What's Transpersonal Therapy? Definition & Types

Transpersonal therapy generally takes a holistic approach by focusing not only on the health of the mind, but on the wellness of the body and spirit as well. Transpersonal therapy generally aims to improve a person's view of life, increase their self-confidence, help them heal from trauma, and encourage a positive relationship between body and mind to improve the overall quality of life. Transpersonal therapy can help with a variety of mental health challenges, and you can attend sessions in person or online.

What Is Transpersonal Therapy?

A variety of disorders can be treated with transpersonal therapy, including depression, anxiety, mood and behavioral disorders, and phobias. Individuals who seek a more spiritual approach to their daily issues will likely find this treatment beneficial.

How The Transpersonal Approach Works

When one is only focusing on their problems, it is often difficult to see the bigger picture. This can also prevent the further development of coping skills. For example, perhaps an artistically inclined person lacks the motivation to create art because depression or anxiety interrupts thoughts about how their work will be perceived. With transpersonal counseling, individuals who feel that they have an unremarkable or ordinary personality can regain the confidence to pursue those passions that have been lost and start making progress toward human development.

Transpersonal therapy typically uses a combination of approaches that include Western and Eastern philosophy, mysticism, behaviorism, and cognitive psychology. Transpersonal psychotherapy also frequently takes influence from the world's religions as it recognizes other cultures’ contributions to the mind-body relationship conversation to improve physical and mental health and well-being.

A transpersonal therapist usually teaches their clients how to cope with specific disorders by focusing on key areas and using the following techniques emphasized in this specific model of psychotherapy:

Meditation

This typically involves sitting still, focusing on breathing, and creating a calm environment in which to clear your mind.

Drawing Mandalas

Drawing mandalas can be viewed as a mindfulness technique that focuses on clearing the mind and coping with past traumas.

Journaling

Journaling can provide the power to see the problems at hand and determine which ones require one's energy and focus. Journaling can also release unpleasant emotions, so they are not carried around during the day.

Music Growth

This therapeutic approach can include dancing, creating, and listening to music to facilitate healing and growth. Those who are creative can find it particularly beneficial. 

Mindfulness Techniques

Mindfulness normally includes focusing on the elements of breathing, surroundings, and sensations. It can center the individual so they’re more prepared to handle daily stressors and tackle life's challenges.

Visualization

This can be seen as a form of guided meditation where one can safely create spaces of comfort to help when not feeling well or not coping properly.

Hypnotherapy

During hypnotherapy, the therapist will usually guide the individual to a safe place in the mind to uncover any hidden potentials or any of the problems that are holding the individual back by visiting altered states of consciousness.

These techniques can help those in transpersonal therapy explore personal self-concepts and personal passions. By exploring the spiritual self and your true nature and fostering open-mindedness, you can create more meaning in life and improve the inner strengths of the human personality that have always been present in you. This can provide balance and improve overall wellness.

A Brief History Of Transpersonal Therapy

Abraham Maslow developed this holistic and humanistic approach in the 1960s with other psychologists, such as Carl Jung and Roberto Assagioli. Maslow is perhaps most commonly known for his Hierarchy of Needs, which focuses on the basic needs of the individual in order to thrive. He believed that humans could become dull and nihilistic without the other aspects of their needs being met, the "other needs" being those that are transcendent beyond tangible observance. Through spiritual cultivation and healing, the individual can thrive as a human, and this spirituality is generally the foundation and true essence of transpersonal psychology.

The Difference Between Transpersonal And Other Therapies

Rather than focusing on negative events or negative thoughts, transpersonal therapy usually focuses on the positives. What skills does the person have that can be celebrated and encouraged? What have they already done that is healthy and worth acknowledging? This type of therapy can take your human potential and push you to cultivate already-developed skills and inner capabilities.

Transpersonal therapy doesn't typically see the individual as being separate from the world, but rather as a piece of the whole, which is a concept that can also be related to existential psychology. Individuals are generally seen as part of their natural surroundings, with the understanding that all can be influenced by what is surrounding them. Therefore, your surroundings can influence your human psyche. By making changes to better your surroundings or to improve an overall spiritual connection, one may improve their environment and self by creating positive influences.

In psychotherapy, the mental health professional isn't always seen as the only one who has the tools and expertise to help. This particular approach often focuses on what the individual can do instead of what the therapist can offer. They frequently become more of a facilitator in this instance, and the client, or transpersonal being, may take control of uncovering truths. It can be important to remember that the individual in transpersonal psychotherapy is the one in control of healing and well-being, and transpersonal therapists are generally there to guide you. The provider can help find personal truths as the individual works through the sessions.

Is This Approach Right For You?

If you’re looking for a personal approach that puts the individual in control, then transpersonal counseling may be a fit for you.

The holistic transpersonal therapy approach in psychology can be appealing to those who are already spiritual, bolstering their own beliefs about their mind-body relationships. Transpersonal therapy can improve the connection to your spiritual beliefs as well as the courage to seek guidance when in need. Asking for help can be the hardest part of seeking treatment and becoming more spiritually aware, but transpersonal therapy and spiritual practices can help you accept that sometimes help is needed to get through life--and that's okay!

Additionally, when seeking to enrich one's connections in life, it can be constructive to use transpersonal therapy. It often reminds the individual that those connections are just as important to well-being in their spiritual path. After all, the people we choose to be around can influence us, whether we realize it or not. It can be beneficial to choose friends who want to see you learn and grow. 

Try Online Transpersonal Therapy

Most often, a transpersonal therapist can be found in most cities by doing a search on the internet. Their offices can help you find the right therapist, who may guide you on a personal journey to an improved quality of life and human growth. Since the results can be particularly overwhelming, sometimes starting with online services can be the easier route. In addition, online therapy can add convenience, as it typically allows for easy scheduling and the opportunity to attend therapy from anywhere you have a stable internet connection.

Research comparing internet-based treatment to traditional face-to-face sessions shows that online treatment can be highly effective. This study found that online counseling could be even more effective than traditional in-person therapy sessions. Please don’t hesitate to reach out for the professional guidance you deserve.