No therapy can hope to be successful without taking the whole person into account, including their spiritual or religious beliefs and cultural influences. Transpersonal therapy looks at the individual in a holistic way, helping the client to explore the energy in the room, and the sense of connection with other relationships in the person’s life, which may include the animal kingdom, the natural world, religion, spiritual beliefs, and the environment that one was brought up in. A holistic or spiritual approach might consider how one’s spiritual practices or beliefs inform the client’s relationship or presenting problems and also consider experiences that are beyond the ego (transpersonal).

It can crossover with other techniques, such as mindfulness-based therapies or meditative techniques that encourage the client to move beyond ego-based thinking or perception and to take a “bird’s eye” view of their experience. Learning and understanding yourself is the foundation of any spiritual practice and can help to bring into balance the head and the heart so there is no inner division or disharmony. It can help one to understand that there is something greater than oneself once the ego loosens its grip, which can be empowering and healing. As with any form of spiritual practice or therapeutic technique, it is best used initially with an experienced practitioner in a safe environment.