Guy Albert, Ph.D.
Licensed Psychologist
PSY20961
"I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free." Michelangelo
Spiritual Crises, Existential Issues, Psychic Phenomena.
We in the San Francisco Bay Area are living in a sea of diverse populations and traditions. With such richness and diversity, it's not a surprise that many people encounter existential crises of an unusual nature. This is especially true of those who intensively explore different psychological or spiritual practices, suddenly immersing themselves in a process that is tangential to their own status quo.
Most psychotherapists are untrained in the proper diagnosis of such existential crises, otherwise known under a number of other terms: spiritual emergency, psychic phenomenon, shamanic crisis, Kundalini awakening, psychic opening, episodes of unitive consciousness, near-death experiences, possession or high-arousal states, and altered states of consciousness, to name a few. The purpose of my dissertation research, a project that took five years to complete, was to explore these phenomena from an alternative perspective, one of openness and willingness to learn from the people who have had these experiences. I was especially intrigued with and interested in those who had integrated these experiences in finding meaning and purpose in their lives. This seemed especially useful in helping others--who may be undergoing similar experiences--find the same kind of rich meaning and purpose for their own experiences.
With patience and persistence, and with the right kind of help and support, these crises can be integrated into a person's life, enhancing their outlook on themselves and the world.
510-496-3447
Copyright 2010