History of Transpersonal Psychology:
The academic journal of Transpersonal Psychology began publication in 1969 and in 1971,it was, founded by the Association for Transpersonal Psychology.
Although this field did not officially begun until in 1960, because the roots of the early psychologists like William James and Carl Jung, who were very interested in the spiritual aspects of human nature. In addition to using psychology to better understand the spiritual experiences, to a deeper and richer understanding of individuals and to help them achieve their full potentials in transpersonal psychology.
Definition:
Transpersonal psychology is a field that is concentrated on the spiritual aspects of human life. Transpersonal psychology ,was introduced in 1960 by psychologists like Abraham Maslow and Victor Frankl . This field uses psychological methods and theories to explore spiritual things.
Transpersonal psychologists try to incorporate timeless wisdom with Western psychology and spiritual principles to translate the scientific basis for contemporary language. Transpersonal Psychology meets all human psycho-spiritual development ,from the deepest wounds and needs, to existential crisis of man, to the most transcendent capacity of our consciousness. ”
Transpersonal psychology is often confused with parapsychology, but it is important to note that “these two are not the same. Although transpersonal psychology emphasizes on the spiritual side of human nature, while parapsychology deals with issues such as mental phenomena, including precognition and psychokineses.
Research Areas In Transpersonal Psychology: Below are some of the areas of interest in Transpersonal psychology:
- Music Therapy
- Guided imagery and visualization
- Peak experiences
- Near-Death Experiences
- Parapsychology
- Meditation
- Spirituality and Psychology
Transpersonal Psychology combines various approaches in psychology, as behaviorism, cognitive psychology and humanistic psychology with other disciplines such as philosophy, mysticism and the world’s attention for the Eastern and Western religions.
In addition below are the Four Facts about transpersonal psychology, from the therapist’s role in the history of the transpersonal psychology and psychotherapy field.
- Transpersonal Psychology has no special tools or methods.
“Transpersonal psychotherapy is rooted in the ideology and basic humility that works behind the scenes,” says psychotherapist, author and professor Jeffrey Sumber. “It is less about a particular tool or methodology and the intention behind the intervention,” he said.
- Relationships in transpersonal psychology are the key.
According to Jeffrey Sumber “Transpersonal Psychology is an approach to understanding how our mind works through relationships with other people, sitting on the belief that” there is something larger and deeper in the space between which operates upon us.” The relationship between client and therapist is as important as the other client relationships. “… Space between the therapist and the client so sacred and transformative than the space between the customers and their problems, their families and friends, and so on,” he said.
And two people change because of this relationship. As Jeffrey Sumber wrote on his website: “… For a positive change to take place for the customer, it must also arise for the therapist on a certain level, and through the bonds of our relationship.”
- The therapist is not viewed as an expert.
Instead, the therapist is the “catalyst who assists the customers in detecting their own truth and their own methods ,” Sumber said. “The only skill is the ability of the therapist to reflect the actual customer ‘s own truth back to them with a minimal of the therapist’s own luggage as possible,” he added.
4. Transpersonal Psychology do not judge from the experiences of others.
Sumber said that “transpersonal psychology is also based on the belief that” the client and the therapist both have own experiences and neither is incorrect or correct, unhealthy or healthy ,wrong or right.
