Transpersonal transformation through the practice of theology
Transpersonal Psychology Review 2013 DOI: 10.53841/bpstran.2013.15.2.26 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that a Christian-theology-based approach, 'Spiritual Transformation', offers a coherent framework for therapy, with self-emptying love enabling transformative encounters. Proposes that synchronizing Transpersonal Psychology and ST, both rooted in Ignatian spirituality, may resolve how Christian radical love can coexist with psychology in secularized therapy. |
Abstract
‘Spiritual Transformation’ (ST) appeared from practice with clients to be a coherent approach towards transformation for counsellors and therapists. This paper introduces the principles and praxis of the approach. It shows tools for managing ST projects that originated seamlessly from its semiotic structure, and enable measurability of outcomes according to pre-established criteria.The paper highlights the significance of care-giving grounded in Christian theology in relation to aspects of psychological methods, including transpersonal ones. Self-emptying love enables radical, subject- tosubject encounter that catalyses metanoia, the spiritual transformation and transpersonation needed for optimal growth in goodness and well-being.Transpersonal Psychology and Spiritual Transformation both inherit from the spirituality of Ignatius of Loyola. Synchronisation of insights between the two, therefore, seems inherently possible. Pursuing the relation between Transpersonal Psychology and the Spiritual Transformation approach may resolve my current research question: How can the Christian message of Radical Love co-exist with psychology in secularised therapy?