The Call of Self: Psychosynthesis Life Coaching

by Dorothy Firman (Editor), Williams Patrick (Foreword)

The Call of Psychosynthesis Life Coaching takes readers on a journey to the depths and heights of a transpersonally oriented life coaching methodology. Psychosynthesis, most simply stated, is a name for the process of personal and spiritual the natural tendency in all people to evolve at ever more inclusive levels of organization. In its more specific sense, Psychosynthesis is a name for the conscious attempt to cooperate with the natural process of personal development. All beings contain within them a drive to become the fullest realization of themselves. This process can be supported consciously, and Psychosynthesis, especially in a strong allied relationship such as coaching, is one means to do this. Life Coaching has been destined to find a home in the powerful methodology of psychosynthesis, and this book is designed to introduce this work to professionals in the field of coaching, those who may be interested in entering this blossoming field and the many individuals who, themselves, are seekers on the path of Realization. This edited book covers areas of Coaching from the classic life, business and wellness coaching into more distinct areas of coaching, including trauma, career, ecology, yoga, body work, spiritual practice, gender, empowerment of the will and more. Edited by Dr. Dorothy Firman, a New York Times best selling author and Psychosynthesis Life Coach and trainer, authors from around the world offer their expertise in specialty areas of coaching as well in the experiential world of being a Coach and ally in service of creating a safer and saner world. Section headings Psychosynthesis Life The Goodness of Fit; Transpersonal The Call of Purpose Meaning and Values; Inviting The Deep Work of Psychosynthesis Coaching; People with Working in Systems; Coaches Evolving; Personal and Professional Perspectives on the Field; Past, Present & Future Cooperating effectively with this process can be assisted by a conceptual understanding of the nature of this evolution, and by practical techniques. Psychosynthesis provides these and integrates them into an inclusive and ever-growing framework designed to support the individual, groups, and the planet in their process of unfolding. As an inclusive approach to human growth, Psychosynthesis dates from 1911 and the early work of Roberto Assagioli, an Italian Psychiatrist. Though one of the pioneers of psychoanalysis in Italy, Assagioli maintained that Freud had not given sufficient weight to the "higher" aspects of the human personality, and recognized a need for a more inclusive concept of humanity. From this beginning Assagioli and an increasing number of helping professionals have worked to develop and refine this inclusive view of human growth.

Genres: Psychology

462 pages, Paperback

Published August 22, 2018

Reviews

[Brieanne Tanner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not a subject matter expert on this material. However, as a yoga teacher with an undergraduate major in psychology, I resonated with the authors. After reading this, one may feel empowered to become a life coach or use the tools and ideas from the book to enrich their current profession or relationships. There is a takeaway in "Call of the Self" for everybody. I felt like I had taken a course in Life Coaching because of the high-level thinking of the authors and concise textbook-like format. The 4 C's breakdown show how and why coaching is differentiated from counseling. I found hints of energy healer/bodywork tips while reading, such as the "hand over heart" technique and reading about energy diagnosis.' I had never heard of an energy diagnosis prior to reading this. I enjoyed Kirsten Ireland's segment about the role of stories in our lives. She writes about getting to know ourselves beyond the everyday stories or content that is presenting to us 24 hours a day, seven days a week. My three favorite chapters are in sequential order: body soma (wisdom) by Sara Vatore, coaching through traumas by Richard Lamb, and the Path of Self-Realization by Alan C. Haras, based on my personal path and interests. The process of practicing yoga and yoking is indeed similar to psychosynthesis of the self. All of the authors combined provided well-written examples, and I derived meaning from each chapter, resonating with their accounts of psychosynthesis. Although the book is lengthy, I will be referring to it throughout my days for guidance as a human, a yoga teacher, and potentially a life coach one day.