Psychosynthesis is a transpersonal, or spiritual psychotherapy, a phenomenon of the twentieth century Western world. It is a theory and practice of individual develoment and growth, though with a potential for wider application into social and indeed world-wide settings: and it assumes that each human being is a soul as well as a personality.

For nearly 100 years, growing alongside the psychological work of Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung stands the work of Roberto Assagioli, M.D. and Psychosynthesis. A transpersonal and distinctly western psychology, Psychosynthesis puts forth a holistic model of human development that takes into account the spiritual dimension of human nature. Assagioli saw human nature as a vast array of biological, social and spiritual impulses and felt that a true psychology had to embrace all of these aspects of the person. Psychosynthesis believes that we each have an innate tendency to evolve and unfold our highest potentials and that we can consciously cooperate with this process. Some of these potentials are the capacities of consciousness, energy and the human imagination. The strengthening and interaction with these inner resources opens people to their own innate spirituality, inner wisdom and potential for inner peace. Psychosynthesis is both a theory and practice where the focus is to achieve synthesis and harmony within and around ourselves.

Its hallmarks are a remarkable model of consciousness, concrete tools for developing and expanding awareness, tangible ways of working with the personality and a life long model for spiritual development.


HIGHLIGHTS OF PSYCHOSYNTHESIS

* "A multi-polar model of the human psyche, with its various subpersonalities;(as opposed to depth psychology's bi-polar or tri-polar traditional structure

* The central position of the self as focus of coordination and integration of the personality

* The importance of the will, and of being a conscious center capable of choice and purpose, in the midst of the apparently chaotic and contradictory events of life,

* The existence of the transpersonal realm: the higher unconscious as source of inspiration, ecstasy, creativity, intuition, and illumination

* The pathology of the sublime: the occurrence of psychological disturbances of a spiritual, rather than psychological, origin and nature

* The use of a wide range of active techniques for everybody to use on his or her own to further their personal and spiritual development

* The use of imagery for the exploration of the unconscious, the transformation of neurotic patterns, and the expansion of awareness

* The concept of a natural tendency towards synthesis and;syntropy; (the opposite of entropy), that is, towards the spontaneous organization of meaningful and coherent fields within the psyche."

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN
PSYCHOSYNTHESIS

Psychosynthesis Manhattan offers sequential courses for professional development

* Introduction to Psychosynthesis
* Foundations in Psychosynthesis
* Clinical Imagery Training
* Supervision in Psychosynthesis



INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOSYNTHESIS

Designed to introduce you to the basics of Psychosynthesis, you will learn of its history, philosophy and its core concepts. You will be introduced to some its main methods of experiencing the material, including the use of meditation and imagery structures. There will also be ample time for questions and sharing of experiences.

Date: Friday, September 15, 2006, 6 to 8 pm.


FOUNDATIONS IN PSYCHOSYNTHESIS - CLINICAL TRAINING

The Foundations Program begins the professional training component. It is open to all professionals who wish to apply Psychosynthesis in their respective occupations. This in-depth training is for those who are seriously involved in self-healing and for those who want to use this approach professionally as body-workers, chiropractors, doctors, homeopaths, nurses, psychotherapists or other health and social service professionals. The training is also for executives, lawyers, teachers and others who want to use these methods in their respective professions.

In this learning program you will gain a deeper understanding of psychosynthesis and be assisted in a gradual build-up of confidence in bringing imagery and meditation skills into your work through direct, personal experiences with the methods, through observing technique demonstration, and through in-depth clinical discussions.

Sessions include:

September 30, 2006: Understanding The Human Psyche As A Living Energy System/ Biological, Psychological And Spiritual Impulses/Imagery Research

October 21, 2006: Strengthening Consciousness And Will For Healing And Spiritual Growth / Induction Techniques

November 11, 2006: Studying The Personality As A Group Of Subpersonalities

December 9, 2006: Identifying Life-Affirming And Self-Defeating Patterns

January 6, 2007: Transforming Self-Defeating Patterns

February 3, 2007: Subpersonality Stages and Integration

March 10, 2007: Strengthening The Relationship To The Higher Self

April 14, 2007: Spiritual Practice And Your Ordinary Mind And Feelings: Meditation, Spirituality, And Human Potentials

May 19, 2007: Individual Differences In Spiritual Paths And Spiritual Obstacles

June 16, 2007: Roberto Assagioliﾒs Lineage And Your Future Work.

Time: One Saturday per month, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

CLINICAL IMAGERY AND CLINICAL MEDITATION TRAINING

Many professionals want to integrate spirituality in to their work. The question is how to do this in an effective, ethical and scientifically sound way.

Since 1910 the spiritual psychology of Psychosynthesis has long utilized two spiritual methods ﾖ imagery and meditation. Considered inner sciences, their practical effectiveness is supported by ancient tradition and modern research. They are utilized by every healing, wisdom and spiritual tradition on earth. They are pro-active ways of helping others because they evoke the vast human potentials of imagination and consciousness.

In this 10 month training program you will gain an understanding of Psychosynthesis and be assisted in a gradual build-up of confidence in bringing imagery and meditation skills into your work through direct, personal experiences with the methods, through observing technique demonstration, and through in-depth clinical discussions.

October 1, 2006: Imagery Research and States of Consciousness/Induction Techniques

October 22, 2006: Dialogic and Relationship Imagery

November 12, 2006: Medical and Mind-Body Imagery

December 10, 2006: Intuition and Inner Wisdom Imagery

January 7, 2007: Sub-personality and Inner Child Imagery

February 4, 2007: Dying, Death and Grief Imagery

March 11, 2007: Spiritual Imagery

April 15, 2007: Behavioral Change Imagery

May 20, 2007: Meditation, Spirituality, and Human Potentials / Awareness Meditation Practices

June 17, 2007: Peace Meditation Practices/Subtle Energy Meditation Practices/ The Integration of Meditative Experiences

Time: One Sunday per Month, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.


PSYCHOSYNTHESIS SUPERVISION GROUP

The supervision group focuses on special topics and case supervision. The group meets on a monthly basis and serves as an in-depth opportunity to refine ones skills in facilitating and developing others. Each student will have the opportunity to receive live supervision in a group context, benefiting from the experience of other students.

Time: TBA



CORE CONCEPT WORKSHOPS

PSYCHOSYNTHESIS AND HIGHER SELF DEVELOPMENT: MEDITATION AND THE EXPERIENCE OF WISDOM

Along with integrating material from the lower unconscious, Psychosynthesis is concerned with realizing and synthesizing the contents of the higher unconscious into our personality. The higher unconscious is an autonomous realm from which originate our more highly evolved impulses, altruistic love and will, humanitarian action, artistic and scientific inspiration, philosophic and spiritual insight, and the drive toward purpose and meaning in life. Indeed, innovations, creative breakthroughs, peak experiences, higher qualities, spiritual insights, a pervading sense of calm and expanded knowledge always come from a level of the mind that is greater than rational thought. This wisdom level of mind is a fact of human nature. The development, access and interaction with this part of our nature evoke latent potentials and is life changing, resulting in emotional, behavioral and quality of life benefits. It is through the process of psychosynthesis that a relationship with this wisdom can be made.

The worlds spiritual and philosophical traditions are filled with stories of this wisdom mind and have variously named it the Higher Self, the Self, the Still Voice Within, the Muse, the Soul, the Source, Illumination, Higher Consciousness, Inner Guidance, Inner Teacher, the Light of Intuition, Guardian Angel, Evolutionary Aspect of the Brain, etc.

Through the practice of meditation and engagement of the human imagination you will be assisted in experiencing and shifting your awareness and choice to this part of your nature.

At the completion of the seminar(s), participants will have learned:

* A broadly based theoretical framework through which to understand imagery and spiritual development

* A model of consciousness that incorporates the spiritual dimension of human nature.

* The direct experiences of various imagery techniques for eliciting grounded spiritual awareness

* Specific skills for facilitating spiritual development through imagery

Dates: Saturday, September 16, 2006 / Time: 10 to 4 p.m. Fee: $85


PSYCHOSYNTHESIS AND SUBPERSONALITIES: FEELINGS HAVE PEOPLE TOO

Psychosynthesis makes the assumption that we are a Soul and have a Personality. The Soul, our true essence, lies beyond our personality. To realize this experience requires our many parts to resolve their conflicts and work in unison.

Each of us is a crowd with many internal parts called subpersonalities. Often, our parts are far from being a peace with one another. Roberto Assagioli, M.D., founder of Psychosynthesis wrote, We are not unified; we often feel that we are, because we do not have many bodies and many limbs, and because one hand doesnt usually hit the other. But, metaphorically, that is exactly what does happen within us. Several subpersonalities are continually scuffling: impulses, desires, principles, aspirations are engaged in an unceasing struggle.

Psychosynthesis contains a brilliant map of this internal system and a comprehensive structure to contact, intervene, heal and ultimately harmonize our subpersonalities for greater functioning. Utilizing the methods of Psychosynthesis, Internal Family Systems, Meditation and Imagery work you will be assisted in experiencing this process for yourself.

At the completion of the seminar(s), participants will have learned:

* A broadly based theoretical framework through which to understand Subpersonalities and the role of Self in their healing.

* The process and skill of Dis-Identification

* The Stages of Subpersonality Development and Transformation

* A practical understanding of the use of imagery and meditation in strengthening the Self

* The direct experiences of various imagery techniques for eliciting a grounded experience of Self

Dates: Sunday, September 17, 2006 / Time: 10-4 p.m. Fee: $85