Beyond the Ego: Toward Transpersonal Models of the Person and Psychotherapy

Abstract

All psychologies posit either explicit or implicit models of the person which shape perception, organize experience, and determine methods of inquiry. A transpersonal model, like a humanistic model, focuses on the human potential for growth, health, and well-being. It goes beyond existing models to include self-transcendence, and it emphasizes the centrality of conscious ness in shaping experience and enhancing well-being.