First, let us discuss a little about each teaching separately:

Modern psychology often explores the ways we understand ourselves as distinct and autonomous individuals, commonly using terms like 'ego' or 'self' to describe this aspect of identity. The goal of therapy is to become healthy and whole human beings who possess qualities such as self-esteem, autonomy, balanced interpersonal relationships, and self acceptance. It focuses on healing our wounds and overcoming life’s unique struggles, such as depression, anxiety, insecurity, or anger by transforming our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. The expectation is that growing these skills will lead to us becoming content and fulfilled individuals, living a higher quality of life.

Many spiritual traditions tend to emphasize our connection to a greater whole—such as a shared spirit or universal soul—rather than focusing primarily on individual identity or separateness. Many spiritual traditions are rooted in the idea of connecting with a Universal Source of energy—often referred to as God, Spirit, Buddha, the Holy Father, Elohim, Krishna, and other names—which is believed to exist beyond the limits of our ordinary perception and five senses. Spiritual practices involve having faith in something bigger than ourselves and often evoke a sense of unification with everyone and everything around us.

In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the value in exploring both the spiritual and psychological aspects of a person. Focusing primarily on one while overlooking the other may not fully reflect the complexity and richness of the human experience. There are many layers to who we are, and what we need to work on is fluid and constantly changing. At times we need to be working on the “ego,” while at other times we need to explore our spiritual connection to ourselves and all that is around us.

The intention is often to grow in both psychological and spiritual realms in a way that supports meaningful change in our lives. Transpersonal psychotherapy offers one approach that seeks to integrate these dimensions, providing space for a wide range of human experiences to be explored and understood. It emphasizes the ultimate possibilities for us as human beings in terms of cultivating qualities like love, awareness, generosity, patience, joy, and wisdom.  When we experience that, we are not so separate, and we can get a feel for the non dual dimension of life, we are more likely to feel connected to others in the world.

A transpersonal therapist often works within a broader framework that includes both contemporary psychological practices and elements of spiritual counselling. With training that spans these complementary areas, they are able to draw from a diverse set of tools to support the unique needs of each individual—bringing together insights from both worlds in a thoughtful and integrative way.