15 October, 2007

Psychosynthesis : Psychology with a soul

"Let us feel and obey the urge aroused by the great need of healing the serious ills which at present are affecting humanity; let us realize the contribution we can make to the creation of a new civilization characterized by a harmonious integration and cooperation, pervaded by the spirit of synthesis."
-- Roberto Assagioli


I first stumbled upon Psychosynthesis in 1996 . I was going through some kind of " crisis of meaning ". Interesting how "when the student is ready the teacher appears ". I was depressed, burnt out, physically and emotionally exhausted yet a little spark inside me urged me to explore this method, both as a way out through the darkness and as a platform on which to start re- buiding my life.
Psychosynthesis is transpersonal psychology, the human journey toward personal wholeness.

Conceived by the Italian psychiatrist Roberto Assagioli (1888-1974), who studied under Freud and Jung and took what he learnt further. Psychosynthesis is often called " psychology with a soul " and is concerned with the realisation of individual potential. Psychosynthesis takes a holistic approach to the human being including body , feelings , mind and soul.

This is how Roberto Assagioli describes psychosynthesis:

" Psychosynthesis is a method of psychological development and self realization for those who refuse to remain the slave of their own inner phantasms or of external influences, who refuse to submit passively to the play of psychological forces which is going on within them, and who are determined to become the master of their own lives'.
-- Roberto Assagioli

Psychosynthesis links :
PsykosyntesAkademin, Stockholm. ( This is where I trained )
http://www.psykosyntesakademin.se/
The Psychosynthesis & Education Trust , London
http://www.psychosynthesis.edu/
(The Trust for Furtherance of Psychosynthesis and Education is a registered educational charity, and the longest established psychosynthesis centre in Britain. )
The Association for the Advancement of Psychosynthesis
http://www.aap-psychosynthesis.org/
( a professional organization dedicated to the dissemination of the ideas and spirit of psychosynthesis throughout the world. )

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