Contents
Psychosynthesis
Definition
For more information, you can consult the Psychotherapy sheet. There you will find an overview of the many psychotherapeutic approaches – including a guide table to help you choose the most appropriate – as well as a discussion of the factors for successful therapy. |
In the early twentiethe century, while the world of ideas is in turmoil, the Italian neurologist and psychiatrist Roberto Assagioli (1888-1974) distances itself from the milieu of Freud’s psychoanalysis, which is still in its infancy, to work on a more global and holistic perspective of the human being. He moves away from “the analysis of the psyche” to move towards the “synthesis of the psyche”. The approach of personal development that he conceives aims at the integration of the 4 dimensions of the person: the body, the emotions, the intellect and the soul. This was, it seems, the first integrative psychotherapy In Occident.
Assagioli notes that a set of interdependent parts (various organs, conscious / unconscious, sub-personalities, etc.) constitute theTo be human, itself in an interdependent relationship with other human and social groups. His approach seeks to make theunity of conflicting elements —For example, the rebellious self and the one who wants to be accepted – through a work of recognition, acceptance and integration. A process which can be accomplished, he said, thanks to a natural and profound force ofunification that we all have (sometimes called the self). This aspect of psychosynthesis is perhaps the best known.
We can use the psychosynthesis as a tool of conflict resolution, whether individual, interpersonal or group. But its fundamental purpose is to make the person discover the meaning of his life.
Psychosynthesis being a basic approach, not at all flashy, its existence is discreet. Long confined to Italy, it is now spreading in most countries of Europe (and particularly in the United Kingdom), as well as in Australia and New Zealand, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, United States and Canada.
Open-mindedness, fluidity, humanism, compassion, creativity, active engagement in society, these are the aptitudes that psychosynthesis intends to develop in human beings, with a view to personal and social achievement in our modern world.
Spiritual premises
Among the premises of the approach, one wants the universe to be organized in such a way as to favor “the evolution of conscience “; another supposes that thesoul, which would be of “divine” essence, constantly seeks to grow (these points of view are not recognized by classical psychology).
As the human being would always seek that the specific qualities that he possesses are transformed into concrete actions, we understand that he is anxious et unfortunate before the contingencies of life. The first year of its existence is in particular the occasion of “primal wounds” which attack it in its structure and invade its. personality. To overcome the packaging which prevent it from reaching the fullness of its essential capacities, the person must first find and recognize them – without judging them and even less fighting them – then “de-identify” from them.
“We are dominated by everything our selves identify with. “ Dr Roberto Assagioli |
The work of psychosynthesis also leads the individual to analyze the desires repressed from his lower unconscious, to clarify the choice of his conscious self and to be receptive to creative aspirations and the intuitions of his higher unconscious (see egg diagram below).
The client-therapist partnership
One of the characteristic elements of the approach is to help the individual become aware of his multiple sub-personalities “Unconscious”, to tame them, and to achieve the “synthesis”. In his work, the psychosynthesist has a lot of latitude in the choice of tools, including meditation, writing, bodily liberation exercises, visualization, creativity, etc. Playing the role of partner of his client in his development project, he takes into account all the situations of his life – interior, family, social – as so many access routes. We should also mention that the psychosynthesis grants will a central role in the process of “therapeutic activation”. Whether it appears to be the ally of our life project or whether it seems to oppose it, the will is still an important manifestation of the “I” which expresses itself through these sub-personalities.
The more an individual realizes his psychosynthesis personal – that is to say theintegration of the multiple elements of its being – the more its mode of functioning becomes what one can call optimal. He then manifests more and more the qualities of his essence, such as the spirit of cooperation, social responsibility and selfless love, and he advances in the transpersonal stage of his evolution (what exists beyond his personality, his conditioning and his small world). (See the Transpersonal Psychology fact sheet.)
“Psychosynthesis is not a task that can be completed, leading to a final, static result, like finishing a construction. It is a process vital and dynamic, leading to ever new interior conquests, to ever wider integration. “ Dr Roberto Assagioli |
The egg diagram
Created by Roberto Assagioli, this diagram represents the multiple dimensions of psyche which the individual can synthesize.
1. Lower unconscious : center of primitive drives, childhood wounds, repressed desires.
2. Average unconscious : center of creative, imaginary and intellectual activities, place of gestation.
3. Higher unconscious or superconscious : center of deep intuitions, altruistic states and the highest faculties of the mind.
4. Field of consciousness : territory where the incessant flow of sensations, images, thoughts, feelings, desires …
5. Conscious Self or “I” : center of consciousness and will, able to distance itself from aspects of the personality.
6. Higher or spiritual self (transpersonal) : where individuality and universality merge.
7. Collective unconscious : magma in which we bathe, animated by archaic structures and archetypes.
Born at the end of the XIXe century in a wealthy Jewish family in Venice, Roberto Assagioli enjoys a good classical culture and, thanks to stays abroad, is fluent in 7 languages. After studies of medicine in Florence, he specializes in psychiatry in Zurich where, in 1909, we know that he met Carl Jung, still associated with Freud at the time. For the thesis of his doctorate in psychiatry, Assagioli made a “critical study of psychoanalysis”. It was around this time that he heard about the concept of psychosynthesis, put forward by a Swiss psychiatrist named Doumeng Bezzola, who was circulating in the world of psychoanalysis – a concept in which he was so interested to the point of devoting his life to it. His first psychosynthesis center dates from 1926.
Assagioli was sensitized very early on to spiritual questions, since his mother was interested in theosophy, a mystical and esoteric thought advocated by Madame Blavatsky, very popular in the bourgeoisie of the time. He was also a peace activist during World War II, which Mussolini did not like. It is said that he took advantage of the stay in prison that followed to experiment and refine certain tools of work on himself, such as writing and meditation.
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Therapeutic applications of psychosynthesis
Roberto Assagioli described his approach as being mostly a attitude able to give direction to any psychotherapeutic work. It is sometimes labeled “therapy for optimists,” but its practitioners are still trained to deal with problematic aspects of therapy. personality.
According to the French Institute of Psychosynthesis1, the approach is for anyone who wants:
- to know each other for work better and express their own potential;
- recognize the origin of Conflicts, master and transform them;
- develop the self-confidence, its own autonomy and responsibility to make changes;
- recognize the mechanisms of communication and manage relationships;
- develop the creativity and facilitate self-expression;
- develop a sense of adaptation by learning to use tools to cope with unforeseen personal, relational and professional life;
- develop reception andlistening the other;
- recognize, appreciate and promote the values and personal experiences more meaningful to be.
Although no controlled scientific studies have been published regarding its effectiveness, the psychosynthesis would be particularly suitable for facing situations conflicting, whether interpersonal ou intimate. It is especially recommended for helping people with dissociative identity disorder (Dissociative Identity Disorder). This type of problem is found in adults who experienced severe abuse, sexual or otherwise, as a child, and who had to dissociate of their suffering to survive.
The conceptual and practical basis of psychosynthesis can also serve as a foundation in various learning programs. This is particularly the case at the University of Texas in the program for training nurses to become midwives.2.
Psychosynthesis in practice
Most practitioners are also health professionals or the helping relationship (psychologists, psychotherapists, social workers, etc.). Depending on individual goals, the work can be accomplished in two ways:
Individual sessions. Psychosynthetic encounters are similar to most psychotherapeutic encounters, involving face-to-face work and a lot of dialogues, but also integrate several exercices. It is generally a long term job, at least a few months, including weekly meetings of about 1 hour.
Group workshops. Of varying lengths, they are generally oriented on themes such as self-esteem, willpower, creative faculties, vital energy, etc. These workshops for non-professionals are regularly offered by training institutions and some therapists.
A typical session
When we want to change a behavior (overeating, feeling guilty, being violent …), we often find ourselves struggling with various sub-personalities who oppose; each wants our greatest good… from their own particular point of view. Here are, for example, some sub-personalities that can coexist in the same individual.
During a session, the therapist can bring the person to identify themselves in turn with the various characters that compose it. Everyone will be able to speak, move, experience emotions, confront others, etc. The role of the therapist is to remain the guardian of each of the characters, to allow them to take their rightful place, and to promote communication between them. He will also be able to challenge the self, “unidentified” of these various sub-personalities.
At the end of a session, perhaps the idealist will better understand the motivations and the usefulness of the pleasure-seeker. Reassured, he could agree to give it more room. Or else, the judge will discover that despite his good intentions, he is not the “Self”, but a simple sub-personality like the others. He could then stop believing that he must absolutely control everything. All of these steps are steps towards a greater synthesis fundamental.
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Professional training in psychosynthesis
The mother house of the practice is still located in Florence, but no organization coordinates the training in the various countries. Most training institutes offer two levels of curriculum.
The basic program is aimed at people who want to integrate the psychosynthesis in their personal, social or professional life (as a teacher, manager, volunteer, etc.). It is usually given in courses of a few days spread over 2 or 3 years. It takes at least 500 hours, up to 1 in some cases.
The program of 2e cycle is designed for people wishing to work as psychosynthesists, in helping relationships and in psychotherapy. It is open to people who already have a university degree in a related discipline (psychologists, health professionals, social workers, etc.) who have successfully completed the basic program. It takes place in internships, over 3 years, for a total of 500 to 1 hours.
It should be noted that Assagioli saw any training in the psychosynthesis as being first and foremost a training personal which was to continue throughout life.
Psychosynthesis – Books, etc.
Most of the documents written in French on psychosynthesis have been translated and published by one or other of the training institutes and are only offered through them or to practitioners. Let us mention, among others:
Ferruci Pierro. Psychosynthesis: Conceptual and Practical Guide to Self-Realization, Montreal Psychosynthesis Center, Canada, 1985.
Company John and Russell Ann. What is psychosynthesis?, Center for the Integration of Persons, Canada.
In bookstores, you can find a few books in French, including:
Assagioli Dr Roberto. Psychosynthesis – Principles and techniques, Desclee de Brouwer, France, 1997.
At nearly 300 pages, this book contains first-hand information, which will be of interest to professionals in the helping relationship, but also to people who would like to make personal use of it.
Pellerin Monique, Brès Micheline. Psychosynthesis, University Press of France, coll. Que sais-je ?, France, 1994.
Like most of the works in the Que sais-je? Collection, this one presents in a clear and accessible (but only theoretical) way the main concepts of the approach and its applications.
Signed John. I and Soi – New perspectives in psychosynthesis, Center for the Integration of the Person, Canada, 1993.
A dense book which widens the boundaries of psychosynthesis and which proposes to restore spirituality in everyday life and in the body.
Word of John et Crazy Ann. Psychosynthesis: A Psychology of the Spirit, State University of New York, United States, 2002.
This book presents the foundations of the approach and its developments. A complete work, but quite demanding.
Psychosynthesis – Sites of interest
Bas-Saint-Laurent Psychosynthesis Center
The only training center in Quebec.
www.psychosynthese.ca
French Institute of Psychosynthesis
Practical information on the services of the Institute, one of the training centers in France.
http://psychosynthese.free.fr
French Society of Therapeutic Psychosynthesis
A very complete site: everything is there, including fairly scholarly articles, as well as the list of centers in other European countries.
www.psychosynthese.com
The Psychosynthesis & Education Trust
This non-profit organization is England’s oldest psychosynthesis center. One of the excellent sites in English.
www.psychosynthesis.edu
The Psychosynthesis Website
Site linked to the Association for The Advancement of Psychosynthesis, the first organization of its kind to be established in the United States in 1995. Well documented, lots of links.
http://two.not2.org/psychosynthesis