Psychological Transformation is a name for a group of emerging practices which are stunningly effective ways to create deep personal change. They are highly advanced alternatives to the old, worn-out ways of standard psychology, traditional psychotherapy and mental health counseling, and personal growth methods that incorporate ideas from these. The field is not very well defined yet, but this site attempts to bring it more into focus, and give you links to explore. The section below called My Overview gives you a good introduction, so it would be helpful to follow those links first.
Characteristics Of These Practices
All these practices have common elements. These are:
1. They don't follow the old models of traditional psychology and psychotherapy.
2. They put more emphasis on direct experience than on analysis and interpretation.
3. They view the process of change as repatterning the basic elements of experience rather than as working through problems, issues, ailments, etc.
4. They aim to greatly expand the scope of actions, experiences and functioning in general, rather than trying to fix problems or treat diseases or dysfunctions.
5. Some of them bring in dimensions of experience that are beyond the current ideas of what is possible - sometimes erroneously called "higher states of consciosness."
6. They aim to create a state of living in freedom, through free exploration of experiencing, rather than adherence to some ideal norm.
7. They are self-empowering rather than creating dependencies on experts, authorities, doctors, etc.
8. They are mostly easy and painless because they take an indirect approach (called "repatterning") to existing pains, thereby not stirring up resistance and recoil.
9. Because of all of the above, they are remarkably quick, deep and far-reaching, sometimes having nearly miraculous results.
Each of the practices linked to in the listings below is stronger in some of these points and weaker in others. A unified practice, such as the one I developed ("Free-Beingness Guidance," see below) would be strong on all points.
1. They don't follow the old models of traditional psychology and psychotherapy.
2. They put more emphasis on direct experience than on analysis and interpretation.
3. They view the process of change as repatterning the basic elements of experience rather than as working through problems, issues, ailments, etc.
4. They aim to greatly expand the scope of actions, experiences and functioning in general, rather than trying to fix problems or treat diseases or dysfunctions.
5. Some of them bring in dimensions of experience that are beyond the current ideas of what is possible - sometimes erroneously called "higher states of consciosness."
6. They aim to create a state of living in freedom, through free exploration of experiencing, rather than adherence to some ideal norm.
7. They are self-empowering rather than creating dependencies on experts, authorities, doctors, etc.
8. They are mostly easy and painless because they take an indirect approach (called "repatterning") to existing pains, thereby not stirring up resistance and recoil.
9. Because of all of the above, they are remarkably quick, deep and far-reaching, sometimes having nearly miraculous results.
Each of the practices linked to in the listings below is stronger in some of these points and weaker in others. A unified practice, such as the one I developed ("Free-Beingness Guidance," see below) would be strong on all points.
My Overview And Introduction
This is the best place to start because the following links give details about how all the diverse practices presented in the other links define a radically new approach to deep change. None of the individual practices referenced in the other links seem to be aware of this common ground, and therefore each one presents only its own little piece. This overview gives the big picture, and then a practice (my "Free-Beingness Guidance") that includes and builds on all of them.
- Psychological Transformation Practices
- This whole site is a detailed introduction to the field, expanding on what is here and adding many additional links and resources to explore. This is the best place to start in order to get a clear overview of this new field.
- The Inner Dynamics Of Experiential Learning
- This is a more in-depth explanation of the whole field of psychological transformation practices, from my site on deep inwardly focused Socratic Dialogue. Go on to explore this whole site if you want a thorough understanding of the topic - although this site is somewhat scholarly and so it may be more difficult reading than my other sites.
- Free-Beingness Guidance
- The practice I developed based on my extensive knowledge of and experience with deep experiential transformation on all levels. The Free-Beingness Realization process takes you to entirely new, expanded levels of living and functioning. To my knowledge it is the only practice so far that fully utilizes all the essential characteristics of this new field (see the list, above.)
- More Links . . .
- More links to explore on this subject.
Free-Beingness Articles
My articles site covering new topics and reviews in this field, added to on a regular basis.
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byPsychological Transformation General Overview Sites
The following sites give a general broad overview of the expansive potential that this field has.
- Magical Child
- Joseph Chilton Pearce's site on child-rearing and education based on feeling-connectedness and bonding. "Inspired resources for parents, educators, caregivers and coaches."
- Paul Pearsall Site
- The Psychology of Pleasure. Transformation through deep feelings, sensitivity to life in all its dimensions, and openness to "miracles."
- The Maybe Logic Academy
- Online learning courses to blow your mind, or just open it, by Robert Anton Wilson, and many other way beyond far-out characters.
Maybe The Best Book Ever Written
If you had to read just one book . . .
I greatly recommend that everyone read this book. It is a short novel about identity, bliss and transcendence. It is by far the best book on "metaphysics" and transcendent psychology that I have ever read. It will most likely "take you there."
The Smile At The Foot Of The Ladder
Amazon Price: $9.95 (as of 12/05/2008) 
Transformational Bodywork General Overview Sites
The following sites give good insights into bodywork repatterning, which is the fundamental dynamic of the psychological transformation practices. Even though they are focused on bodywork they are extremely valuable for this reason.
- The Somat Institute
- Presents a perspective on transformation based on a "somat," which is the smallest unit of perceptible change in bodily sensations. Very similar, in this way, to General Sensate Focusing (see below for that.)
- Continuum Montage
- A site with many resources, links and articles on the basics of transformation through sensitive bodily experiencing, including Emily Conrad's Continuum Movement - one of the most subtle and sophisticated bodywork practices.
- The Moving On Center
- A bodywork repatterning practice and curriculum with a holistic understanding of the basic levels of human experiencing that bring about transformation. Especially see the "articles" section.
Psychological Transformation Practices
These sites present very broad practices for deep psychological change based on radically new approaches. They give an idea of what the deepest practical possibilities are in this field.
- Integral Transformative Practice
- A body-mind approach to personal transformation, from Esalen founder Michael Murphy, with George Leonard.
- The Diamond Approach
- A heavy-duty psychoanalytically based transformational psychological practice, originated by A. H. Almaas.
- Actualism
- A very detailed and elaborate practice aimed at freeing the mind and psyche from the illusions of social conditioning.
Experiential Bodily Focusing
Directly sensing your body in a deep feeling way is the missing dimension in psychology and psychotherapy - and this is what makes for deep transformation. The following sites present practical ways into this missing dimension.
- General Sensate Focusing
- A very effective self-help method of emotional change based on focusing into bodily sensations, as a kind of "biofeedback without instruments." Developed by Dr. Ilan Shalif. This is the BEST of Focusing!
- The Focusing Institute
- This is a similar method of focusing on bodily sensations for psychological change, developed by Prof. Eugene Gendlin. Unlike Shalif's method, this suffers from a too-close association with the limiting assumptions of standard psychotherapy. Extensive resources here on the method.
- Interactive Focusing
- A sensitive development from Gendlin's Focusing, using more of a dialogue approach. By masterful teachers Mary McGuire and Janet Klein.
- More Links . . .
- More links to explore on this topic.
Pschological Repatterning Practices
Psychological repatterning practices, when combined with the deeper transformational dimension and with direct bodily sensing, are the heart and soul of this new field. The following practices need these other elements, but still they go a long way toward being radically new approaches to emotional and psychological change.
- Sedona Releasing Method
- A mental method of freeing attention from old emotional patterns. A very practical self-help approach, but lacks bodily grounding.
- The NLP Encyclopedia
- Everything you ever wanted to know about Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP.) NLP is a sophisticated method of repatterning in the area of mind and thinking. Like the Sedona method, it is very weak on the bodily focus end.
- Method Acting Techniques
- Method Acting is the art of acting from inner sensory and emotional experiencing. It could be called "the inner game" of acting because it focuses more on inner creation than on outer performance, which is meant to flow naturally from the inward preparation. This site gives practical instructions in the dynamic elements of this.
- Deep Fun
- The deep transformational effects of pure playful fun, using basically the same elements as NLP and Method Acting. Putting fun, delight and joy into practice. Worthwhile in itself, but also has much potential for making other practices more expansive and dynamic.
- The Pathway (The Solution)
- A very detailed self-help psychological education alternative to traditional psychothera.py, for addictions but also for general psychological health and well-being. This site has extensive courses on cd's and via teleclasses, emphasizing the learning of skills rather than trying to fix problems, resolve issues or heal sicknesses.
- More links . . .
- More links to sites on this topic.
Creativity For Transformation
The use of various practices of art and creativity to bring about personal and psychological transformation.
- Project Renaissance
- Creative practices of a vast scope and variety are described, for use in personal transformation as well as in innovation.
- Creativity Without Limits
- From the author of "Painting, Passion and Power" this site shows you how to use not only painting but your deeper personal creativity in general to find spontaneity, freedom and greater expressiveness.
- Theatre Games
- Viola Spolin's method of fostering creativity and spontaneity through improvisational theatre games.
- The Infinite Imagination
- Jon Rappoport's course on the mind-expanding, free-form use of the imagination. This is the very best in this area that I have ever found - by far!!
Dialogue For Psychological Transformation
The following practices, like so many in this field, lack direct bodily sensing, but they add the dynamic dimension of personal dialogue to the mix.
- The Option Method
- An intuitive, deep-feeling dialogue approach to personal growth and psychological transformation, based on a simplified Socratic dialogue method.
- The Center For Non-Violent Communication
- Also known as Compassionate Communication, this is a method of transforming self, relationships and communities through feeling-centered dialogue. Learning the "language of compassion" is in itself transformational.
- A Non-Violent Communication Tutorial
- A detailed tutorial on how to do Non-Violent Communication yourself and with others.
The Bible Of Deep-Feeling Communication
Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life
Amazon Price: $12.21 (as of 12/05/2008)
Psychological Acupressure
These practices aim to effect emotional change through direct action on the body. Some say they are very effective, but they are mechanical applications of physical technique, and therefore lack direct psychological engagement. Focusing practices (see above) are more personal and dynamic.
- Energy Therapies
- A psycho-somatic approach to repatterning the emotional system, by the use of gentle tapping on acupressure points of the body. Comprehensive article on the whole subject, with an extensive link list to sites explaining the various different methods. Also contains a large bibliography.
- The Association For Meridian Energy Therapies
- A portal to every and all "energy psychology" methods. Articles, links, practicioners, trainings, news, blog. etc. etc. These practices are all more mechanical than Focusing and the other practices that I refer to.
- Emotional Freedom Technique
- One of the most widely used "energy therapies." This site has lots of links to other similar sites.
Best Bodywork Repatterning Practices
These practices can have profound effects on emotions and psychology even though they don't address these directly. This is because they so deeply repattern the basic elements of bodily sensate experiencing upon which emotions and psychology rest. Addressing emotions and psychology directly in these ways would be even more effective.
- Trager
- A unique bodywork repatterning method that connects up to the superconscious and to fluid bodily movement at the same time, making for very stunning transformational changes.
- The Feldenkrais Method
- A description of this bodywork repatterning method, and the principles that make it work. These principles carry over to all repatterning methods, including psychological ones.
- The Alexander Technique
- This was one of the first bodywork repatterning methods. Other methods are more subtle and effective but this one is important for its basic concepts of "use of the self" and the detrimental effects of "efforting." This site give a very complete view of this method.
- Somatic Practices
- This is a long good article on the origins, theory and practice of somatic movement therapies and bodywork repatterning practices. It is very insightful and comprehensive, by a leading practicioner in these fields, Martha Eddy.
- More Links . . .
- More links to explore on this topic.
Best Articles
General philosophical background on the origins of emotional and psychological suffering, from perspectives that differ radically from traditional psychotherapy ideas.
- The Origins Of Peace And Violence
- Deprivation of Physical Affection as a Main Cause of Depression, Aggression and Drug Abuse by James W. Prescott, Ph.D. Site also contains very extensive information on the subject, with links.
- Origins Of War And Violence
- The Origins and Diffusion of Patrism in Saharasia. Article on the historical origins of the seeming human propensity for war and violence, stemming from the repression of physical love and affection.
- A Course In Consciousness
- A book-length discourse on mind and consciousness, aimed at elucidating the means to end psychological and emotional suffering.
Best Specialized Directories
- The Seer - Emotions
- A very focused directory on emotions and emotional change, having links and resources along with insightful commentary. Part of a larger directory.
- Halycon Psychology Links
- Links guaranteed to blow your worldview on psychology and psychological change. Part of a much larger directory, worth exploring also.
- Ikosmos Links
- Directory of links on self, nature, social change, cultural creatives and tranformation, all neatly categorized.
