Psychosynthesis

John Firman and Ann Gila are psychotherapists in private practice in Palo Alto, California and coauthors of The Primal Wound: A Transpersonal View of Trauma, Addiction, and Growth, also published by SUNY Press. Both were trained in psychosynthesis in the early 1970s, and Firman trained with Roberto Assagioli.

"Psychosynthesis is a splendid exposition, extension, and application of the ideas of Roberto Assagioli. An essential text." — Michael Washburn, author of The Ego and the Dynamic Ground: A Transpersonal Theory of Human Development, Second Edition

• ACKNOWLEDGMENTS INTRODUCTION 1. THE LIFE AND WORK OF ROBERTO ASSAGIOLI Roberto Assagioli and His InfluencesIn Conclusion 2. THE PSYCHOSYNTHESIS MODEL OF THE PERSON Assagioli's Diagram of the PersonThe Middle UnconsciousPrimal WoundingThe Lower UnconsciousThe Higher Unconscious"I," Consciousness, and WillSelf 3. THE STAGES OF PSYCHOSYNTHESIS Stage Zero: Survival of WoundingStage One: Exploration of the PersonalityStage Two: The Emergence of "I"Stage Three: Contact with SelfStage Four: Response to SelfIn Summation 4. MULTIPLICITY WITHIN THE PERSONALITY Subpersonalities are NormalThe Birth of a SubpersonalitySubpersonalities in SurvivalRecognitionAcceptanceInclusionSynthesis 5. THE NATURE OF PERSONAL IDENTITY A Disidentification ExerciseEmpathic "I"Spirit, Soma, and PsycheTranscendence-Immanence 6. A PSYCHOSYNTHESIS DEVELOPMENTAL THEORY Bigger Than WeOpening the Inner DoorAuthentic PersonalityExternal and Internal Unifying CentersPrimal WoundingSurvival PersonalityRecognitionAcceptanceInclusionSynthesisIn Conclusion 7. THE HIGHER AND LOWER UNCONSCIOUS Primal Wounding and SplittingThe Lower Unconscious and Higher UnconsciousPositive and Negative IdealizationPsychological DisturbancesPsychology and Spirituality 8. SELF-REALIZATION "I" and SelfPersonal PsychosynthesisTranspersonal PsychosynthesisSelf-RealizationIn Conclusion NOTES BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX