Counselling On Collins

TRANSPERSONAL COUNSELLING

Since early last century, there has been a more scientific focus on psychology; theories and methods to help the human psyche to achieve a ‘normal’ well-functioning position in society. This was beginning of the evolution of dynamic psychiatry.

There have been four forces thus far in the field of psychology: Psychoanalysis, Behaviourism, Humanism and since the 1960’s, Transpersonal psychology.

Transpersonal psychology includes self-development, self beyond the ego, peak experiences, mystical experiences, dreams, systemic trance, spiritual crises, spiritual evolution, altered states of consciousness, spiritual practices, and other sublime and/or unusually expanded experiences of living.

ABOUT THE UNCONSCIOUS

Early pioneers of psychology and psychoanalysis, Freud and Jung believed that by accessing and examining unconscious material, healing and changes of behaviour and thoughts are able to occur.

WHAT DOES THE UNCONSCIOUS DO?

1. Storing and organising memories
2. Storing and operating emotions
3. Operating and preserving the physical body
4. Experiencing and replicating the world metaphorically
5. Accepting things literally and personally
6. Maintaining genealogical instincts
7. Creating and maintaining “least effort” habit programs
8. Co-creating the future through imagination

Allen Chips (2004)

ALTERED STATES OF CONSCIOUSNESS

Altered states of consciousness are necessary for entry to the unconscious in order to enable healing. Imagination is the key to the unconscious, and it is via the unconscious that the individual is able to connect with their creative power.

Altered States of Consciousness are able to be accessed through: Hypnosis, art therapy processes, focussing, NLP etc.

CO-CREATING THE FUTURE THROUGH IMAGINATION

Whatever we focus on and form in our imaginations, will become a future reality (Chips, 2004)

Imagination is an important aspect of the healing process; the mind is not able to distinguish between what is imagined and experienced. Imagination brings the freedom to visualise, feel, and create and is able to be a deliberate rehearsal of a future outcome. By employing state change - hypnosis and meditation for example, one is able to plan and live future outcomes before one actually gets there.

CREATING AND MAINTAINING “LEAST EFFORT” HABIT PROGRAMS

Once a habit is formed it is able to function without the initial effort to relearn or rehearse. This means the individual is able to give their attention to other tasks. Environmental triggers unconsciously set off habits and behavioural patterns. These triggered responses can be functional or dysfunctional, appropriate or inappropriate, healthy or neurotic.

HOLISTIC COUNSELLING

Holistic counselling acknowledges the interconnection of body, mind and spirit in the healing process. This approach employs the philosophies of Western and Eastern religions, and, ancient and traditional cultures. 

Holistic Counselling is emergent, as practitioners and researchers endeavour to develop a coherent and evolving theoretical framework, which embraces 9 dimensions: cognitive, imaginative, somatic, emotional, social, political, ecological and spiritual dimensions of the human experience.

People’s attitudes take shape based on their take on their experience - their orientation towards the world defines their reality. The 9 dimensions are intermeshed and provide a complex multi-dimensional force field for their existence. Individuals are stretched between a positive pole of what they aspire to on each dimension and a negative pole of what they fear.