Psychosynthesis Therapy & Roberto Assagioli | Holistic Psychotherapy

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Psychosynthesis is interested in the whole building. We try to build an elevator which will allow a person access to every level of his personality. After all, a building with only a basement is very limited. We want to open up the terrace where you can sun-bathe or look at the stars. Our concern is the synthesis of all areas of the personality. That means psychosynthesis is holistic, global and inclusive. It is not against psychoanalysis or even behavior modification but it insists that the needs for meaning, for higher values, for a spiritual life, are as real as biological or social needs. We deny that there are any isolated human problems.

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— Roberto Assagioli

Psychosynthesis Therapy: A Holistic Approach to Personal Growth

Psychosynthesis Therapy is a holistic approach to understanding and integrating all levels of the personality. Developed by Roberto Assagioli, this therapy emphasizes not just resolving isolated problems, but synthesizing all aspects of the self—biological, psychological, social, and spiritual.

What is Psychosynthesis Therapy?

At its core, Psychosynthesis Therapy is interested in the “whole building” of the personality. Assagioli compared the self to a building with many levels, and therapy as an elevator that gives us access to each level so we can live more fully and freely.

Key Principles of Psychosynthesis Therapy

Holistic Integration: Unites all areas of the personality for balance and growth.
Meaning and Spiritual Life: Values higher human needs alongside biological and social needs.
Complementary to Other Therapies: Works alongside psychoanalysis and behavior modification.

How Psychosynthesis Therapy Works

Through Psychosynthesis Therapy, clients explore unconscious patterns, cultivate self-awareness, and engage in inner work that fosters personal and spiritual development.

Benefits of Psychosynthesis Therapy

Greater self-awareness and understanding of personal motivations.
Integration of mind, body, emotions, and spirit.
Access to higher levels of consciousness and meaning in life.
Resolution of inner conflict and limiting patterns.

About Roberto Assagioli

Roberto Assagioli, the founder of Psychosynthesis Therapy, emphasized the importance of integrating all aspects of personality. He believed that addressing higher values, meaning, and spirituality is essential for holistic well-being and personal growth.

“We are not only bodies, we are also souls. Our task is to bring all the parts of ourselves into harmony, to live fully and freely.”
— Roberto Assagioli

Roberto Assagioli and Psychosynthesis Therapy

Core Concepts of Psychosynthesis Therapy

The Self and the Higher Self: Central to Psychosynthesis Therapy is the Self, which includes the personal self (ego) and the Higher Self, representing a deeper, transcendent aspect. Therapy helps individuals connect with this higher dimension for a sense of purpose and fulfillment.
Integration of the Personality: Psychosynthesis Therapy helps integrate multiple subpersonalities—including emotional, intellectual, and instinctual aspects—into a harmonious whole.
Will and Personal Development: Assagioli emphasized the development of the will, enabling individuals to make conscious, intentional choices aligned with higher values.
Transpersonal Dimension: Psychosynthesis Therapy acknowledges spirituality and the search for deeper connection, enhancing holistic well-being.

The Therapeutic Process in Psychosynthesis Therapy

The therapeutic process in Psychosynthesis Therapy is dynamic and evolving. It begins with an exploration of the individual’s current emotional and mental states, helping them gain insight into internal conflicts, unconscious patterns, and life situations. The therapist assists the client in identifying various subpersonalities—distinct voices or parts in thought, feeling, and body—that may be creating confusion or inner conflict. Once these subpersonalities are recognized, Psychosynthesis encourages the development of a greater awareness of the higher, unifying Self.

Techniques such as guided imagery, meditation, visualization, active imagination, and reflective dialogue help clients connect with this deeper Self. As subpersonalities are integrated and the will is strengthened, people experience greater psychological balance, a sense of inner unity, and meaningful change.

Psychosynthesis Therapy founded by Roberto Assagioli – photo and quote

Becoming the Self in Psychosynthesis Therapy

Also central to understanding one’s true identity is the concept of the Self—the “inner unity and center of the personality” (Assagioli). Through exploration of this deeper, more authentic Self, individuals can transcend limited, ego-driven identities. Counselling offers a safe arena for hidden aspects of personality to be brought into awareness and integrated to become more whole.

Being stuck in repetitive patterns is often a sign of over-identification with partial aspects of the personality. In Psychosynthesis, Self is not a fixed entity but a dynamic process that emerges through self-awareness, alignment with inner values, and connection to higher dimensions. There is always choice, agency, and potential for change in each situation.

Disidentification: A Key Tool in Psychosynthesis Therapy

Disidentification helps us step back from thoughts, emotions, and roles to observe them without attachment. This creative process releases us from false and limiting identifications and supports a deeper, more authentic experience of Self. By disidentifying from transient states, we open to a more spacious inner freedom and clearer will.

Spirit and the Transpersonal in Psychosynthesis Therapy

Counselling in Psychosynthesis Therapy includes the transpersonal—higher dimensions of consciousness that transcend the individual ego. Assagioli viewed spirit as a source of inner guidance, creativity, and transformation. Bringing this dimension into therapy connects us with purpose and meaning beyond personal desires and into a felt sense of participation in life.

We are more than our personal history; we need not be defined by it. Soul—our authentic purpose and potential—often speaks through our presenting issues, calling the Self to awaken. As we work toward inner synthesis, we experience deeper connection with others, the wider world, and the cosmos. From the perspective of soul, we are continually becoming; living with aliveness, we integrate personal development with spiritual awakening and service.