NLPt and SpiritualityNLPt and Spirituality

Mr spec Melita Stipančić, clinical psychologist, psychotherapist, Mr spec Melita Stipančić, clinical psychologist, psychotherapist, Croatian-austrian training center for NLPt, Zagreb, Croatia,Croatian-austrian training center for NLPt, Zagreb, Croatia,GAIA-Master (energy healing)GAIA-Master (energy healing)

DSM-IV DSM-IV - - "Religious or Spiritual "Religious or Spiritual ProblemProblems, 1994, V62.89s, 1994, V62.89 V code (V code (Code for a condition not attributable to a mental disorder)Code for a condition not attributable to a mental disorder) - -

- - “...when focus of attention on a “...when focus of attention on a religious or spiritual problem. Examples include religious or spiritual problem. Examples include distressing experiencea that involve loss ordistressing experiencea that involve loss orquestioning of faith, problems associated withquestioning of faith, problems associated withconversion to a new faith, questioning ofconversion to a new faith, questioning ofspiritual values...”spiritual values...”

Result of demands that APA become more sensitiveResult of demands that APA become more sensitive toward differing world views arising from an increasingly toward differing world views arising from an increasingly

muliticultural society.muliticultural society.

Benefits of new categoryBenefits of new category::

1) 1) increasing the accuracy of diagnostic increasing the accuracy of diagnostic assessments when religious and spiritual issues assessments when religious and spiritual issues are involved; are involved;

2) reducing the occurrence of iatrogenic harm from 2) reducing the occurrence of iatrogenic harm from misdiagnosis of religious and spiritual problems; misdiagnosis of religious and spiritual problems;

3) 3) improving treatment of such problems by improving treatment of such problems by stimulating clinical researchstimulating clinical research

4) improving treatment of such problems by 4) improving treatment of such problems by encouraging training centers to address religious encouraging training centers to address religious and spiritual issues in their programs. and spiritual issues in their programs.

““V” CODE CAN REFER TO:V” CODE CAN REFER TO:

Wide range of spiritual and religious crises,Wide range of spiritual and religious crises,

Including:Including:- Religious experiencesReligious experiences- Peak & transpersonal experiencesPeak & transpersonal experiences- Ecstatic, blissful experiencesEcstatic, blissful experiences- Conflict between experience and religious doctrineConflict between experience and religious doctrine- Conflict between conscious and/or unconsciousConflict between conscious and/or unconscious

beliefs and experience...beliefs and experience...- Confrontations with mortalityConfrontations with mortality- Existential crisis of meaning and moral conflictExistential crisis of meaning and moral conflict

......

Spirituality- NLP definitionSpirituality- NLP definition

TThe subjective experience of being part of a larger system; he subjective experience of being part of a larger system; one that reaches beyond ourselves as individuals...one that reaches beyond ourselves as individuals...

It It may be represented in terms of a personal 'God,' a whole may be represented in terms of a personal 'God,' a whole realm of gods and spirits, a diffuse energy connecting realm of gods and spirits, a diffuse energy connecting everything in the universe, a vast impersonal order, or as everything in the universe, a vast impersonal order, or as an initiating power, coming to human life and touching it an initiating power, coming to human life and touching it from beyond itself...from beyond itself...

"It is the awareness of, what anthropologist and systems "It is the awareness of, what anthropologist and systems theorist Gregory Bateson called, 'the pattern which theorist Gregory Bateson called, 'the pattern which connects' all things together into a larger whole."connects' all things together into a larger whole."

Robert Dilts & Judith DeLozierRobert Dilts & Judith DeLozier

Spirituality in PsychoanalysisSpirituality in Psychoanalysis

Siegmund FreudSiegmund Freud::- - Religion – illusion & delusionReligion – illusion & delusion- Interest in paranormal Interest in paranormal phenomena :phenomena :a)a) associated with dreamsassociated with dreamsb)b) associated with waking associated with waking prophetic &prophetic & states states telepathictelepathic

“The analyst must turn his unconscious like a receptive organ towards the transmitting unconscious of the patient."

Spirituality in GestaltSpirituality in Gestalt

Awareness per se and of itself Awareness per se and of itself

can be curative (Perls ,1992)can be curative (Perls ,1992)

AWARENESS –Buddhist MindfulnessAWARENESS –Buddhist Mindfulness

OPEN ATTENTION – MeditationOPEN ATTENTION – Meditation

““FERTILE VOID” (Perls) – Void in Taoist & FERTILE VOID” (Perls) – Void in Taoist &

Zen Buddhist traditionZen Buddhist tradition

PEAK EXPERIENCE – Mystical experiencePEAK EXPERIENCE – Mystical experience

Spirituality and JungSpirituality and Jung

C.G. JungC.G. Jung

Meta- Meta-

psychologypsychology

Finding sFinding spirituality pirituality

in and through our in and through our human pathologieshuman pathologies..

““WWe meet our rejected and e meet our rejected and repressed sacredness at repressed sacredness at the center of diseasethe center of disease.”.”

New AgeNew Age

Spiritual Spiritual

experiencesexperiences - ““away” from away” from

& “beyond” everyday life,& “beyond” everyday life,

the ego grotesquelythe ego grotesquely inflated inflated to divine proportionsto divine proportions..

"I am God, I am God, I am "I am God, I am God, I am God." God."

A.Maslow – Hierarchy of NeedsA.Maslow – Hierarchy of Needs

“Self-actualized people sometimes experience a state of "transcendence," in which they become aware of not only their own fullest potential, but the fullest potential of human beings at large.”

NLP – Robert Dilts, “(Neuro) Logical levels”NLP – Robert Dilts, “(Neuro) Logical levels”

ENVIRONMENT

BEHAVIOR

CAPABILITIES

BELIEFS, VALUES

IDENTITY

SPIRITUAL

SPIRITUAL LEVEL:--Subjective experience of being part of a 'larger system‘-Our connection with 'who' else and 'what' else are in the larger System-“Awakening" to this greater context that gives our lives meaning and purpose

KEN WILBERKEN WILBER

AAmerican authormerican author, , writes on psychology, philosophy, writes on psychology, philosophy, mysticism, ecology, and spiritual evolutionmysticism, ecology, and spiritual evolution

IIntegral theory of consciousnessntegral theory of consciousness

““RReality is ultimately a noneality is ultimately a non--dual dual

union of emptiness and form, union of emptiness and form,

form being innately subject form being innately subject

to development over timeto development over time.”.”

INTEGRAL THEORY OF CONSCIOUSNESS,INTEGRAL THEORY OF CONSCIOUSNESS, Ken Wilbur Ken Wilbur

““Outward Arc”Outward Arc”-- the path people take in their development into adults the path people take in their development into adults ((Piaget, VygotskyPiaget, Vygotsky, , Erickson...)Erickson...)

““Inward arc”Inward arc” - f - further development of human consciousness through the “Subtle,” “Causal,” urther development of human consciousness through the “Subtle,” “Causal,”

and “Atman” realms.and “Atman” realms.

INTEGRAL THEORY OF CONSCIOUSNESS,INTEGRAL THEORY OF CONSCIOUSNESS,Ken WilburKen Wilbur

AQAL ("all quadrants all levels“AQAL ("all quadrants all levels“)), ,

equally connotes 'all lines', 'all equally connotes 'all lines', 'all

states' and 'all types‘states' and 'all types‘- - the five the five

irreducible categories of Wilber's irreducible categories of Wilber's

MModel of odel of MManifest anifest EExistence.xistence. QUADRANTS:QUADRANTS:

"I“"I“--Interior-IndividualInterior-Individual, , IntentionalIntentional

(Freud)(Freud)

““It“It“ - -Exterior-IndividualExterior-Individual, , BehavioralBehavioral

(Skinner)(Skinner)

"We“"We“-I-Interior-Collectiventerior-Collective, , CulturalCultural

(Gadamer)(Gadamer)

Its“Its“--Exterior-CollectiveExterior-Collective, , SocialSocial

(Marx)(Marx)

INTEGRAL THEORY OF CONSCIOUSNESS,INTEGRAL THEORY OF CONSCIOUSNESS,Ken WilburKen Wilbur

LINES OF DEVELOPMENT (Intelligencies) – ethical, cognitive, spiritual, LINES OF DEVELOPMENT (Intelligencies) – ethical, cognitive, spiritual, kinaesthetic, ....kinaesthetic, ....

Along each line- LEVELS OF DEVELOPMENTAlong each line- LEVELS OF DEVELOPMENT

SState tate - - a level that is attained only temporarily a level that is attained only temporarily

Broad organisation of levels:Broad organisation of levels: pre-personal (subconscious pre-personal (subconscious

motivations)motivations) personal (conscious mental personal (conscious mental

processes)processes) transpersonal (integrative and transpersonal (integrative and

mystical structuresmystical structures

INTEGRAL THEORY OF CONSCIOUSNESS,INTEGRAL THEORY OF CONSCIOUSNESS,Ken WilburKen Wilbur

SPIRITUALIY:SPIRITUALIY: involves peak experiences or altered states, which involves peak experiences or altered states, which

can occur at almost any stage and any age; can occur at almost any stage and any age; involves the highest levels in any of the linesinvolves the highest levels in any of the lines ; ; a separate developmental line itself; a separate developmental line itself; spirituality spirituality aas an attitude (such as openness, trust, s an attitude (such as openness, trust,

or love)or love)

So many models, so So many models, so many dimensionsmany dimensions

Because …

Because …

Because …Because …

Because …

Because …

METAPHORS OF PSYCHO-SPIRITUAL METAPHORS OF PSYCHO-SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENTDEVELOPMENT

““Dark night of the Soul”, “Kundalini Awakening”, Dark night of the Soul”, “Kundalini Awakening”, “Alchemical proces”....“Alchemical proces”....

Heroe’s Journey (Joseph Campbell)Heroe’s Journey (Joseph Campbell) Phoenix Process (Elisabeth Lesser)Phoenix Process (Elisabeth Lesser)

““...... ...... Every human being senses an Every human being senses an inner longing that goes deeper than inner longing that goes deeper than the longings for emotional and creative the longings for emotional and creative fulfillment. This longing comes from fulfillment. This longing comes from sensing that another, more fulfilling state sensing that another, more fulfilling state of consciousness and a larger capacity to of consciousness and a larger capacity to experience life must existexperience life must exist."." (Pathwork)(Pathwork)

““TThehe D Divine touches the soul to renew it ivine touches the soul to renew it

aand to ripen it, in order to make itnd to ripen it, in order to make it divine.“divine.“

St John of the CrossSt John of the Cross

Spiritual crisisSpiritual crisis

PProfound psychological transformationrofound psychological transformation NNon-ordinary states of consciousnesson-ordinary states of consciousness IIntense emotions, visions, other sensory changesntense emotions, visions, other sensory changes UUnusual thoughtsnusual thoughts VVarious physical manifestationsarious physical manifestations

““Jerusalem effect”Jerusalem effect”

RRoller-coaster of feelingsoller-coaster of feelings - - from profound experiences of oneness, from profound experiences of oneness, bliss and love to intense painful feelings of alienation, separationbliss and love to intense painful feelings of alienation, separation,, hatred, fear…hatred, fear…

Physical symptomsPhysical symptoms - - rushes of energy, heat, spontaneous movements, rushes of energy, heat, spontaneous movements, feeling 'spaced out', forgetting to eat, insomnia.feeling 'spaced out', forgetting to eat, insomnia.....

Perceptual changesPerceptual changes - - seeing visions, ghosts, angels, u.f.o's, auras etc. seeing visions, ghosts, angels, u.f.o's, auras etc. Hearing voices, receiving 'guidance' Hearing voices, receiving 'guidance'

Spiritual Emergency-AidSpiritual Emergency-Aid

NormalizeNormalize Create a therapeutic containerCreate a therapeutic container Help patient to reduce environmental and interpersonal stimulationHelp patient to reduce environmental and interpersonal stimulation Have patient temporarily discontinue spiritual practicesHave patient temporarily discontinue spiritual practices Use the therapy session to help ground the patientUse the therapy session to help ground the patient Suggest the patient eat a diet of "heavy" foods and avoid fastingSuggest the patient eat a diet of "heavy" foods and avoid fasting Encourage the patient to become involved in simple, grounding, Encourage the patient to become involved in simple, grounding,

calming activitiescalming activities Encourage the patient to draw, mold clay, make music, journal, write Encourage the patient to draw, mold clay, make music, journal, write

poetry, dancepoetry, dance Evaluate for medicationEvaluate for medication

?Questions for the Psychotherapist??Questions for the Psychotherapist?

How to distinguish spiritual experience, How to distinguish spiritual experience, transpersonal experience, mystical experience, transpersonal experience, mystical experience, peak experience... from mental disturbances?peak experience... from mental disturbances?

(To further complicate it) Stanislav Grof, one of the (To further complicate it) Stanislav Grof, one of the founders of Transpersonal Psychotherapy, states: founders of Transpersonal Psychotherapy, states: “...a clearly psychotic state can evolve into an “...a clearly psychotic state can evolve into an experience of mystic revelation”....experience of mystic revelation”....

How can NLP&NLPt help?How can NLP&NLPt help?

NLP provides an excellent set of tools for NLP provides an excellent set of tools for exploring the structure of personal reality. exploring the structure of personal reality. As with many spiritual traditions, NLP As with many spiritual traditions, NLP suggests that personality and perception are suggests that personality and perception are learned, and that human experience can be learned, and that human experience can be transformedtransformed ..

The outer world is a reflection of The outer world is a reflection of the inner worldthe inner world

NLPt:NLPt:- each person has his/her own map of the worldeach person has his/her own map of the world- The map is not the territory The map is not the territory - The “outward reality” is perceived throughThe “outward reality” is perceived through subjective filterssubjective filters

- Meta-modell- Meta-modell- Belief-change- Belief-change- Meta-programs- Meta-programs

Our thoughts create our realityOur thoughts create our reality

NLPt:NLPt: Creating multisensory inner representations Creating multisensory inner representations

of desired goal – states & actionsof desired goal – states & actions Emphasis on goal-oriented workEmphasis on goal-oriented work

Spiritual healing & growth as result of integration of Spiritual healing & growth as result of integration of different parts, dimensions and levels of beingdifferent parts, dimensions and levels of being

NLPt – concept of integration of inner parts,NLPt – concept of integration of inner parts,

time-dimensions, levels...time-dimensions, levels...

- Inner-parts work- Inner-parts work

- Logical levelsLogical levels

- Time-line Time-line

........

People have an Inner Wisdom providing People have an Inner Wisdom providing guidance and stimulating personal healing and guidance and stimulating personal healing and developmentdevelopment

NLPt:NLPt:- ““Wisdom” of the unconscious mind,opening to Wisdom” of the unconscious mind,opening to

something beyond the conscious!something beyond the conscious!

- ““Good intention” of symptomsGood intention” of symptoms

--Trance-work Trance-work

-Strenghtening resources-Strenghtening resources

““Cleansing” unhappy past influences, Cleansing” unhappy past influences, living in the present momentliving in the present moment

NLPt concept of bringing resources where they were NLPt concept of bringing resources where they were lacking- changing inner representations of pastlacking- changing inner representations of past

Time-line Time-line

Re-imprint Re-imprint

SOARSOAR

Change historyChange history........

Some questions...Some questions...

To what extent does the psycho-therapists raining prepare him/her to be aware

of and respond to spiritual issues

To what extent do psychotherapists recognize, respect, respond toor influence the spiritual values

of their client?

To what extent do the psycho-therapists personal beliefs and history

In respect to spirituality influenceClinical work?

........... ........... (much more & always developing)(much more & always developing)

Hvala! Hvala!

Thank you!Thank you!

Merci!Merci!