TRANSPERSONALPSYCHOTHERAPY: CONTEXT,CONTENTANDPROCESS
FrancesVaughan MillValley,CaliforniaTranspersonalpsychotherapymaybeconceivedasanopenendedendeavortofacilitatehumangrowthandexpand awarenessbeyondthelimitsimpliedbymosttraditionalWesternmodelsofmentalhealth.However,intheprocessofenlargingone'sfeltsenseofidentitytoincludetranspersonal dimensionsofbeing,thetherapistmayemploytraditional therapeutictechniquesaswellasmeditationandotherawarenessexercisesderivedfromEasternconsciousnessdisciplines.
Sincetranspersonalpsychotherapyisconcernedwiththe attainmentoflevelsofpsychologicalhealth which surpasswhat is commonlyacceptedasnormal, it isusefultodefinesome goalsoftherapy.Onegoalistodevelopthecapacityfortaking responsibilityforoneselfintheworldandinone'srelationships.Itmayalsobeassumedthatthehealthypersoniscapableofexperiencingafullrangeofemotionswhileremaining relativelydetachedfromthepersonalmelodrama(Fadiman, 1979).Anothergoalistoenableeachpersontomeetphysical, emotional,mentalandspiritualneedsappropriately,inaccordancewithindividualpreferencesandpredispositions. Hence,noonepathcanbeexpectedtobeappropriatefor everyone.Intranspersonalpsychotherapy,impulsestoward spiritualgrowthareconsideredbasictofullhumanness(Sutich,1973). It isassumedthatinadditiontobasicsurvival needsforfood,shelterandrelationship,higherneedsfor self-realizationmustbemetforfullfunctioningatoptimum levelsofhealth.
Thisarticle will appearinaforthcomingbook,Walsh,R"Vaughan, F, Beyond ego:Transpersonaldimensionsin psychology.LosAngeles: J, P, Tarcher,1980 (In press)
some goals of therapy
Fromatranspersonalviewpoint,everyclientisseenashaving thecapacityforself-healing.Inotherwords,thetherapistdoes notcureanailmentforapatient,butenablesaclienttotap innerresourcesandallowthenaturalhealingorgrowthprocesstooccur.Furthermore,thehumanorganismisseenas seekingtoenhanceandsurpassitselfintheprocessofselfactualization.Thisimpliesthatithaspotentialforbringingintobeingthosequalitiesandcapacitiesthatmaybelatentor undevelopedwithinthepersonexperiencingconflictorstress. Beyondthisisthepossibilityofself-transcendenceortranspersonalrealizationinwhichtheseparateandisolatedego maybeexperiencedasillusory,whiletheunderlyingoneness ofexistenceisexperiencedasreal.
Thetherapistneednotsharetheclient'sviewsofrealityin ordertoacknowledgethemassubjectivelyvalid.Sinceany pointofviewisnecessarilyrelativeandlimited,theunderlying groundofbeingremainsindescribabletosomeextent.By recognizingthesubjectivenatureofhis/herownbeliefsand subjectingthemtocloserexamination,theclientmaybreak outofself-imposedlimitationsandconstrictionsofawareness. Aspartialidentificationswithlimitedviewsarediscardedor transcended,theprocessofhealingimaginarypsychological splits,reintegratingdisownedpartsofthepsyche,andresolvinginternal conflicts maybeaccelerated.Ideally,atranspersonal psychotherapeuticorientationsupportsabalancedintegrationofphysical,emotional,mentalandspiritualaspectsof well-being.Giventheaboveorientation, it isusefulandnecessarytomakeadistinctionbetweentranspersonal content or experiencethatmayemergeinpsychotherapy,andatranspersonal context withinwhichthetherapyisconducted.Since transpersonalpsychotherapymayworkdirectlyonconsciousnessinordertoalterthecontextinwhichlife is experienced ratherthanattemptingtochangethecontentsofexperience, definingthesetermsinrelationtotherapyisessential.
CONTEXT
Atranspersonal context intherapyisdeterminedentirelyby thebeliefs,valuesandintentionsofthetherapist.Forexample, ifatherapistintendstocommunicateattitudesthatfacilitate trust,andiscomfortablewithhis/herowntranspersonal experiences,theclientmaygainconfidenceinexploringthese realms. Whatcantakeplaceintherapyisinevitablylimitedby thepersonalfearsandbeliefsofthetherapist,justasitis limitedbythereadinessoftheclienttoexploretheserealms. Therefore,inordertoestablishfavorableconditionsfortranspersonalexploration,thetherapistmustbewillingtohandle
a balanced integration of physical, emotional, mental, spiritual aspects
anyobstaclestoself-awarenessthatmayariseintheprocess. When,forexample,atherapistidentifieswithanexpanded senseoftheselfasthesourceofexperience,thepotentialfor healinginthetherapeuticrelationshipisenhanced.
Atranspersonalcontextalsoimpliesthatthetherapistisaware ofthecentralityofconsciousnessindeterminingtheoutcome oftherapy.Intranspersonaltherapy,consciousnessitselfis boththeobjectandtheinstrumentofchange.Thustheprocess is notconcernedwithproblemsolving perse, butincreating theconditionsinwhichproblemscaneitherbesolvedor transcendedasappropriate.Inotherwords,thetherapistis primarilyconcernedwithhavingtheclientlearntohandle problemsandsituationsastheyariseratherthanresolvinga particularsituationintheclient'slife.Themetaphorofthe fishermanteachingahungrypersonhowtofishratherthan simplyprovidingafish,isfitting.Atranspersonalapproach enableseachpersontotaphisorherowninnerresources, ratherthanprovidinginsights,solutionsorpredetermined goals.Thetherapist'sassumptionhereisthat,giventhe opportunity,theinnerwisdomoftheorganismwillemergeasan integrating, healingforcethattheclientcantrust.Learningto recognizeand trust thoseinnerimpulsestowardwholenessand transcendence ispartofthe process-a taskwhichmaybe popularly identifiedasgettingintouchwiththeinner gum, guide,orhigherself.Thedirectionofsearchingintranspersonal psychotherapy,asinallenlightenmentteachings, whetherreligiousorpsychological(Metzner,1979),isinward.
Acknowledgingthecentralityofconsciousnessinpsychotherapyimpliesthatthestateofconsciousnessofthetherapisthasa profoundand far-reaching effectonthetherapeuticrelationship. Forexample,therelationshipmaybedeepenedbythe therapist'sawarenessoftheunderlyingonenessofallbeings andhis/heressentialconnectednesswiththeclient.Recognizing theillusorynatureoflimitedperceptionsofrealityandthe infinite possibilitiesofexpandinginnervision,thetranspersonalpsychotherapistmaywellviewtherapy as aprocessof awakening. Attaininganexpandedstateofconsciousnessas wellasanexpandedsenseofidentityandatransformedworld viewisimpliedasapossibility,dependingontheclient's willingnesstoletgoofconstrictingbeliefsandidentification. Frequentlythisexpansionmaybefacilitatedbyreversing customarypatterns, e.g., anoverlyassertivepersonmayneed tolearntobemorecompliant,whereasaverycompliantpersonmayneedtolearntobemoreassertive.Thepersonwho believes "I havetomakeitonmyown,"mayneedtorelinquishcontrolandlearntoacceptsupport,whereastheperson who is alwaysseekingexternalsupportmayneedtocometo
termswithalonenessandlearntotakeresponsibilityforhim! herself.
Inatranspersonalcontextthetherapistrealizesthat,although noparticularmethod will necessarilyleadtoatranspersonal awakeningorpersonaltransformation, there ismuchthatcan be donetoremovetheobstaclestosuchexperience.Clearly, if thetherapist does notbelievesuchchangeispossible,disbelief itself becomesanobstacle.Similarly,ifthetherapistbelieves thatsuchachangetakesyears,itprobablywill. It seems, however,thattheattainmentofilluminationorliberation, accordingtobothEasternandWesternmysticalteachings.can occurinaninstant. It isthereforerecommendedthatthe therapistexaminehis/herbeliefsaboutwhatispossiblein ordertopreventanyunnecessarylimitationsfrominterfering withpotentialawakening.
Thetherapistcreatesatranspersonalcontextforpsychotherapybyworkingwithopen-endedbeliefsabouttheprocess. Onesuchbeliefistheassumptionthatallthoughts,beliefsand valuesdirectly affect thisprocess,regardlessofwhetherthey are expressedovertlyornot. It iscommonknowledgethat peopleinJungiananalysishaveJungiandreams,whilethose inFreudiananalysishaveFreudiandreams.Intranspersonal psychotherapyclientsaregiventheopportunitytoexperience transcendenceandawakening.Onepsychiatrist,afterbecomingpersonallyinvolvedinaspiritualpractice,noticedthathis clients,forthefirsttimeintwentyyears,begantovoicetheir spiritualconcerns,eventhoughhedidnotmentionhisinterest.
Establishingatranspersonalcontextmaythusfacilitatethe explorationoftranspersonal content butdoesnotrequireit. Thecontentoftherapyisgeneratedbytheclientandconsists ofwhateverproblems,experiencesand concerns theclient brings. Thetherapistmay use dreamwork,guidedimagery, inward focusingoranynumberoftechniquesusefulforevokingtranspersonalcontent,butthetechniquesthemselvesdo notdefineeitherthecontextorthecontentastranspersonal,
CONTENT
Transpersonal content referstoanyexperienceinwhichan individualtranscendsthelimitationsofidentifyingexclusively withtheegoorpersonality.Transpersonalcontentalsoincludesthemythical,archetypalandsymbolicrealmsofinner experiencethatcancomeintoawarenessthroughimageryand dreams.Althoughthetherapeuticvalueoftranspersonalexperiencehasbeen explicitly acknowledgedbyJung(1973)and
the role 01 belief, disbelief and openended belief
otherWesternpsychotherapists,theattainmentoftranspersonalexperienceisnottheaimoftranspersonalpsychotherapy perse. Suchexperiences,thoughnotvaluedasendsin themselves,areacceptedashealthyandpotentiallyvaluable forhumandevelopment.Theyareparticularlyusefulinfacilitatingdisidentificationfromsuperficialrolesanddistorted self-image.Whentranspersonalexperiencesareaffirmed,validatedandintegratedasmeaningfulaspectsofthetotality ofoneselfratherthanbeingrepressedoravoided,theytendto bringupfundamentalquestionsconcerningthenatureofrealityandone'strueidentity.Thusapersonwhocomestotherapy concernedaboutapersonalrelationshipthatisunsatisfactory maybeencouragedtoexaminethebeliefsthatlimitawareness ofoptionsforchangewithintheexistingstructureaswellas exploringthepossibilityofcreatingnewformsthatwould allowforfullerself-expressionandmutualgrowth.Workingin depthwithclients,therefore,cannotbedivorcedfromquestionsofvalues.Beliefsystemsmaybesubjectedtointense examinationanddiscardedorrevisedasappropriate.Nevertheless,transpersonalpsychotherapydoesnotattemptto establishthevalidityofanyparticularbeliefsystem.Indeed, thewillingnesstoquestionallbeliefsandassumptionsconcerningouressentialnatureisfundamentaltoexpandingour knowledgeofthisfield.
Thecontentoftherapyisneverexclusivelytranspersonal, sinceitinvariablyreflectsthefullspectrumoftheclient'slife experience.Whendefinedby its content,therapymaybeaddressed todifferentlevelsofconsciousness,accordingtothe predominantthemes.Thustherapyattheegoleveladdresses problemsofcopingwithlifeandgettingwhatonewantsinthe world,whiletherapyattheexistentiallevelispredominantly concernedwithquestionsofauthenticity,meaningandpurpose.Atthetranspersonalleveltherapyapproachesthepossibilityoftranscendence.
PROCESS
Fromatranspersonalperspectivethe processofmovingfrom onestagetoanother,althoughclearlynotalinearprogression intime,maybeconceptualized as follows(Vaughan-Clark, 1977).
a
willingness to question beliefs and assumptions
peopleoperateoutofunexaminedideasoftheirownidentities.Hethereforeattemptstobringtheseself-conceptionsto consciousness, and says," manyofmyinterventionsare designed tochallengeexistingself-picturesandtosuggestenlargedawarenessofbeing."Asonebeginstoidentifyandown feelings,thoughts,andpreviouslyrejectedorprojectedpartsof theself,onecanassumeresponsibilityforwhooneisandfor theconsequencesofthechoicesonehasmade.Thesuccessful completionofthisstageimplies an awarenessoffreedomand a shiftfromother-direetednesstoself-determination.
A secondstageintheprocessoftranspersonalawakening is oneof disidentification. AsAssagioli(1965)noted, "We are dominated byeverythingwithwhichourselfbecomesidentified.Wecandominateandcontroleverythingfromwhichwe disidentify."WeiWuWei(1970)says, "As longasweare identified withanobject,thatisbondage."Workatthisstage correspondstoworkattheexistentiallevel,wheretheindividualconfrontsbasicquestionsofmeaningandpurposeinlife, and beginstodisidentifyfromroles,possessions,activities,and relationships. Atthisstagesuccessintermsofegogoalsor personalgratificationisoftenfelttobemeaningless.Aconfrontationwiththeexistentialrealityofdeathandaloneness mayleadtodespairorresignation.Atthisstagetheselfis experiencedasanindependententityconfrontingaworld devoidofmeaning.Resolutionofthislevelintranscendence involves akindofegodeath,whichmeansfurtherdisidentificationfrombothouterandinnerdefinitionsofoneself. While owningthat one has a body,feelings,thoughtsandpointsof view, onerecognizesthatoneisno-thing.Whenonebeginsto disidentifyfromtheegoandidentifyinsteadwiththetranspersonalselfor the detachedobserverofone'spsychological processes, theprocessofinnerliberationissetinmotion.
Whenthetranspersonalselfisrecognized as thecontextofall experience, adistinctioncanbemadebetweenconsciousness andtheobjectsorcontentsofconsciousness.Thuschanging thoughtsandemotionsmaybeobservedascontentsofconsciousness,andallexperiencemaybeheldasthecontentof pureunchangingtranspersonalawareness.Whenthisoccurs, onereachesthestageof self-transcendence,whereinthewhole personalmelodramabecomeslesssignificant.Atthispointone nolongerexperiencesoneselfastotallyisolated,butaspartof somethinglarger,inherentlyconnected,andrelatedtoeverything.Therealizationthatoneexistsasawebofmutually conditionedrelationshipsandthatoneisabsolutelyconnected withallofexistencemaybe,asLeonard(1978)suggests,the nextstepinhumanevolution.Withthisrealizationasignificantshiftinthesenseofidentitymaytakeplace,andthisshift
identification, responsibility, and selfdetermination disidentification, ego-death, and liberation selftranscendence and transpersonal awareness
maybeincomprehensibletoonewhohasnoexperientialunderstandingofthisphase(Vaughan, 1979).
Thistranspersonalworldviewissupportedbybothmodern physicsandEasternmysticism(Capra, 1975),whichdescribes theuniverseas a dynamic,intricatewebofrelationshipsin continuouschange.Asone becomes awareofthetranspersonal dimensionofbeing,valuesandbehaviortendtochange. Problemsthatremaininsolubleattheegolevelmaynowbe transcended.Forexample,inappropriatebehaviormotivated byfear,regardlessofwhether it befearof loss, rejection, failure orwhatever,changesautomaticallywhenonebeginsto seesuchfearsasfoundedontheillusoryidentificationwithego asaseparateself-existententity.
Fearitselfmaybeheldasa content orobjectofconsciousness. Onlywhenonebecomesidentifiedwith it doesitappearinsurmountable.Inacknowledgingthetranspersonalselfas context ratherthancontent,anycontentmaybeperceivedas acceptableandusefulintheprocessofevolvingconsciousness. Thusaclientworkingatthetranspersonallevelintherapy learnstowitnesshis/herexperienceandstateofmind,lettingit beandacceptingit as partofaprocessinwhichhe/she willinglyparticipates.
Reflectingonthechangessheobservedasaresultofherwork intranspersonaltherapy(precededbyconsiderableexperience withmoretraditionaltherapy),oneclientwrote, "I nolonger examine every actionanditsmotivesinordertojustifyitand myself. I nolonger continually measuremyworthintermsof accomplishmentsordefinedroles. I amnolonger frantically involvedinchangingmyself.... I havebeguntogainasense thatmylife(fate)ismypathandtoownthechoices I have madeonmyway....Twochangesare:amuchlowered anxietylevelas I havedeveloped a capacityforinnerquiet, andalossofmyobsessionwithdeathandmeaninglessnessas I haverealizedbirthanddeathas one." TheBuddhistteaching that clingingandattachmentcausepainandsufferingisoften relevanttosuchinsight.Theattachmenttoanyparticular experienceorattemptstochangeoneexperienceforanother, e.g., thefranticpursuitofpleasureandavoidanceofpain, invariablyresultsincontinuingfrustrationanddisappointment.
Evenwhenapersonhassucceededindisidentifyingfromego rolesderivedfrompositionintheworldandfromvarious mindstates,he/shemaystillbesubjecttoarchetypalidentificationssuch as healer,wiseman,teacher, etc. Assymbols whichpointbeyondthemselves,thearchetypesarethe fi-
symbols as pointers and barriers the expanded sense of identity
nalpointersandalsothefinalbarrierstothedirectimageless awarenessoftranspersonalconsciousness(Wilber, 1977). Nonetheless,thesymbolizationofexperiencecanbethe meansbywhichtheselfisreleasedfromconstrictingidentifications.Althoughsuchsymbolizationfacilitatesthisreleaseby increasingawarenessofthetranspersonaJpotentialsofthe psyche,the symbols themselvescanbecomeobstaclesifthe ego mistakenlyidentifieswiththem.Writingabouthisown journeyfromtraditionalmedicineto transpersonal healing, Brugh Joy (1979) says,"Initially,dreams,theTarotandthe 1 Ching aretomakeonemoreself-aware.Aswithanygood teacher,theyfallawayasoneentersmoredeeplyintothestates ofdirectknowledge."
Thesuccessfuloutcomeoftranspersonalpsychotherapymay bedescribedasanexpandedsenseofidentity,inwhichtheself isviewedasthecontext of lifeexperience,whichinturnisheld ascontent.Thisshiftinidentityisfrequentlyassociatedwith a shiftinmotivationfromself-enhancement to service, implying less investmentintheachievement of specificegogoalsand a predominantmotivationforparticipationandserviceinthe world.One is likelytobemoreacceptingofall life experience anddevelopincreasedtoleranceforparadoxandambiguity. Innerandouterexperiencebecomesharmoniousand congruent.
transcendent experience and awakening
Althoughthereisnowayofmeasuringincreasedcompassion, generosity,innerpeace,andthecapacityforloveandrelatednessintheworld,thesequalitiesofbeingtendtobemanifested asaresultoftranspersonalwork.Onceapersonhasawakened tothetranspersonaldimensionsofexistence,lifeitselfmaybe heldinadifferentperspective. A newsenseofmeaningmay wellbethecontentderivedfromthenewlyexperiencedtranspersonalselfascontext.Althoughatranscendentexperience perse isnotnecessarilyrequiredforthedevelopmentofthis awareness,itfrequentlyseems to acceleratetheprocessof disidentificationandawakening.
Forexample,onewomanwhowasintherapyduringamid-life transition,describedthefollowingexperiencewhilefocusing oninnerimagery:
I am readyfortheinwardjourneyandIseemyselfona country road walkingthroughmeadows.Theweatherisclearandsunny. Thereappearstobeabovemeasortofcapsuleinterpenetrating the view of the countrylandscape as if two films werebeing simultaneouslyprojectedonascreen.I get into the capsule butI don'tlikethefeeling.Ifeelapprehensive. It lifts me upand appearstopiercethroughamembrane,onlyitdoesn'treally pierce the membrane. Themembraneseems to openfrom the
otherside.Ontheothersidethere is nothing-justclearradiant space. Iam nolongerina body or a capsule. Iam pureawareness of space.
Thisparticularpersonhadnopreviousexperienceofcontentless consciousness,norwassheacquaintedwithEasterntraditions thatdescribetheselfasemptinessorno-thing.Yether imagerywasprofoundlymovingandallowedheranunexpectedglimpseoftranspersonalexperience.
Paradoxicallytheexperienceof disidentification andtranscendenceandtheawakening to thetranspersonalselfalso tendstobeaccompaniedbyasenseofpersonalfreedomanda renewedsenseofinner directedness andresponsibility.The actualprocessby which thesedesirableoutcomesintherapy are attainedflowsoutofthecontextestablishedbythetherapist,andisequallydeterminedbythecontentofthesessions providedbytheclient.Thustheprocessmaybesaidtobe mutuallydeterminedinthetherapeuticrelationshipbetween therapistand client. Thetherapistservestheclientbestby establishing thebroadestpossiblecontext,allowingtheclient tohandleanycontentthatmayemerge.Thusthetranspersonalpsychotherapistattemptstoprovidetheoptimumconditionsfortheclienttoexploreasdeeplyaspossiblethe wellspringsoftranspersonalconsciousness.
mutual determination in the therapeutic process
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WILBER, K. Thespectrumofconsciousness. Evanston,Ill.: TheosophicalPublishingHouse,1977.
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