The Use of Transpersonal Theory in Professional Providence of Social Services - Essay Example

The Use of Transpersonal Theory in Professional Providence of Social Services

Introduction

The transpersonal theory is one of the theories with extensive applications by professionals as they provide social services to their respective clients. The theory incorporates spirituality and one’s religious beliefs to transcendent factors of human experience. The theory has spiritual and religious psychology as a foundational framework for its operations. The theory expresses the aspect of spirituality as a factor that extends beyond a person’s viewpoint. The theory arose from Lajoie and Shapiro definitions on matters of spiritual and religious beliefs in the period between 1968 -1991. As professionals are dealing with their clients, they need to consider one’s religious or spiritual beliefs and the way one integrates the beliefs to lives especially from their human experience. The theory encompasses a set of religious beliefs, which are important for any professional person to consider ensuring that in their social work, they provide the best services at that correspond to the client’s spiritual beliefs. Additionally, most of the people around the world have religious beliefs from the religion one inclines to and believes in, which makes spirituality a key consideration in the providence of social services to clients. The essay discusses the historical root, the theoretical application, nature, the target group, description of the treatment process and the actual research of the transpersonal theory as used by professionals in their career Providence of social services.

1. Philosophical/Historical Roots

The theory emerged in the 20th century. A contrast in psychological opinions Freudian and behaviourism branches of psychology had a quest for a central paradigm and theory that linked the two sides together. The theory caused satisfaction to many scholars as the two contrasting branches of psychology could at least have a relative ground of agreement that was extensive to humanistic behaviours. As the theory developed, it brought in the aspects of religion and human beliefs as most people had strong inclinations to their religious background (Bhagwan, 2017). The reason as to why the theory focused on humanistic approaches towards spirituality is that people in the 20th century portrayed a pattern of doing or reacting to stimulus that correspondent to their religious beliefs. The trend contributed quite hugely in the manifestation of the transpersonal theory.

The transpersonal theory developed significantly through the works of Abraham Maslow in in the 1960s. Maslow talked about a deep phenomenal connection between people and their beliefs on the existence of a Supreme Being. Other philosophers who contributed the formulation of the transpersonal theory include William James, Carl Jung, and Roberto Assagioli. The connection develops and one has some wisdom and strong intuition that guides most of his/her operations in life. Maslow further explained transpersonal through a paradigm of hierarchy (Dedoming, 2009). The paradigm helps one to understand that spirituality and religion might be abstract, although people have deep connections to their spiritual beliefs. The above approach shows the importance of the transpersonal theory considerations anytime a professional person on social works wants to handle a client. The operations should be corresponding to avoid antagonism.

2. Theoretical framework

The theoretical framework segment talks about the application and use of the theory. The theory has extensive in many fields such as the health centres and community-based operations. Spirituality is an extensive aspect that people need to consider as they make any decisions that regard social work in most of the societies. From arguments supported by the transpersonal theory, there are strong intuitions that guide a person towards living their lifestyle. Some might argue out that some people are pagans and do not belong to the renowned religious groups around the globe. However, the people still believe in an existence of divine beings from different the angles. Centered on the above arguments, all professional personnel need to consider the spirituality as they attend to clients on social work.

Most of the professions have decided to consider the transpersonal theory as they handle clients in the firm. A prominent example is evident in the medical branch. Most of the clinical personnel consider the transpersonal theory extensively during their operations (Blakely & Dziadosz, 2015). Professional medical personnel offer treatment and medication to patients that correspond to their spiritual beliefs. Some of the religions oppose scientific medicine as it contradicts their religious faith. In case a person wants to immunize people who oppose scientific medicine and there is the risk of a certain pandemic in the area, one needs to educate the community and reason with their religious beliefs to show them the risks of the pandemic and convince them to take the immunization, as it is important to their health. Based on the above argument, professionals need to use the transpersonal theory as they offer social services to their clients. Another example is that when professionals offer community-based services to certain communities, one needs to consider factors such as spirituality of the community members as well as an individual’s beliefs among the communities. Considering one's spirituality is important as it reduces opposition in one’s work.

3. Nature of Support for and Against Theory (Empirical, Practice Wisdom)

Most of the scholars have argued against the transpersonal theory while others have argued for reasons to support the theory. This section of the paper gives the nature of the theory. The first section supports the theories based on the strengths of the theory. The first reason as to why I support the theory is that the theory articulates spirituality quite effectual (Vandenhouten et al., 2012). Spirituality and religious beliefs are in-felt, although they play a crucial role in shaping one’s life. The other reason as to I supports the theory is that one of the theorists Abraham Maslow formulated a paradigm that showed the hierarchy of beings. From the paradigm, one can easily understand the reason as to why spirituality guides people’s lives. The last supportive reason to the theory is that the theory explains the importance of considering one’s religious so as to help one in his or her professional field in dealing with clients to ensure that one’s operations do not contradict the beliefs of the client.

On the other hand, a few weaknesses make people oppose the theory. One of the major weaknesses is that the theory does not expound on the approach for professionals to take on atheistic people. Some people live contrary lives to religious beliefs and at times do not regard spirituality as a major factor in their lives. The theory could have explained to professionals on how to they should approach atheistic people in their social works. The other minor weakness is that the theory focuses on spirituality while there are some other psychotic factors such one’s perceptions of factors that revolve around the people’s lives other than spirituality. Although the weaknesses are minor and the theory is quite important for professionals to apply as they offer social services to their targeted clients.

4. When/With Whom Would It Make The Most Sense To Use This Method In Practice?

The theory is quite important to many professionals field. I tend to think that the field in which the theory has huge significance is in the medical field. The reason behind my perception is that the medical field deals with human life, which is sacred. One needs to handle human life with immense care during all times (Clark, 2016). The reason behind the argument is that human life is important and irreplaceable once lost. When nurses attend to the patient, the nurses need to make the patient comfortable with the type of treatment they offer to the patient. Some patients do not like some of the treatments that the clinical officers’ offer based on their religious beliefs and personal attributes. As professional clinical personnel, one needs to offer other alternatives to the patient to ensure that the patient has satisfaction with the type of treatment offered in the health facilities.

Conversely, the model is quite problematic as it contradicts some of the professions. A good example is the profession of journalism. At all times, journalists need to give information on happenings around the globe at all times. As journalism is an informative field, the theory might hinder and affect the field in many significant ways. Some of the events that most people need have the quest for being contradictory to spiritual beliefs. Journalists need to inform their heterogeneous recipients on what happens regardless of individuals’ religious beliefs. Based on the above reasons, the transpersonal theory is contradictory to some of the professional fields such as journalism.

5. Description of Treatment Process

The initial phase is important in the study. The chief purpose of the study was to relate the transpersonal theory to people’s professional lives as they hand clients across the globe. A good example is the paramedics as they hand their patients. The paramedics need to consider one’s spiritual beliefs as well as link the belief to the suitable type of treatment. If one respects their client’s personal beliefs, he or she can build a good working relationship with the client (Robbins, Chatterjee & Canda, 2012). The reason behind the argument is that people behave well on the contrary to their beliefs. Psychologists also argue out that if one tries to impose a type of approach that contradicts the person's beliefs for example spirituality, one does not feel satisfied with the approach and there are high chances of opposition.

In an assessment of the theory, it is quite important as it leads to client satisfaction in various fields. One of the major ethical concern in most of the institutions is the satisfaction of the employees needs through the best services from a firm (National Association of Social Workers, 2008). As one considers the client's spiritual affiliations and beliefs, one creates a ground to offer services that fit and satisfy the client needs. Despite the few weaknesses of the theory, the strengths and merits are noteworthy and helpful in many people’s professional lines of duty.

The last stage is the treatment and termination process. The goals of the theory include making personnel to prioritise their client’s beliefs, ensure consumer satisfaction and make people understand the importance of spirituality in people’s lives. The theory also helps firms brainstorm on a variety of techniques in the attempt to offer the best services to their respective clients (Cameron & Keenan, 2010). The brainstorming is quite important as more people visit one’s firm often on the services offered. Based on the above arguments, firms need to consider the application of the transpersonal theory.

6. Research

The theory is quite informative in research, one of the major ways in which the theory is informative is that one can approach using several aspects to explains mysteries such as people’s inclinations to spirituality. The theory also informs the research topic that consideration of people’s beliefs in all operations is quite important in one’s professional life. Based on the above reasons, the theory was of great importance to the study.

Conclusion

I conclusion, the transpersonal theory is quite important in one’s professional life. The primary reason behind the argument is that good integration and formation of response strategies that correspond to the theory brings out consumer satisfaction. The theorist has also had a supportive paradigm that displays hierarchy to explain spirituality. The strengths, in theory, outweigh the weaknesses. Based on the above reasons, the theory is quite pivotal in the providence of satisfactory services to clients of a firm.

3. Nature of Support for and Against Theory (Empirical, Practice Wisdom)

Most of the scholars have argued against the transpersonal theory while others have argued for reasons to support the theory. This section of the paper gives the nature of the theory. The first section supports the theories based on the strengths of the theory. The first reason as to why I support the theory is that the theory articulates spirituality quite effectual (Vandenhouten et al., 2012). Spirituality and religious beliefs are in-felt, although they play a crucial role in shaping one’s life. The other reason as to I supports the theory is that one of the theorists Abraham Maslow formulated a paradigm that showed the hierarchy of beings. From the paradigm, one can easily understand the reason as to why spirituality guides people’s lives. The last supportive reason to the theory is that the theory explains the importance of considering one’s religious so as to help one in his or her professional field in dealing with clients to ensure that one’s operations do not contradict the beliefs of the client.

On the other hand, a few weaknesses make people oppose the theory. One of the major weaknesses is that the theory does not expound on the approach for professionals to take on atheistic people. Some people live contrary lives to religious beliefs and at times do not regard spirituality as a major factor in their lives. The theory could have explained to professionals on how to they should approach atheistic people in their social works. The other minor weakness is that the theory focuses on spirituality while there are some other psychotic factors such one’s perceptions of factors that revolve around the people’s lives other than spirituality. Although the weaknesses are minor and the theory is quite important for professionals to apply as they offer social services to their targeted clients.

4. When/With Whom Would It Make The Most Sense To Use This Method In Practice?

The theory is quite important to many professionals field. I tend to think that the field in which the theory has huge significance is in the medical field. The reason behind my perception is that the medical field deals with human life, which is sacred. One needs to handle human life with immense care during all times (Clark, 2016). The reason behind the argument is that human life is important and irreplaceable once lost. When nurses attend to the patient, the nurses need to make the patient comfortable with the type of treatment they offer to the patient. Some patients do not like some of the treatments that the clinical officers’ offer based on their religious beliefs and personal attributes. As professional clinical personnel, one needs to offer other alternatives to the patient to ensure that the patient has satisfaction with the type of treatment offered in the health facilities.

Conversely, the model is quite problematic as it contradicts some of the professions. A good example is the profession of journalism. At all times, journalists need to give information on happenings around the globe at all times. As journalism is an informative field, the theory might hinder and affect the field in many significant ways. Some of the events that most people need have the quest for being contradictory to spiritual beliefs. Journalists need to inform their heterogeneous recipients on what happens regardless of individuals’ religious beliefs. Based on the above reasons, the transpersonal theory is contradictory to some of the professional fields such as journalism.

5. Description of Treatment Process

The initial phase is important in the study. The chief purpose of the study was to relate the transpersonal theory to people’s professional lives as they hand clients across the globe. A good example is the paramedics as they hand their patients. The paramedics need to consider one’s spiritual beliefs as well as link the belief to the suitable type of treatment. Read More