of a psychosynthesis practitioner.
- Psychosynthesis holds a transpersonal or spiritual context which illuminates and gives meaning to the client’s particular circumstances. This context that holds the ground for all psychological processes is psychospiritual. This means that the Self is the context, not the therapeutic relationship. The Therapeutic process is only one aspect of a larger journey that individuals undertake in their quest for the awakening and transformation of consciousness.
- The client is most essentially a Self, a Being who has a purpose in life and is on a path of unfoldment which includes challenges and obstacles of a psychological nature.
- Pathological processes are seen within this larger journey and are labelled as awakenings to be worked through rather than symptoms to be cured and/or as fundamental steps towards an emerging sense of “I” (from identification to dis-identification to Self-identification).
- Psychosynthesis therapists work with different levels of consciousness. They are trained in both the depths as well as the heights – working with personality structures as well as facilitating the awakening of potential. Therefore given that within the therapeutic relationship there are different levels of consciousness involved, frequent therapy can be essential to the organic unfolding within the individual. Equally valid at appropriate times is less frequent work.
- Transformation processes may also occur when the individual withdraws from conscious participation in “therapy”. In this sense, some forms of spiritual praxis are seen to be as valuable as frequent and regular sessions. Life processes are seen as a part of a larger active mystery which reveals itself over time.
- Each client is seen as a unique individual with his or her own set of needs and resources. Psychosynthesis therapy is open to both short and long term work and individual sessions may be of a frequency determined by the client’s choice and needs.
- The transpersonal realm which includes experience of the Self, awareness of superconscious content, the evocation of potential and the emergence of meaning is an essential component of psychological health and successful therapy. The Self is abundant and complete and is the source of healing within the client.
- The shadow, the lower unconscious (our darker side which contains unredeemed and repressed aspects) is held to be integral to the human conditions and needs to be included within the client’s experience of well being. Additionally, the transpersonal is immanent within the client’s shadow and pathology and are an integral part of Psychosynthesis therapy.
- There is no pre-determined therapeutic model to be applied to all clients. Psychosynthesis allows for not having a chart on the wall that describes what a healthy, fully functioning human being “should” be like. It seeks to empower the client and enables each to envision his or her own psychospiritual health.
- Psychosynthesis therapy holds the human relationship and interaction between client and therapist as central to the work and as requiring an “I/Thou” relationship. Within this context interruptions to I/Thou relating provide important therapeutic material to be addressed.
- Psychosynthesis values “inner Freedom” and the client gaining mastery over his or her state, through the evocation and development of the Will. The therapist’s task is to support the client in enlarging possibilities and choices regarding their inner development and outer behaviour.
- Psychosynthesis therapy values the development and integration of all psychological functions (thinking, feeling, sensations, imagination, intuition and desires). This will involve the willingness to engage the client in these modalities through the use of both dialogue and experiential work as appropriate.
- Within Psychosynthesis therapy, other methodologies and psychospiritual models may make a valid contribution.
- The client’s issues are not exclusively viewed as the result of childhood conditioning but as containing a creative possibility which can provide opportunities for transformation and growth.
- Transpersonal work in therapy is not regarded as a substitute for psychological or psychodynamic work but rather a vivifying and practical complement.
- Psychosynthesis therapy recognizes the pivotal role of consciousness in determining the outcome of therapy as both the instrument and the object of change.
© Psychosynthesis Trust 2014