Should I Share: Patients’ Reflections on Disclosing Past Life Memories in Psychotherapy
Religions June 5, 2025 Rotem Meidan, Ofra Mayseless
People who have had past life memories often hesitate to bring them up in therapy, fearing they will be pathologized. When they do disclose, therapist responses vary from validating to dismissive, and dismissive reactions can harm the therapeutic alliance and even cause iatrogenic harm. Based on interviews with 15 individuals who had past life memories outside of therapy, the study introduces the concept of Spiritual-Psychoeducation as a framework for respectfully integrating such experiences into treatment. The findings suggest that clinicians need greater sensitivity to anomalous spiritual experiences as meaningful elements of psychological healing.