I want to speak out on a rather long-standing debate - is there a place for parapsychology in psychology. You can easily find ads on the network or in paper products of “psychics-psychics.” The professional community is simply angry with psychologists and psychotherapists. Regularly about this happen loud "communication" of specialists.
A world without miracles would not be a world. I know that many people had some inexplicable experience, which can be attributed to parapsychological. However, science, even British, has not yet explained this type of experiment. Those. people not only don’t know why this happens, but they don’t know whether this happens at all. Who knows, maybe in just a few years nature will reveal to us the secrets of the other world, and everything inexplicable will be on its shelves, classified and with the appropriate tags. BUT...
Until this happens, I am inclined to believe that all the same parapsychology grows out of the activity of our psyche. How does it get there to start growing, is another question. But, let’s dwell on the fact that this is “psychic” (that is, related to the human psyche)
I believe that almost all parapsychological activities are based primarily on trance states and on working with metaphors and symbols. This is Tarot, and astrology, and runes. The same psychotherapy, but wrapped in a different package.
There is such a category of people that very well goes for such packaging, because this wrapper does not imply any kind of active actions of the person himself to work with psycho-traumatic material. In addition, such techniques are shrouded in special meaning and power and ... even more collective unconscious. And here in this category of persons, the subconscious jumps out very willingly for such a "seed". It somehow seems to be so and everything is happening.
The parapsychologist gives the seed in the form of some kind of archetypal symbol or creates an unusual situation that makes it easier for the client to exit negative emotions. For example, it is difficult to forgive and apologize to a deceased parent. Well, they still understand that a person has died and now you can’t say anything. And if you say, then this is "not for real." But if you call the spirit, and talk to him through the medium ... here is a completely different matter. Catharsis is provided. Moreover, in such cases in traditional psychotherapy, sometimes you have to work with a client for years to achieve the same.
So, "why not"?
And now “why not”:
- This very “specific contingent” is not so simple as it seems at first glance. The subconscious mind pops out, there is no need to worry. Only this can happen not in the volume and in the form that was wanted for the first time. No, the vast majority after going to the parapsychologist do not commit suicide. Just after the session, everything that jumped out like a released spring returns to its place. Too much information to digest. But she can curl up there in a very unnatural way. Then it will be very difficult to turn everything back into an orderly form.
- There are people who work well with metaphors. Those. they understand that "a tie can personify ...". And there are people for whom a tie is a tie. If the "male figure" somewhere nearby creates a negative field ... Then this is certainly a neighbor and you need to figure it out.
- People with vivid imagination after visiting a parapsychologist continue an autonomous flight of fantasy. Well, what is there? After all, it’s not the parapsychologist who is important, but the “higher powers”. So you can communicate with your own strengths. As a result, when they get home, people can talk with spirits or reinterpret the alignment of the Tarot to completely different results, which they completed in a session with a parapsychologist. Those. Further, the results of “therapy” can be completely unpredictable and uncontrollable.
- Even if everything is done well and correctly, there remains such a factor as an excess of parapsychological literature. Yes, psychology is also full of literature, but, as a rule, one needs to delve into it, often having some kind of basis for understanding. And as for any popular esotericism, it’s like a cookbook. You can read from any end. Considering that the content of the books is “I see it this way”, the author’s vision can drag the client to sky-high distances and he can interpret everything as you never think.
- Clients of psychotherapists very rarely gather in communities. This happens, of course, but there, in the main, rather practical points are discussed. Who went to whom, what was pleasant, what is not, what methods approached, which are not. But clients of psychics very often form groups in which they willingly exchange symptoms. Some of them themselves find supernatural powers and .... in general there is a whole subculture, which, unfortunately, can drift towards induced psychoses.
- Customers relieve themselves of responsibility. They stop planning, doing something, thinking about what the effect of their actions will be. All in the hands of supernatural forces! If you carry out the correct rituals, then everything will resolve. Yes, rituals remove anxiety, but they do not resolve problems. People are immersed in ritual activity, which is already becoming an end in itself. All problems are side. The main thing is to marinate the frog's foot in time.
- People often take rash actions. Before the person visited the parapsychologist, he had doubts about what to do. You can do it wisely, but you can do it as you want. In the process of communication with the otherworldly, the critical part of the personality weakens, and the person is inclined to do it not in a smart way, but as it seems it would be more pleasant or free from unpleasant experiences. This is not always the right way. The woman is experiencing difficulties in the family and all of her is already sickened, but there is a consciousness that marriage needs to be worked on. She goes to the parapsychologist and at the height of mystical experiences, she is something from the depths of space, which allows her to carry the marriage to hell. Although it would be possible to do without it.
- Clients sit down for sessions. It doesn't matter if the predictions come true and whether the rituals help. Most importantly, they experience a surge of hope and a sense of impending happiness. It’s not even “talking about problems” or “so that someone listens.” Such clients, of course, are financially very promising, but this will no longer be called psychotherapy. Customers become addicted. And communicating with such clients is the exploitation of his addiction.
Yes, such things can to one degree or another happen with traditional psychotherapy. But here the important point is that in the “classic” there is no factor of some great and unspoken power. It can not be described. She's too big to resist. Therefore, you can act with her as you personally see it. Those. there is simply an immense field for interpretation, not limited by the scope of "it has not yet been proved by science." Not everything goes in favor.
Among other things, you need to consider that in addition to the "specific contingent", there are 2 more categories of people who go to the parapsychologist.
First, people are driven into a dead end by life. Most of them suffer from severe forms of endogenous depression (this is the very depression, which is not due to circumstances, but as a disease). They no longer see any way out in life, they rely only on a miracle. If a miracle does not happen, then they can take the next step in the direction of suicide.
The second group consists of people on the threshold of psychosis. They are already mentally ill. Their world begins to change in a bizarre way and it seems to them that it is the psychic who can understand them and explain what is happening to them. Well ... and by magic stop all this suffering. When psychosis breaks out, then you can get the most from the former client. It is not a fact that a parapsychologist will fall into his understanding of the “forces of good”. Yes, and the relatives of the patient can get it. It is difficult for people to explain that this psychic of their sick relative did not zombie.
So, is it possible to engage in a similar practice for a consultant? IMHO is possible, but only when the specialist himself understands well what he is doing and that there will be some sense for the client. At the same time, the client needs to very clearly explain what and why, and how this happens. I understand that this can lead to the loss of a large proportion of the clientele of psychologists, psychics. But this is what is called “psychological counseling”. If you don’t do this, and continue to rub about “Strength”, “Guardian Angels” of “spirits”, etc. Then do not call it "psychological counseling." Even if it helps everyone and all customers are happy. Flies and cutlets must be separated. In the end, there is an official opportunity to start a business in astrology, fortune telling, or communicating with spirits.