The US & International Spiritual Emergence Networks: A History & Some Research Findings towards Better Serving our Clients in Spiritual Crisis

Abstract

The Spiritual Emergence Network (SEN) was founded in 1980 by Christina and Stanislav Grof in response to the lack of understanding and respect for psychospiritual crisis and growth in the mental health profession. SEN has provided many services to mental health professionals and their clients over the years, but its core mission has been to offer those who contact us with information, support and a transpersonal (spiritually-oriented) mental health professional referral service. In 2015, SEN joined the Grof Foundation which has helped to recently launch the International Spiritual Emergence Network. We will discuss research related to what specific spiritual crisis issues callers identified having, and what other research has shown to be among the most effective factors in improving the condition of those in crisis. Much of our time together will be spent in dialogue about how our research and work may inform or be of service to those in attendance.

Presenter Bio

Ted Esser, Ph.D., has been a spiritual counselor and the Director of Operations for the Spiritual Emergence Network since 2004. He is also one of the founders of the International Spiritual Emergence Network and is on the Grof Foundation’s Board of Directors. He currently teaches graduate-level Consciousness Studies and Transpersonal Psychology classes at John F. Kennedy University and Sofia University (formerly the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology). He received an MA in Philosophy & Religion from the California Institute of Integral Studies’ Philosophy, Cosmology & Consciousness program, and a PhD from their East-West Psychology program (Consciousness Studies track). He recently published as a contributing author in the book Lucid Dreaming: New Perspectives to Consciousness in Sleep. For more information about his work, go to: www.tedesser.com.