Transpersonal Integrative Approach

Integrative Therapy

Sarah Hanison Psychotherapy. Image of butterfly on a rock.

My training is integrated within the major theoretical frameworks and in particular, the transpersonal. Assimilating different theories means I am able to create a grounded and holistic approach to the therapy I offer.

The transpersonal relates to the non-physical experience of going ‘beyond the limits of the personal ego’ into an expanded, unifying awareness. C J Jung named this the archetypal Self and viewed it as the psyche’s central and anchoring archetype. The Self holds our insight, wisdom, creative inspiration, and the potential for connection and healing.

In therapy we work towards an outcome of greater wholeness and a deeper sense of relationship to yourself, others and the world at large. In other words, more harmony and less stress.

Each person brings a unique set of issues and goals to therapy. These influence the process and modalities I use. Transpersonal ways of working may form a significant part of the experience, or not at all. This is one of the many advantages of an integrated approach; that I am able to tailor my skills to match your needs.

If you are interested please find a summary of the approaches I use in my practice, and a more detailed explanation of how the transpersonal is applied to the psychotherapeutic process:

Psychodynamic

How the past and particularly how our childhood experiences have shaped our present lives and sense of who we are. Through making conscious the unconscious aspects of ourselves (internalised conflicts, denied feelings, suppressed wishes, ‘split off’ parts…) and working through these, we are able to recover the missing pieces of a personal puzzle, unlock creative energy, and feel more integrated, robust and ‘whole.’

The dynamics and attachment patterns of our early relationships are often replayed in our current relationships and therefore by default, the therapeutic relationship. The role of therapy is to make conscious these dynamics through the therapist and client interpreting together what is taking place between them. This gives us the awareness and choice to change any behaviour that might now be counter-productive and help us evolve in the way we relate to ourselves and others.

This approach does not necessarily mean getting hung up on the past. It can be enough to stick to what is happening in the here and now and use this as the key to understanding our past.

I only use the psychodynamic approach with a light and gentle touch, and in relation to attachment theory and the relational interplay between myself and the client. I do not employ the traditional ‘blank screen’ adopted by some psychodynamic therapists as this can appear rather cold and unyielding to those who are vulnerable or traumatised.

The greater body of my approach is drawn from the following: the humanistic, existential and transpersonal.

Humanistic

An umbrella term for a number of theories/therapies (E.g. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, Rogerian – person-centred, Gestalt, Transactional Analysis) that centre on growth, health and realising potential. I mainly draw upon the following:

Rogerian (person-centred)

Carl Rogers wrote in On Becoming a Person;

“It is the client who knows what hurts, what direction to go, what problems are crucial, what experiences are deeply buried.”

The Rogerian approach is non directive (on part of the therapist) while the client is in charge and directs the process of therapy. The therapist’s role is to offer unconditional positive regard, non judgement, and deep empathy for the client’s story. The therapist’s attitude provides the safe conditions required for the client to explore his/her world resulting in personal growth based on trusting their experience (locus of self-evaluation).

Gestalt

An approach which focuses on present-centred, phenomenlogical awareness and becoming mindful, without judgement, of our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations and actions as they happen in the present moment. This process allows us to consciously feel the effect we have on ourselves and deepen the connection to our experience. It allows us to shine a light on the unconscious, tap into our inner resources and find creative solutions. Gestalt means ‘whole or complete’: simply ‘being present’ to our inner world and processing what arises can help reintegrate disowned or lost parts of ourselves and complete unresolved experiences and unfinished business.

Existential

This approach explores our personal meaning about life. It views personal problems as being rooted in existential concerns. I draw particularly on the work of Irvin D. Yalom who proposes that a person’s basic anxiety, whether emerging consciously or unconsciously, is a coping mechanism for some of the harsher and unavoidable givens of existence, and that by confronting these givens in therapy we can harness powerful change:

  • The inevitability of death.
  • Freedom (or lack of) to create the life we want. That we are completely responsible for ourselves.
  • Isolation and aloneness. To create a sense of belonging in and to this world.
  • Lack of meaning.

For example a fear of death might be underpinning a general fear of change and moving forwards in life. A lack of meaning might be underpinning a feeling of being stuck and an inner emptiness. When, for example, the inevitability of death is faced, we can begin to live life fully and authentically, no longer unconsciously distracting ourselves from the certainty of our demise.

The existential approach helps us to face reality, take responsibility, accept limitations, and find meaning and purpose.

Transpersonal

Sarah Hanison Psychotherapy. Image of elements of fire, water, ether, air and earth

The transpersonal considers all of life’s experiences as valuable and offers a positive way of understanding our difficulties. ‘What is the purpose of this problem?’ ‘What qualities am I developing or need to develop?’ ‘What can I learn from this?’ Tough times and challenging, traumatic events can offer unique opportunities for growth, and greater awareness. Sometimes we need to break down to break through. A dark night of the soul fertilises and incubates new potential and life.

Therapy and healing takes place through connecting with the authentic Self and the core qualities of the personality. But how do we connect with this aspect of ourselves? By working with the energy body and the language of the unconscious (symbolism, colour, sound) utilising some of the following tools:

Accessing the inner energy Self allows transformation and a balancing of the personality. It helps us to grow through the problems we face, evolve difficult feelings and find new meaning. Most significantly, it precipitates an opening of the heart, leading to greater compassion for self and others, a deeper appreciation of life, and an overall wholeness of being.

* A note about visualisation techniques. You don’t have to be a highly visual person to benefit from this. The word ‘visual’ is a little misleading as visualisation involves all the senses, not just internal ‘seeing;’ and the whole person, not just the mind. It is enough to simply have ‘a vague sense of something.’