Psychosynthesis Therapy

Psychosynthesis therapy provides a safe and supportive atmosphere for the exploration of personal issues and concerns. It honors the client's developmental level and unique ways of working. The process begins with what is foreground in the person's life and moves the client in the direction of the fullest expression of his or her own potential. The concerns and issues dealt with include:

personal, interpersonal, or family conflict and alienation.
death, dying, or unresolved grief over the loss of a loved one.
professional burnout and/or exploring a change of career.
recognition of addictive/co-dependent behavior patterns.
abuse, abandonment, or incest in childhood or adolescence.
somatic concerns - physical illness, chronic pain, or health care
difficulty in making choices or in achieving certain goals.
unfulfilled spiritual longing or a sense of duality between the psychological and spiritual aspects of life.
a need to find deeper meaning in one's life, or a sense that "something is missing."

Since the process of psychosynthesis is unique to each individual, the work may involve one in a variety of different activities. These could include development and use of the will; integration of the physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and social aspects of life; learning to dis-identify from self- limiting identifications, concepts, and roles; exploration of values, meaning, and purpose; and unblocking obstacles to creative expression.

The work itself draws from a diverse range of techniques and methods, depending on what is natural and most appropriate for each person. Within the psychosynthesis framework, practitioners utilize guided imagery, hypnotherapy, gestalt, movement, assertive training, family systems work, breath-work, art therapy, journal writing, and meditation, among other techniques.

During the psychosynthesis process, each person is encouraged to seek guidance increasingly from within him or herself, and taught how to proceed independently, safely, and effectively without the assistance of the psychosynthesis guide. As the client's self becomes more and more a source of guidance, strength, will, purpose, joy, wisdom, and love, he or she becomes increasingly able to function in the world with these qualities:

more serenely, spontaneously, and powerfully
with integrity, dignity, and respect for others
in a spirit of cooperation, understanding, and goodwill.

This material is adapted from the description contained in a catalog from the former Psychosynthesis Distribution, now Synthesis Distribution (see Psychosynthesis publications).

See also the brief and longer descriptions of psychosynthesis.

URL= http://two.not2.org/psychosynthesis/what/therapy.htm
Last revised: July 11, 1996.