Transpersonal Psychology and Psychedelics

TRANSPERSONAL PSYCHOLOGY AND PSYCHEDELICS

Transpersonal psychology is a branch of psychology that focuses on the higher, spiritual aspects of the human being, beyond the ego and personality. Transpersonal psychology seeks to explore and explain the mystical, transcendental and spiritual experiences that many people have experienced, making it an ideal theoretical framework for psychedelic-assisted therapy. It is interested in the search for meaning, transcendence, and connection to something greater than oneself. Both transpersonal psychology and psychedelic therapy share an interest in exploring the deeper aspects of human consciousness and the potential for self-transcendence and personal transformation. In many cases, psychedelics can facilitate profound transcendental and spiritual experiences.

In this module, we will explore the multiple connections between transpersonal psychology and psychedelics, and how they enrich each other, using this approach as a theoretical framework for training.

Both shamanism and transpersonal psychology value the ancient wisdom and teachings of indigenous and traditional cultures. Psychedelics can induce profound experiences of oneness, connection with nature, a sense of transcendence of the ego, and a greater understanding of the interconnectedness of everything in the universe. Transpersonal psychology recognizes the sacredness in all forms of life and the interconnectedness of all things. Both perspectives promote a sense of unity and belonging to a greater whole.

PROGRAM

By participating in this module, students will have access to a better understanding of these topics.

FACILITATORS


David Lukkoff

David Lukoff, PhD is Professor Emeritus of Psychology at Sophia University in Palo Alto, CA and a licensed psychologist in California. His work focuses on spiritual and mental health issues. He has authored 80 articles and chapters and co-authored the DSM-IV and DSM-5 category Religious or Spiritual Problem. He is active in international training workshops for psychologists on spiritual competency, loss, grief, death, recovery, and spiritual crises.

He has served on the faculty of Harvard, UCLA, Oxnard College, California Institute of Integral Studies and Saybrook, and has been active in training workshops for psychologists on spiritual competencies in areas such as loss and grief, death and illness, spiritual problems and emergencies, as well as in Japan, Mexico, Canada, Brazil, Russia, Romania, Portugal, France, Sweden, Italy, Scotland, Ireland, Austria, Lithuania, Kyrgyzstan, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Moldova and England.


Vicente Merlo

Vicente Merlo has a PhD in Philosophy. He has lived several years in India, especially in the ashram of Sri Aurobindo (Pondicherry). He was a founding member of the “Society of Indian and Oriental Studies” as well as of the “Spanish Transpersonal Association”. He has been a member of the Advisory Council of the Parliament of World Religions (Barcelona, 2004). He has published a dozen books, among which we can highlight: The teachings of Sri Aurobindo (Kairós, 1998); The autoluminosity of the Âtman: approach to classical Hindu thought (Biblioteca Nueva, 2001); The call (of the) New Age: towards a mystical and esoteric spirituality, Kairós, 2007. Meditar -with Hinduism and Buddhism-, (Kairós, 2013); Filosofía ¿qué es eso? -Saber y Ser en Occidente y Oriente-, (Biblioteca Nueva, 2014); Sabiduría y gratitud, (Kairós, 2015) and Espiritualidad transreligiosa (La Llave, 2017).


Karina Bertolotto

Karina Bertolotto is a psychologist with a Master in Humanistic Psychotherapy from the Erich Fromm Institute in Barcelona. Currently, she teaches at the University of Barcelona in the Psychotherapy area of the Master in Music Therapy. She is also a professional member of Eurotas, the European Association of Transpersonal Psychology. Her training includes Claudio Naranjo’s Integrative Psychology program, having been involved since 2007 in Claudio Naranjo’s SAT. For five years, she had the responsibility of organizing this program in various places such as California, Canada, Brazil, China and Uruguay.Beyond her training in psychology, she is also an artist and writer. Her passion for comparative mysticism has led her to be a curious traveler, enriching herself with meaningful and transformative experiences during long stays in different countries. Founder and CEO of BMed Global Academy.


Regina Hess

Regina U. Hess is a clinical psychologist from Germany with a joint PhD in transpersonal psychology (USA) and embodied phenomenology (UK). She is a body-centered gestalt therapist, creative therapist, transpersonal psychotherapist and supervisor. Regina has extensive experience in humanitarian work and research on global health issues. She is founder and director of the ASE World Forum. Ancient Wisdom meets Modern Science and is a specialist in working on the transformation of pre- and perinatal, individual and collective/transgenerational transcultural trauma, and integrates the therapeutic-shamanic use of altered states of consciousness, with a specific focus on the integration of Deep Ecology/Deep Feminine principles, including intimacy and sacred sexuality, and women’s councils. Regina teaches at international universities such as Alef Trust, UK, and transpersonal educational institutes, and is an independent researcher. Dr. Regina U. Hess is member of the Board of Directors of the EUROTAS Global Transpersonal Network and the International Transpersonal Association, and is Vice-President of the European Transpersonal Association. She co-founded the International Transpersonal Research Network and the EUROTAS Transpersonal Research. She is a member of the Swiss Medical Society for Psychedelic Therapy and co-developer of the ‘Beyond Experience’ Experience Integration Program of the MIND European Foundation for Psychedelic Science. Recently, Regina founded the global initiative Birthing an Ancient Future – Temple of the Peoples – Multidisciplinary Psychedelic Council – From and to all Directions – For all Relations, which unites ancient wisdom traditions and modern psychedelic science with art and immersion in nature.