Psychosynthesis
The theory
and practice of what has been labeled Psychosynthesis (PS) is a complete
approach to coaching, guiding, and growth for both personal and professional
applications. There are several reasons for this:
- The theory and practice of PS is open-ended which makes it quite inclusive on the one hand and, on the other hand, hard to define in simple terms;
- PS addresses the dimension of personality development, harmonization of various aspects, ‘intra’ and ‘inter’ conflict resolution and coordination, integration, and synthesis;
- PS addresses the dimension of spiritual development, integration and synthesis; the affirmation of Meaningful Life Energy… Higher Self Realization… conscious connection with Source;
- PS provides guidance in letting go and dis-identifying from various aspects of personal attachments;
- PS utilizes any and all spiritual teachings that help access superconscious dimensions and the highest and deepest reality of our collective being;
- PS provides a dynamic map of consciousness as a tool for guiding, education, discussion and understanding;
- PS focuses both on increasing awareness and developing choice based on more inclusive arenas of consciousness;
- PS provides theory and practice for discovering identity, dis-identification from false identities, and reconnecting with the Authentic or Highest Reality of Being within us and Life;
- PS provides modalities for the coordination and harmonization of creativity and compassion in Self Expression;
- PS focuses on authentic growth and discovery aimed at Service in the world.
History and Background
Psychosynthesis offers an approach to human development that is both profound and hopeful. While it acknowledges and works with the pain and suffering inherent in the human condition, it also suggests a path for empowering our human ability to create harmony, synthesis, and full expression of the spiritual. The principles of Psychosynthesis can be applied to many areas of human endeavor including psychotherapy, education, consulting, business, and the creative arts.
The founder
of psychosynthesis, Roberto Assagioli, was an Italian psychiatrist and a
contemporary of Freud and Jung. He, along with Carl Jung, recognized that
psychoanalytic theory contained a brilliant explanation of the workings of the
human psyche, but he also saw that this theory lacked an understanding of how
the creative and healing aspects of the psyche operated.
Starting in
1910, Assagioli began the work of building a model that would explain the
development of those aspects. He focused on how human beings move toward
increasing wholeness, integrating or synthesizing all the parts of the
personality to work harmoniously together, so each person can respond
creatively, even joyfully, to the psychological and spiritual demands of life.
He incorporated principles and practices from Buddhism, Yoga, and other Eastern
philosophies, as well as from Christianity and other Western philosophies and
psychologies. After his death in 1974, Assagioli's many students all over the
world continued the work of developing this theory.
The Psychosynthesis Approach
Psychosynthesis is oriented toward wellness and potential rather than pathology. This approach points to the nature of the personal self (or “I”), the will, the multi-dimensional unconscious, the personality structure, and our spiritual Source (or “Self”). Psychosynthesis principles and practices emphasize the relationship of the various personality functions to one another and to “I”, and the relationship of “I” to “Self”… of individual to Universal.
Assagioli
conceived of “I” or personal self as awareness and intentionality, or will. “I”
makes the choices that determine life direction, style, and form. He saw “I” to
be without qualities—pure awareness and will—and the manifestation of a
Transpersonal Self, an energetic transcendent-immanent Source of all life.
“Self-realization” refers to the expression of Self through the personality
(with “I” acting as administrative agent).
Much of the
time we are caught up in a survival trance, identified with our passing
emotions, our beliefs and assumptions, our concepts and ideas about the way
things are, and our bodily sensations and appearance. When we identify with one
or another part of the personality, we cannot be clearly aware of the rest of
our reality, nor of the guidance of Self. Psychosynthesis guiding seeks to help
us disidentify from limited patterns of feeling, thought, and behavior so we
can move our awareness freely among them, and act from conscious choice, in
alignment with Self.
Self is
always present, whether or not we are feeling particularly “centered” or
“whole,” even when we are caught up with a passing feeling or belief. We often
associate the feeling of “being centered” with Self, but sometimes we awaken to
Self in the midst of despair and disintegration. It is an important focus
within psychosynthesis that the “source energy” is not above or separate from
any aspect of our everyday life. The “Self” in this respect is both immanent
(within) and transcendent (beyond). One way to say this is that “we are always
more than we think or feel we are.” Spiritual psychosynthesis is the process of
awakening to the presence and movement of Self in the whole of our lives, so
that we live and act in greater harmony, bringing our deepest gifts into action
in the world.
Resources
Association
for the Advancement of Psychosynthesis, North America,
can be reached at PO Box 597,
Amherst MA 01004 - www.aap-psychosynthesis.org
Psykosyntes
Forum (in English) http://www.psykosyntesforum.se/
Assagioli,
Roberto. Psychosynthesis. Amherst
MA: Synthesis Center
Publishing, 2000. (First edition published 1965).
Assagioli,
Roberto. The Act of Will. New York:
Penguin, 1974.
Brown, Molly
Young. Growing Whole: Self-Realization on an Endangered Planet. Mt. Shasta, CA:
Psychosynthesis Press, 1997.
Brown, Molly
Young. Growing Whole: Exploring the Wilderness Within. Mt. Shasta, CA:
Psychosynthesis Press, 1997.
Brown, Molly
Young. Unfolding Self: The Practice of Psychosynthesis. Mt. Shasta, CA:
Helio Press, 2004.
Ferrucci,
Piero. What We May Be. Los Angeles:
Tarcher, 1982.
Firman, John
& Gila, Ann. Psychosynthesis: A Psychology of the Spirit. Albany NY:
SUNY, 2002.
Firman, John
& Gila, Ann. The Primal Wound: A Transpersonal View of Trauma, Addiction,
and Growth. Albany NY: SUNY, 1997.
Hardy, Jean.
A Psychology with a Soul: Psychosynthesis in Evolutionary Context. London: Arkana, 1987.
Seixas, Abby. Finding the Deep River
Within. San Francisco:
Jossey-Bass, 2006.
Stauffer,
Edith. Unconditional Love and Forgiveness. Burbank: Triangle, 1987.
John Hutchinson is a Psychosynthesis [PS] Guide and Life Coach. He studied at the Synthesis Graduate School in SF, CA in 1979-1980. Having applied the principles and practices of PS ever since, John works in cooperation with his clients to find the best strategies for achieving a vital and meaningful life. He is also an ordained non-sectarian minister and holds a Masters degree in counseling psychology. Contact: john@sunhutch.com
