Established to offer the powerful, transformative principles of psychosynthesis in a number of ways to the community.
SERVICES
The Institute of Psychosynthesis New Zealand
The Institute was founded in 1986. It was established to offer the powerful, transformative principles of psychosynthesis in a number of ways to the community.
These are:• Courses and Workshops
• Counselling and Therapy for individuals and couples
• Consultation for organisations
• Supervision for counsellors, therapists and other helping professionals
• A professional training programme
The vision of the Institute is to help realise the magnificent potential of humanity by encouraging individuals, in whatever socio-economic and cultural context they live, to have the courage to make what they choose of their lives, in accordance with life-enhancing values.
Psychospiritual psychology and psychosynthesis
One aim of psychology is to help us understand the nature of human consciousness. In the West, initial understanding was derived from studying pathology (mental illness) and animals. These approaches were increasingly challenged as being too limiting, and people like Maslow articulated the need to study healthy people in order to develop comprehensive models of human experience.
From this broader base of humanistic psychological understanding, it then made sense to look at people who seemed particularly creative, self-actualised, and in touch with a deeply transcendent experience of life – which has long been the study of Eastern psycho-spiritual traditions. This has become the context of Psychospiritual psychology, though not its sole focus.
Psychospiritual psychology addresses the spectrum of human experience from undifferentiated, pre-personal consciousness, through development of a healthy personality and centre of identity in the world, and beyond. It explores opening to, and integrating, higher states of consciousness. This involves the process of ego-death, and the emergence of an expanded sense of Self, both individual and universal, knowing boundaries yet not limited by them. It is an evolutionary psychology, most relevant to our present day need to discover and express the best in human consciousness for the well-being and healing of person and planet.
Psychosynthesis is widely acknowledged as one of the most coherent and effective frameworks of psychospiritual psychology. Initially working in the analytic frameworks of the time, Assagioli found his experience also kept pointing him towards the higher reaches of what came to be called ‘self-actualization’ which was little addressed in the pathology based practices of the time. He began to integrate Western analytic depth psychology and Eastern meditative ‘height’ psychology into a comprehensive approach to human growth and development.
Psychosynthesis has continued to evolve its holistic perspective and unifying principles and can be successfully applied not only therapeutically and in self-development, but also in any context of systemic organisation and process.
What makes psychosynthesis different from other therapies?
As with all therapies, the main difference is in the qualitative experience of the client. Having a holistic framework which articulates that the Self is the unifying center of the psyche, profoundly affects the energetic context of therapy and the interpersonal dynamics. This is so even when the client has no spiritual practice, vision, or language. In particular clients experience being met, rather than experiencing technique.
Because psychosynthesis addresses the spectrum of our experience – heights, depths and everyday concerns - the issue that the client is bringing can be addressed at the appropriate level. A psychosynthesis therapist will keep these levels distinct. This allows the context for work to be clear between client and therapist. Consequently change at an everyday form level as well as transformation at a more profound level is effected and integrated.
Words often used to describe the qualitative experience of psychosynthesis are gentle yet powerful, accepting and challenging, still and contained, subtle and profound. People respond to being encouraged to look at “What’s seeking to emerge, what’s calling me on, what’s beckoning me forward?” as well as exploring “What’s holding me back, what’s blocking me, what’s my experience of pain about?”
It is the point of tension between what was, what is, and what could be, held dynamically in session, which excites, challenges and empowers clients.
Counselling and Therapy
Counselling and therapy are powerful ways of getting clear perspective on issues and effecting change in our lives. Issues commonly dealt with include:• problems with relationships
• experiences of separation, loss and grief
• dissatisfaction with the experience of work
• sense of something missing
• search for self-direction and meaning
• desire for greater creative expression and fulfilment
• crisis of identity caused by spiritual/religious experiences
• difficulty expressing one's vision
• inability to change old patterns of behaviour
These issues are often experienced through their symptoms – such as feelings of inadequacy, being trapped, powerlessness, doubt, anger, depression and a sense of life having no meaning.
Psychosynthesis approach to symptoms
The psychosynthesis approach is not to see these symptoms as bad, necessitating their removal or cure, but to take a more systemic view. Symptoms carry a lot of information about what is going on at a deeper, inner level, and can be valued for alerting us to the necessity of paying attention to our inner being.
Exploring symptoms in this way involves discovering what is seeking to emerge in our knowing of ourselves, and then integrating this discovery into our day to day living.
Why work with a psychosynthesis therapist?
Working with a psychosynthesis counsellor or therapist means there is skilled support available. Often people feel they should be able to work through issues and life passages by themselves or with the help of friends. Sometimes this is possible, but often it is safer, more effective and more nurturing to make inner explorations with a guide who can choose from a range of methods and techniques, the most appropriate ways of facilitating that exploration.
Psychosynthesis specialises in adapting diverse methods to the person rather than the person to the method. Not applying pre-set techniques to everyone means the uniqueness of each individual can unfold organically. The dynamic process of psychosynthesis means that people actively experience making choices for themselves rather than being given advice or interpretation upon which they may or may not act.
Knowing ourselves more fully helps us to make creative responses to difficulties and opportunities. Responding in this way allows more passionate engagement with life, a richer experience of meaning, and increasing ability to use the integrative power of Will.
Services Schedule & Summary
Counselling, Therapy & Supervision
The Institute has a number of graduates in private practice to whom referrals are made. Fees vary in terms of qualifications and experience.
Lower cost counselling is available through the Student Counselling Service from $15.00 - $45.00 an hour. All students are fully supervised.
Phone the Institute to make enquiries.
Consultation
$200.00 (incl. GST) per hour
Service Categories
Counselling, Psychotherapy
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