Altered states of consciousness during psychotherapy: a historical and cultural perspective.
The International journal of social psychiatry January 1, 1979 P Buckley, M Galanter 4 citations
Altered states of consciousness appear frequently in psychotherapeutic practices across many cultures. Western psychotherapy's historical roots, from the Dionysian rites and Asclepian temples to Mesmerism and psychoanalysis, show a central role for such states. Non-Western healing rituals also employ trance states in culturally varied ways. The widespread presence of altered states in such different cultural contexts suggests they may be a universal component of psychotherapy.