Transpersonal Psychotherapy & Holotropic Breathing
Transpersonal psychology was developed by Abraham Maslow, Stanislav Grof, Anthony Sutich and others in the 1960s in the USA and has established itself worldwide as a "fourth force of psychology" (Maslow) in the psychological and psychotherapeutic field.
It incorporates the spiritual dimension of human existence in its humanistic orientation and explores the dimensions and possibilities of human consciousness.
The findings of quantum physics, near-death research and the research results in the field of exceptional consciousness phenomena are also taken into account.
Transpersonal psychotherapy integrates, on the one hand, the findings and methods of the traditional psychotherapeutic traditions (depth-, behavioral-, humanistic- and systemic psychology). In addition, it also addresses the questions that concern the sense and deeper meaning of our existence: When does life begin? Where do we come from and where do we go? What about fateful experiences, such as severe crises, diseases, wars and disasters, and how can these be sensibly collected in an individual and collective context? Who are we, in a metaphysical sense, and what is our innermost nature?
Transpersonal therapy approaches currently include, among others, C.G. Jung’s analytical psychology, psycho-synthesis (according to Assagioli), holotropic breathing (according to Stanislav Grof ) and initiatic therapy (according to Graf Dürckheim). Furthermore, we also find "transpersonal aspects" in various humanistic procedures.
Holotropic breathing (according to Stanislav Grof)
Holotropic breathing is an effective therapeutic procedure, which in addition to helping with mental problems (anxiety disorders, depression, psychosomatic dysfunctions, etc.), applies especially in crises of mind, stage-of-life crises, so-called bitterness disorders, as well as religious and spiritual problems (DSM-5, V62. 89).
Furthermore, it is suitable as self-experience for people who want to get to know themselves and the possibilities of their consciousness more closely.
'Holotrop' means 'turning into the whole'. In the breathing sessions, an expanded awareness space is made possible by more intensive breathing, psycho-evocative music and process-oriented bodywork.
This may provide access to unconscious, archetypal (C.G. Jung) and superconscious (C.Scharfetter) aspects of the psyche, which are relevant for the treatment of mental health problems and answering urgent questions of life.
In this way, it is also possible to come into contact with hidden development potential in personal, social and existential-spiritual realms.
It is used on an outpatient basis, primarily in group form (seminars, workshops), but also in inpatient (stationary) psychosomatic and psychotherapeutic settings (e.g. Adula-Clinic, Obersdorf and Specialized Clinic Heiligenfeld, Bad Kissingen, both Germany). Decades of experience and studies have proven the effectiveness of this method.
