Psychosynthesis, as a holistic, transpersonal, psychological orientation has pioneered key concepts and strategies that are at the core of coaching principles.

Written in 1973, Roberto Assagioli’s The Act of Will is a defining text in psychosynthesis and clearly orients itself towards a coaching methodology. Psychosynthesis assumes a Self in each person functioning as a center of awareness and will. It is through accessing awareness and engaging will, that growth and transformation are possible. Along with a comprehensive theory and methodology to support access to the will, theory and practice include: the use of the full range of psychological functioning (imagination, thinking, feeling, sensation, impulse and intuition); work with subpersonalities; techniques of imagery; dialogue; journaling; personal and transpersonal orientation; goal setting; cognitive, emotional, and sensory awareness; and a commitment to purpose, meaning and values as the path to well being. Individual coaches add to psychosynthesis theory the unique orientations that define their work, integrating the best of whole-being practices into the field of psychosynthesis coaching.

The Call of Self, a phrase coined in psychosynthesis long ago, is the center point of work. It is the assumption that each individual has the capacity to tune in, deeply, to a sense of life purpose. Individuals enter coaching in response to this very Call of Self, as they “hear” a need to grow, reorient, expand, heal or even reinvent their lives. Likewise families, groups, businesses and cultures at large have the potential for responding to what is truly important, creating slowly but surely healthier people, families, communities, and a sustainable global reality. In all cases psychosynthesis coaching invites the client to move into actionable goals that reflect their own deepest sense of purpose, meaning and values. Early in the emerging field of psychosynthesis coaching, ten psychosynthesis coaches developed a list of core themes that guide psychosynthesis coaching. They are below. It is my hope that this material will help you know whether psychosynthesis coaching is a good next step for you in your own process of conscious evolution!

1. In psychosynthesis coaching we work from the foundation of an adult to adult, I-Thou relationship, lessening the power differential, without the weight of transference and countertransference. We are allies.

2. Clients come with an embedded capacity for disidentification from their story, holding and honoring primal wounding, but living with it as history. They’ve been there and done that work or it is work that is not being called forth in this engagement with their coach.

3. The Call of Self, as it asks clients to be true to themselves, truer and truer over time, is the guiding wisdom. We learn to hear it as they do and we stay committed to each client’s deep connection to that Call.

4. Purpose, meaning and values, come forth as goals and intentions, which we help clients to define, then make manifest. Goals may be inner or outer, wide and global, or precise and articulate. All become goals that the client can monitor as they progress. Goals are actionable.

5. Our job is to support the Act of Will and the client as willer, both empowering purpose, and inviting, even requiring deliberation, to check the

6. clarity of purpose, giving space to note subpersonality agendas, but not let them lead. We coach the client towards certainty that the voice who speaks and chooses, is speaking from the guidance of Self.

7. In service of Soulful goals, be they helping to create world peace or cleaning the bathroom, we nourish our clients in accessing, strengthening and living through all psychological functions; thinking, feeling, bodily experience, deep desiring, imagination and intuition.

8. We show up fully present, willing and able to access our most receptive and our most assertive selves, balancing the yin and yang of presence. We are aiming for transformation. We know it is emerging for each person with whom we work.

9. We ask our clients to show up fully, but not laden with old stories and limiting beliefs as their only foundation. “Leave the basement and come into the house you are building, “ we say. “It is a beautiful house and only you can build it.”

10. They are the architects and we the consultants. They the travelers, knowing just where they need to go. We are the guides. In service of their ideal models, we consult, we ask important questions, we listen deeply, we enliven their act of will from purpose and deliberation into affirmation, choice, planning and realization(manifestation).

11. We are psychosynthesists. All of psychosynthesis is brought to bear. We are helping professionals. We are coaches. We are caring, perfectly imperfect adults, committed to the growth of individuals and the planet. We are psychosynthesis coaches.