Transpersonal Psychology is a little difficult to explain.  If you ask 10 different Transpersonal Psychologists for their definition of Transpersonal, you might get 10 different answers.  I like to compare it to Holistic Psychology for a frame of reference.  Both Holistic and Transpersonal Psychology open up the understanding of the psyche, health, happiness and healing to encompass the Body (Soma) and the Spirit in addition to the traditional Psychological focuses of thoughts (Mind) and Social interactions / networks.  Both Transpersonal and Holistic frameworks of Psychology account for and work with the Body, Mind, Social, and Spiritual aspects of a person's life.  The difference being that Transpersonal Psychology focuses on the Spirit, Spiritual Experiences, Transcendent experiences, Peak experiences, etc. and Holistic Psychology has more of an emphasis on Somatic experiences and Body, health, nutrition, sleeping patterns, etc.

Some questions I often hear are: "How does Transpersonal Psychology come across in the process of therapy?  What does it look like?  What can I expect?"  Transpersonal Psychology can take many forms in the therapeutic process... the starting point is actually in my perspective.  When I sit with clients, I try to let go of my own personal perceptions and interpretations and tap into something greater... I like to refer to it as a greater energy that exists in us, between us and beyond us... this energy is often referred to as "Spirit" in Transpersonal Psychology.

I am going to take a minute here to talk about this greater energy, Spirit, and how to understand it.  This is going to get a bit philosophical so if you aren't in the mood, or just want to read about the psychological and therapeudic aspects of Transpersonal Psychology, read on to the next paragraph....  The greater energy, Spirit, is what connects us all.  Yet, at the same time it maintains our individuality.  It is a grand paradox.  This concept can be found in Zen and Buddhist teachings... where A equals A, but A also equals B and at the same time A does not equal A nor does it equal B.  To truly understand this concept, one must go beyond rational thought to a deeper place of knowing.  It is exactly at this point, when you are able to transcend rational thought and touch that deeper place of knowing, that you simultaneously touch / become a part of / understand that greater energy, that something beyond.  This within and without, deeper aspect of knowing is "Spirit".  It is your own individual Spirit, my own individual Spirit, and the Spirit that connects us all.  The Spirit that makes us all One; One with each other, the Earth, and the Universe.  In this way, Spirit is not particular to any one religion, and can be understood and  applied within most, if not all religious frameworks. 

With a clearer concept and understanding of Spirit, I now can return to the discussion of how Transpersonal Psychology comes across in the process of therapy.  With Spirit as my guide I let my natural curiosity and intuition with clients unfold.  By entering that space of deeper knowing, I am open to anything and everything that can arise in the therapeutic process.  By tapping into that greater wisdom, that something greater that connects us all, it is almost as if I become an instrument or a compass that, when I am able to truly tap in, can aid my clients find their way on their own path.