Psychotherapists' attitudes toward clients reporting mystical experiences.

Abstract

Little is understood about therapists' attitudes toward clients who report mystical experiences. A survey was mailed to 650 members of the American Psychological Association in full-time practice and was completed by 285 respondents. Results indicated that 4.5% of clients during the past 12 months had reported mystical experiences; most therapists did not view such experiences as necessarily pathological; therapists' theoretical orientation and certain other personal and professional factors influenced their diagnostic attitudes toward these clients; 50% of the respondent therapists themselves reported having had a mystical experience at some time in their lives.