Research in Progress: Assisting in the Integration of Spiritually Transformative Experiences, a Cross-Cultural Study

Abstract

Marie Grace Brook presents progress on a two-pronged study inquiring into approaches for assistance in the process of integrating spiritually transformative experiences. One aspect of the study involves interviews with (1) psychologists or psychiatrists, (2) religious leaders or spiritual teachers, (3) indigenous healers or shamans. The interviews inquire regarding treatments that would have been offered to experiencers seeking assistance in 4 actual cases from the US. The cases were selected because they were representative of symptoms reported in a 2011 ACISTE survey of experiencers. This conference presentation summarizes interviews collected from Indonesia in 2014, which will be followed by comparable interviews in the US and other cultures including Chile/Peru and India. The second aspect of the study, to become dissertation research in conjunction with ACISTE, is creation of an internet survey. The survey is based on proposed theories of assistance for integration of spiritually transformative experiences put forth by David Lukoff, Yvonne Kason, Ryan Rominger, and Yolaine Stout. The survey is designed to be distributed this coming year to experiencers through databases of organizations such as ACISTE, IANDS, KRN, SEN, IONS and SDI.

Presenter Bio

Marie Grace Brook is a spiritual guide, LCSW, and PhD student at Sofia University (formerly Institute of Transpersonal Psychology). She has been interested in STEs throughout her career, both because she is a multiple experiencer and because in her profession practice, many experiencers have found their way into her care. Marie became certified by the Rocky Mountain Healing Arts Institute and Rolfing Institute in Boulder, and completed the Advanced Training in Cranio-Sacral Therapy at Upledger Institute in Palm Beach, Florida. While living with her husband and two children in Durango, Colorado, she conducted a private practice in healing arts and started a healing arts school. Upon earning a Masters degree in social work at Denver University and a Masters certification in spiritual direction at Fordham University, Marie conducted a private practice in spiritual guidance, worked as a social worker for hospice, and taught at University of Denver and New Mexico Highlands University graduate schools. She now lives in Santa Cruz, California with her husband. In addition to her doctoral studies and research, she leads spiritual retreats and vision quests, and teaches Tai Chi.