| Abstract/Results: | ABSTRACT:
An investigation was conducted to record reactions to disturbing psi experiences and to explore their emotional and intellectual processing. Thirty-two subjects participated in weekly group sessions involving humanistic group therapy. The activity involved three stages: (a) emotional support, (b) intellectual and emotional processing, and (c) group-closing and interpretation. Using the Q-sort technique, an evaluation was made of emotional and intellectual thinking and feelings, motivation to be a group member, comprehensibility of the experiences, their integration into life, emotional and intellectual meaning, and emotional disturbance prior to entry into group and after group therapy designed by ourselves. Over three-quarters of the sample reported fear -- in different forms -- to be the predominant emotion; wonder, perplexity, well-being and anxiety were also reported. Scores on a measure of disturbance decreased as a consequence of the group activity (mean pre-score = 4.85, mean post-score = 1.70), which is consistent with emotional processing and integration. Members reported that therapy had made them feel they had been listened to, accepted, understood, and supported by the therapist as well as the other group members. More than half said that the group activity contributed to their personal or spiritual development; others found a fresh interpretation for their psi experiences, or felt emotionally better in their interpersonal relationships, and/or found new meaning in their lives. Group members felt able to learn to handle their own capacity for engaging in constructive personal, interpersonal and spiritual growth. We conclude that humanistic group therapy can be effective with people who have distressing experiences, such those involving paranormal phenomena, and so may be an appropriate method for the further parapsychological exploration of many paranormal experiences.
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