Integration of Spiritually Transformative Experiences Inventory (ISTEI) Survey Research Study

1. Integration of Spiritually Transformative Experiences Inventory (ISTEI) Survey Research Study Marie Grace Brook, PhD(c), LCSW, ACMHP, Grad Cert. Spiritual Direction, ACSGC Sofia University (Institute of Transpersonal Psychology) Palo Alto, California, USA October 6, 2018 Annual ACISTE Conference Westin Chicago Northwest

2. 1980 ~ What motivated me?

3. Sept 1980-Aug 1981 How did I try to integrate my STE?

4. Sept 1981 – Sept 2011How long did integration take?

5. What happened in Sept 2011?

6. 2012 ~ Faculty & Classmates encouraged me to study STEs

7. What is the benefit to others? • Benefits • To individual: increased spiritual maturity • To community: increased service • To world: increased awareness directed towards compassion, peace, ecological solutions • Risks • To individual: difficulty integrating new paradigm • Within community: diagnosis of mental illness • For world: missing out on potential contribution

8. Beginning Flow Chart for Research Spiritual Experience Return Situation Integrative Process of Transformation Integrated Life Former Life

9. Research Question What assists an individual to integrate a spiritually transformative experience (STE)?

10. Types of STEs • Mystical experiences • Religious conversion experiences • Near-death experiences • Kundalini awakenings • Shamanic initiation • Spiritual emergencies (paranormal, hallucinogens, etc.)

11. “Spiritually Transformative Experience” • Spiritual • Increase in compassion • Broadening awareness • Increase in sense of ethical responsibility • Transformative • Profound psycho-spiritual change • Permanent change • Experience • Discrete event • Involves altered state of consciousness

12. Definition of STE (for this study) ~ adiscrete experience of analtered state of consciousness that brings about aprofound transformation in the spiritual identity andlife expression of the experiencer.

13. Purpose of the Study ~ to explore validation of accepted wisdom among researchers and clinicians regarding ways of assisting integration of these powerful experiences.

14. Methodology: Survey • Created inventory of practices, habits & behaviors that assist integration of STEs • Created survey—imbedded inventory • Put survey into Survey Monkey • Promoted online survey participation

15. Created Integration of STEs Inventory (ISTEI) Located clinical research from experts in the field who listed recommended practices, habits and behaviors that assist in integrating STEs. Yvonne Kason David Lukoff Ryan Rominger Yolaine Stout In order to validate these clinical theories with quantitative evidenced-based research, these lists were operationalized into an inventory

16. Yvonne Kason, MD Author of book Farther shores: Exploring how near-death, kundalini and mystical experiences can transform ordinary lives, 1994 – 35 survival techniques for STE integration Kason, Y. (2008). Farther shores: Exploring how near-death, kundalini and mystical experiences can transform ordinary lives. Bloomington, IN: Author’s Choice Press of iUniverse. [first published 1994]

17. David Lukoff, PhD Introduced new category to the DSM-IV called “Religious or Spiritual Problem” – 9 therapeutic interventions for STE integration Lukoff, D., Lu, F. & Yang, C. P. (2011). DSM-IV Religious and spiritual problems. In Peteet, J. Lu, F. & Narrow, W. (Eds.) Religious and Spiritual Issues in Psychiatric Diagnosis: A Research Agenda for DSM-V. Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc.

18. Ryan Rominger, PhD Doctoral work in field of STEs. Researcher and current president of ACISTE. – 4 situations that ease STE integration Rominger, R. (2004). Exploring the integration of the aftereffects of the near-death experience: an intuitive and artistic inquiry. ProQuest Dissertations and Theses. Rominger, R. (2014). Integration models for the STE. Presentation at ACISTE Annual Conference, Nov. 7, 2014 in Dallas, TX.

19. Yolaine Stout Leader and investigator in the field of STEs. Organizational founder of ACISTE – 6 challenges in integration of STEs Stout, Y. M., Jacquin, L. A. & Atwater, P. M. H. (2006) Six major challenges faced by near death experiencers. Journal of Near-Death Studies, 25 (1) pp.49-62.

20. ISTEI Operationalizing • Listed the 58 items from the four theorists • Separated 58 items into components • Re-wrote components into statements • Re-designed statements to describe practice, habit or behavior • Dropped duplicate statements • Simplified remaining 84 distinct items • Adapted all items to Likert scale Helpful Not Helpful

21. Created ISTEI Survey • Section I: Demographic Information and STE history • Section II: Mental Health Inventory (MHI-5) andPosttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI-SF) • Section III: Integration of Spiritually Transformative Experiences Inventory (ISTEI) • Section IV: Thank You and Further Resources

22. Put survey into Survey Monkey Integration of Spiritually Transformative Experiences Inventory (ISTEI)

23. Promoted online survey participation • ACISTE, EUROTAS & Sofia Univ websites & newsletters • Listserv for APA Div 36 (Psychology of Religion & Spirituality) • Group Facebook Pages such as Shades of Awakening and Spiritual Emergency Dialogue • Created Professional Facebook page to pass it on to peer professionals & friends • Passed out fliers at transpersonal conferences in Indonesia, Italy (EUROTAS), Brazil, & Palm Desert, US • Asked friends to ask friends

24. ISTEI Survey Online October 2015 to October 2016 Final Count: 413 Respondents

25. Section I Demographics andDescription of STE

26. Age

27. Gender

28. Race

29. Household Income

30. Nationality (40 Countries) Norway Sweden Finland Ireland Netherlands France Germany Austria Italy Spain Russia Poland Hungary Slovakia Moldova Slovania Serbia UK 15% CANADA 6% China Pakistan India Taiwan Vietnam Malaysia Singapore Indonesia ROMANIA 6% USA 51% Mexico Cuba Panama Venezuela Brazil Chile Kenya Botswana South Africa AUSTRALIA and NEW ZEALAND 6%

31. Occupations Helping Professions 55% Business 23% Education 36% Arts 17% Other 13%

32. Current Religion

33. Former Religion

34. “Other” Religions Spiritual but not religious 24 Taoism 6 Pagan 6 Wicca 6 Omnism (all religions) 4 Nature religions 3 Mormonism 3 Agnostic 2 Bahai faith 2 Course in Miracles 2 Spiritualism 2 Greek Orthodox 2 Celtic 2 Christian science Anthroposophy Siddha yoga Non-dualism Universalistic Permaculture Metaphysical Sikhism Shivaism Santeria Suffism Caodaism Asatru Shamanism Santo Daime Thelema Advaita Unitarian Atheism New Age Love

35. How did you hear about this survey?

36. Age at time of STE

37. How recent was STE ?

38. Which describes your STE? Mystical experience 60% Religious conversion Unitive experience 46% Near-Death experience Kundalini Experience Hallucinogenic drug Out-of-body experience Energetic experience 40% Communication w/ dead Communication w/ aliens Channeling or possession Paranormal powers 30% Other

39. “Other” descriptions of STE paranormal powers automatic writing automatic body movements telepathy animal & plant telepathy bi-location precognition communication met malevolent beings met my dead family member communication with universe orbs hallucinatory hallucinatory scenes grandiose delusions mystical experience revelation that we are love awakening cosmic consciousness spiritual revelation self-realization realization of God synchronicity direct experience of God indescribable peace suspension of fear journey through universe healing experience complete inner silence visionary experience prophetic dreaming reality shift hypnogogic state lucid dreaming planetary dimension of personal thoughts manifesting instantly sexuality/spirituality merger prolonged transformation pre-conception memories past life experience between life (bardos) profound identity shift shamanic initiation symbolically laden reality psychic rebirth

40. How long did your STE last?

41. How long to adjust to STE socially?(employment, family, social habits)

42. How long to integrate STE personally?(personal identity and direction in life)

43. Section II Screening Criteria

44. Screened respondents with abbreviated standardized validated psychological tests: 1. Integration of STE: MHI-5 2. Validity of STE: PTGI-SF

45. 1) Mental Health Inventory (MHI-5) used to assess current mental health to estimate sufficient STE integration (to meet criteria for study) 5 items measure happiness calmness nervousness depression Rumpf, H. J., Meyer, C. Hapke, U., John, U. (2001). Screening for mental health: Validity of the MHI-5 using DSM-IV Axis I psychiatric disorders as gold standard. Psychiatry Research, 31(105-3), 243-53.

46. 2) Post-traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI-SF) used to assess whether claimed STE was psycho-spiritually transformative (to meet criteria for study) 10 items measure positive changes attributed to the event in priorities values capacities confidence spiritual understanding interpersonal relationships Tedeschi, R. G., & Calhoun, L. G. (1996). The Posttraumatic Growth Inventory: Measuring the positive legacy of trauma. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 9, 455–471.

47. Sample • 413 began the test (respondents) • 336 completed the criteria tests – 100% (participants considered) • 70 Failed MHI test (not integrated) – 20.83% • 32 Failed PTGI test (not STE) – 9.52% • 11 Failed both tests – 3.27 % • 91 excluded (failed either test) - 27.08 % • 245 met criteria – 72.92% (qualifying participants)

48. Sample from survey413 started survey (Respondents)234 met criteria (Participants)

49. Section III Integration of Spiritually Transformative Experiences Inventory (ISTEI)

50. ISTEI Integration of Spiritually Transformative Experiences Inventory 84 practices, habits, and behaviors that assist with integrating STEs