HERE IS THE MAIN DISCUSSTION

Readings and Discussion Post: Contemplative and Transpersonal Psychotherapies
20 20 unread replies. 30 30 replies.
Readings: Wedding & Corsini: Ch. 12

Lukoff, D., & Lu, F. (2005)

Video

John Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D., Mindfulness for Life (Links to an external site.)
James Hillman, Ph.D., On Archetypal Psychotherapy (Links to an external site.)

Discussion post:
Contrast and compare Contemplative & Transpersonal psychotherapies.

HERE IS THE RESPOND TO THE MAIN DISCUSSION

Devo

Contemplative therapies involve meditation, deliberation, yoga, and cultural practices. These techniques foster perceptive awareness and great acumen into the mind and oneself. The notion to know yourself is a seminal theme in contemplative traditions. The theory of personality herein views temperament under the headings of consciousness, identity, motivation, development, and higher capacities (Wedding & Corsini, 2014).

Contemplative psychologists believe that people are less aware of their cognitive processes than we perhaps assume, and meditative exercises can help one recognize and reduce falsifications that result from cognitive-perceptual distortions. The notion of identity attempts to answer fundamental and significant questions one asks about the state of their existence. Through developing contemplative awareness, the depths of the psyche can recognize and rid false self-images. Motivation in contemplative psychotherapies is organized hierarchically from strong to weak. Contemplative therapy focuses on normal pathology and is not designed to treat psychopathologies such as psychosis. The underlying theory is that the mind can be trained to rid itself of unhealthy characteristics and foster healthy qualities. The process of psychotherapy involves visualizing and breath mediation (Wedding & Corsini, 2014).

Transpersonal psychology embraces ones spiritual side and promotes finding spirituality as a conduit to finding meaning in life. Transpersonal psychology is employed to treat anxiety, depression, addictions, and behavioral problems. Both contemplative and transpersonal psychology have roots in humanistic psychology. Similar to contemplative therapies, transpersonal psychology utilizes meditation, guided visualization, and mindfulness practices. Yet, transpersonal therapy further uses techniques such as hypnotherapy, dreamwork, art, writing, and music.

Transpersonal psychology is additionally similar to contemplative practices, as they both recognize that humans are more than mind and body, and are comprised of transcendent factors as well. However, although contemplative disciplines can provoke growth on a transpersonal level, transpersonal therapy differs in that it involves analyzing the deeper recesses of the mind, probing existential dynamics, and seeking advanced levels of psychological and spiritual maturity. To master these skills, long-term commitment and practice would be necessary (Friedman, 2014).

References

Friedman, H. Finding meaning through transpersonal approaches in clinical psychology: Assessments and psychotherapies. International Journal of Existential Psychology and Psychotherapy, 5(1), 45-49.

Wedding, D. & Corsini, R. (2014). Current psychotherapies. Cengage Learning.