Psychotherapy of cosmic harmony (a therapeutic approach inspired by Rabindranath Tagore) and its effect on depressive outpatients

• Main Author: Vadassery, Sebastian T.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 1990
• Subjects: Relaxation > Therapeutic use; Harmony of the spheres > Therapeutic use; Mental healing; Psychotherapy; Educational Psychology; Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_doctoral/1217
• Institution: De La Salle University

Psychotherapy of cosmic harmony is a therapeutic theory gleaned from the writings of Rabindranath Tagore (1861-191). After presenting the theoretical constructs, this study investigated its therapeutic effectiveness. The subjects of the study were from the psychiatric out-patient department of Jose Reyes Memorial Hospital in Sta. Cruz, Manila. The 60 subjects were chosen from among those who were diagnosed as neurotic depressives and with a cut-off score of 15 and above on Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). The subjects were randomly divided into control (30) and experimental (30) groups on the basis of their availability or non-availability to participate in the 10-day experimental program. The subjects came from the middle class and lower middle class population with a mean age of 26.81. Their educational level ranged from high school drop-out to a college degree. Therapeutic intervention called creative visualization consisted of deep relaxation reaching to the alpha state of awareness. The desired creative imageries were projected on to the mental screen of the counselee with the belief that these creative images in the alpha state will effect positive changes in the clients. Drawing psychic and cosmic energies, these changes were affirmed and strengthened. The group interaction gave the needed clarification and support to the individual. Therapeutic intervention was for 10 consecutive days with a 3-hour session each day. A standard format was used for the intervention but always within the generic modality of Psychotherapy of Cosmic Harmony. The primary outcome variables of this study are depression and self-actualization measured by Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Inventory of self actualization characteristics (ISAC). The secondary variables are client expectations, physiological symptoms, psycho-spiritual states, patterns of thought, behavior and relationships, which are measured by the feedback measures of Counselee Personal Evaluation (CPE) and Significant Other Evaluation (SOE). The results of the study indicated that the experimental counselees made a significant improvement compared to the control group of counselees both on depression and self-actualization. The post-therapy results of the experimental group were significantly higher than the pre-therapy result on the secondary variables. The following conclusions were made based on the results: 1. The Tagorean personality theory and treatment formulated and experimented in this study with all its limitations, is an important oriental personality theory for understanding the counselees, remedy disorders and bring counselees back to the personality realization path. 2. The creative visualization technique of relaxation, visualization and affirmation in a group setting is a powerful instrument in reducing depression and enhancing personality growth and well-being. 3. The cosmic harmony therapeutic treatment is an effective tool in reducing the inner felt pain of counselees by changing pain-inducing negative physiological symptoms, psycho-spiritual states, thought patterns, behavior and relationships into a positive personality growth.