Context

Historical Perspective

There have been 4 distinct phases in the development of the psychology, and it is useful to have an understanding of each.

Behaviourism – which looks at unhelpful or dysfunctional behaviours and seeks to replace them with more socially acceptable ones.

Psychoanalysis – the world of Freud and investigations of the unconscious psyche.

Humanistic – whilst behaviourism and psychoanalysis focus on pathological conditions, humanistic psychology is based on the positive, emphasising  what people can become. It is based upon a model of the healthy, self-actualised individual.

Transpersonal – this builds upon the humanistic perception of a healthy individual and extends the field into including the Spirit, and people’s search for meaning in its widest sense.

As the name suggests, Transpersonal Dynamics is firmly rooted in the fourth phase. We help people to integrate mind, body and spirit or more correctly, to reaffirm that any distinctions made between the three are merely useful illusions. We work with the whole being.

If you want a more detailed definition of the territory covered, then in the very first edition of the Journal of Transpersonal Psychology, Anthony Sutich wrote that it, “… is concerned specifically with the empirical, scientific study of, and responsible implementation of the findings relevant to, becoming, individual and species-wide meta-needs, ultimate values, unitive consciousness, peak experiences, values, ecstacy, mystical experience, awe, being, self-actualization, essence, bliss, wonder, ultimate meaning, transcendence of the self, spirit, oneness, cosmic awareness, individual and species-wide synergy, maximal interpersonal encounter, sacralization of everyday life, transcendental phenomena, cosmic self-humor and playfulness; maximal sensory awareness, responsiveness and expression; and related concepts, experiences and activities [Some Considerations Regarding Transpersonal Psychology (1969)].”

‘Working with the whole being’ is a much less wordy definition!