The interpretation of a phenomenon: telepathy in psychotherapy among therapists trained under Fr. Jaime C. Bulatao

ABSTRACT

Filipino psychologist Fr. Jaime C. Bulataosuggested that a shared collective consciousness allows for telepathy to occur. In the context of psychotherapy, telepathy may strengthen rapport between therapist and client, as well as enrich insight. This paper aims to describe and discuss a framework of Bulatao-inspired psychotherapy that integrates telepathy as part of the therapeutic practice. Thus, the paper asks the question: What does the Bulatao therapeutic process of telepathy look like? Descriptive phenomenology revealed four phenomenological structures: (a) Mental quietude and psychic openness; (b) Perceiving the client; (c) Receiving and reacting to telepathic stimuli; and (d) Anomalous insight. This paper has the potential to inspire a conversation with regard to the potential therapeutic uses of Bulatao’s transpersonal world view.

KEYWORDS:

• Psychotherapy
• telepathy
• transpersonal psychology
• descriptive phenomenological psychology

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Carl Lorenz Cervantes

Carl Lorenz Cervantes is a senior lecturer at the University of the Philippines.

Karina Therese Galang Fernandez

Karina Therese Fernandez is the Executive Director in the Ateneo Bulatao Center for Psychological Services and a professor in the Psychology Department at Ateneo de Manila University.