Susan’s story: working with the beyond
Sofie Bager‐Charleson
March 21, 2018 DOI: 10.4324/9780429485039-8 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that transpersonal therapy extends beyond the personal to include spiritual dimensions, and that the therapist's disciplined use of self, grounded in clear boundaries and models such as psychosynthesis, is central to safe and ethical practice. The author's work with a client, Amy, prompted her to reinterpret her earlier experience in Korea. |
Abstract
In this chapter, the author outlines the therapists’ use of self within the context of transpersonal therapy. All therapists would surely agree that attention to appropriate boundaries and knowing clearly where one person stops and the therapist begins is one of the foundations of safe, ethical, contained work. The main thrust of transpersonal therapy is that it goes beyond the personal. The transpersonal school evolved to include the spiritual dimensions of the human condition, that is, that which goes beyond the personal or personality. Transpersonal psychology has been around since the mid 1960s. It is informed by psychoanalytical, psychodynamic, gestalt, and person-centred thinking, but includes a spiritual dimension to growth. Training to be a psychosynthesis therapist was very rewarding. Important core aspects of the psychosynthesis model were key in the author work with Amy. However, working with Amy really made her assess to experience in Korea in a different light.