RAFFAI, Gellért
(Hungary)
Title of contribution:
Eliciting and Integrating Peak Experiences – Psychology, Spirituality, and Psychedelics
Where & when:
Eliciting and Integrating Peak Experiences – Psychology, Spirituality, and Psychedelics
What brings about peak experiences and how can we leverage their integration into our lives for our own and others’ wellbeing and growth? Altered states of consciousness provide an experience of ego dis-identification, a shift in perception, and a witnessing, these elements help facilitate processes of self-development (K. Wilber). In the first part of this (inter)active session, Gellért will take us through the history and current state of transpersonal psychology (Grof) and developmental psychopathology (Ranschburg). Luckily, our human spiritual needs are being recognised by these schools and the world at large. Drawing on literature, various methods, and case studies, Gellért will illustrate how spirituality finds its place in his clinical psychology practice. One way to elicit peak experiences is the ingestion of psychedelics in a safe and supported environment. Paulina and Miriam will share about their respective specialties of ibogaine and psilocybin. Research shows that the entheogens can heal the brain and the psychological self, while potentially also inducing a sense of oneness and interconnectedness. Preparation and integration of such sessions are of great importance for participants to cultivate the perspectives and practices that support state development. You are very welcome to ask questions, participate in the practices and share in break-out groups. We hope to spark (or reinvigorate) your own explorations in these important and interesting dimensions of being and becoming.
About Raffai Gellért:
2008-2011 BA in Psychology (Behaviour analyst), 2011-2013 MSc in Health Psychology; 2013-2016 Ph.D. in Health Sciences (in progress), 2016- Clinical Psychologist training
A practicing psychologist who experienced transpersonal techniques (yoga, vipassana meditation, holotropic breathwork…) and uses transpersonal approaches in daily work (mindfulness, visualization…).