This thesis contends that older persons, whose mental capabilities remain intact, are capable of expanding their conscious awareness; they have not necessarily passed their prime as they begin the process of retiring. They may be showing a worn and weakened package but this does not mean they cannot live a fulfilling life. This is the reason for the development of a new form of therapy, called 'Trans-subjective Therapy', because it combines the objective and the subjective with the trans-personal, or unconscious levels of consciousness. Trans-subjective therapy connects the various systems of objectivity, subjectivity, and the transpersonal, or unconscious, so that the client can be facilitated into clearer, deeper understanding of themselves and others, and expand their conscious awareness in a wholesome, fulfilling manner. This thesis describes development and testing of this new therapeutic approach, which is designed specifically to enable older persons to experience more fulfilling and aware lives. Although building on existing therapeutic modalities, this new formulation is unique in that every feature of its design was selected, developed and tested with the specific needs of older persons in mind. This approach emphasises the personal responsibility of the client to expand his/her conscious awareness in the direction of personal choice. This has particular application to the needs of older persons, most of whom are at a stage in life where meaning and purpose have either become clarified or a sense of meaninglessness and resentment dominates their lives. Quotes from the transcripts of the author's testing of this approach with 12 individuals who undertook training in this methodology have been used throughout the text to illustrate the application of this approach. Its effectiveness is inferred from the manner in which each person in this group has expressed him/herself at a level of consciousness freely chosen and individually experienced in a manner that will be novel or completely new to the person involved. / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/182429 |
| Date | January 2002 |
| Creators | Cathcart, Noel C., University of Western Sydney, College of Arts, Education and Social Sciences, School of Social Ecology and Lifelong Learning |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Source | THESIS_CAESS_SELL_Cathcart_N.xml |
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