Show Notes
While all psychosynthesis therapists will be influenced by Assagioli’s original presentation, how they understand and practice psychosynthesis will also be shaped by other influences – some coinciding with those Assagioli drew upon and others arising from new perspectives, previously unavailable to Assagioli. And yet, Assagioli’s reluctance to discuss his particular influences, many of which he concealed behind a ‘Wall of Silence’, means the psychosynthesis literature offers no clear guidelines for contemporary therapists on how to incorporate new influences so as to maintain the distinctiveness of something called ‘Psychosynthesis’? To explore these questions and more, join Allan Frater (wildimagination.uk) and Ryan O’Kane (ryanokane.uk) for part 4 of ‘The Psychosynthesis Sessions’, drawing upon the recent publication of Allan’s book ‘The Act of Imagination: Psychosynthesis Psychotherapy in Experiential Context’. Also available on YouTube.
More from The Psychosynthesis Sessions
Join hosts Allan Frater ( wildimagination.uk ) and Ryan O’Kane for a discussion of: Allan’s writing process and how he relates it to the creativity of being a psychotherapist; psychosynthesis as an art form, shaping the client’s experience via the medium of a richly descriptive and evocative language; how a better question than ‘what is psychosynthesis?’ is perhaps ‘what does psychosynthesis do?’; and the future direction of the podcast and also of psychosynthesis in general (hint - it is a journey that never ends). A visualised version of this podcast is also available on YouTube [Mentioned in this episode is a 'spiritual portrait' painted by Dutch esoteric scholar Olga Fröbe-Kapteyn, circa 1930. An image of the painting is included in Catherine Ann Lombard's article 'Celebrating Women in Psychosynthesis'. The original portrait now hangs in Casa Assagioli in Florence.]
This episode builds upon the importance of imagination in psychosynthesis psychotherapy, going beyond the typical focus on scripted visualisations. Instead of assuming images to be only subjective-personal mental pictures, separated from a purely objective reality, the ‘act of imagination’ is shown to connect self and world, via a synthesis of feelings, thoughts, sensations, perceptions and actions. Healing and transformation are created not, as is often presumed, by the replacement of fantasy with reality, but rather, with the cultivation of imaginative life itself within normal everyday experiences. Join hosts Allan Frater (wildimagination.uk) and Ryan O’Kane (ryanokane.uk) for part 5 of ‘The Psychosynthesis Sessions’, drawing upon the recent publication of Allan’s book ‘The Act of Imagination: Psychosynthesis Psychotherapy in Experiential Context’. Also available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/1Kqaz4Q98Yo
The techniques of psychosynthesis require a creative application. Set-piece scripts and step-by-step instructions found in books are only a rough guideline in need of modification by therapists so as to best support the unpredictable experiential process happening in the consulting room. But what are these techniques? Why do we apply them? And how are they approached creatively? Join Allan Frater (wildimagination.uk) and Ryan O’Kane (ryanokane.uk) for part 3 of this series drawing upon the recent publication of Allan’s book ‘The Act of Imagination: Psychosynthesis Psychotherapy in Experiential Context’ Also available on YouTube and Apple podcasts.
The teachings of Psychosynthesis are not just a theoretical but also a practical matter. How we understand Psychosynthesis teachings influences what experiences are noticed and validated, how they are engaged with, and to what ends. So what are these teachings? How do we recognise them experientially? And by what criteria might we improve upon current understanding? Join Allan Frater (wildimagination.uk) and Ryan O’Kane (ryanokane.uk) for part 2 of this series drawing upon the recent publication of Allan’s book ‘The Act of Imagination: Psychosynthesis Psychotherapy in Experiential Context’
A teaser-trailer for The Psychosynthesis Sessions, Season 1: What is Psychosynthesis? A podcast that gently questions and reimagines the richness of ‘psychosynthesis’ – a psychology first developed by Roberto Assagioli (1888-1974). Expect fresh ideas and new methods, grounded in stories from the consulting room and everyday life. Hosted by psychosynthesis therapists and teachers Allan Frater (wildimagination.uk) and Ryan O’Kane (ryanokane.uk).