"Freud said, "I am interested only in the basement of the human being." Psychosynthesis is interested in the whole building." - Roberto Assagioli.
What is Psychosynthesis?
Psychosynthesis is a style of therapy developed by Roberto Assagioli, a contemporary of Freud, which takes a holistic or 'spiritual' view of who we are and what our potential is.
The pain, wounding or trauma you may experience in your life are just as welcome and workable as your experiences of joy, happiness and peace.
Psychosynthesis understands human life on two levels, both being equally important:
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The 'personal' level - this is who we feel and experience ourselves to be in our day-to-day life, with all of its highs and lows, joys and disappointments and the ever-changing stream of thoughts, feelings and sensations.
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The 'transpersonal' level - this is the deeper, invisible essence of who we are, transcending our mind and body while also including them. On this level we are spiritual beings or 'souls', pure awareness or consciousness, which has taken a unique human form and expression.
The long term 'goal' of Psychosynthesis therapy would be to aim at helping a client to develop more awareness of and insight into their own nature, in all its complexity, including the smaller 'parts' or sub-personalities which we all contain within us.
This depth of insight can give a client more freedom to choose how they respond to the events of their life, which can lead to lasting behavioural change and greater levels of happiness and fulfillment.
By using the many different tools that Psychosynthesis has at its disposal, one can eventually develop wiser, more harmonious and more productive relationships to and between these different aspects of oneself. This process could be described as a 'synthesis' of one's psyche.