The Healing Power of the Unconscious: How Can We Understand past Life Experiences in Psychotherapy?

The psychological literature reflects that psychologists, psychiatrists and psychotherapists working seriously and systematically with so-called ‘past-life’ experiences in psychotherapy appears to be on the increase, also in South Africa. In recent years the subject of ‘past-life’ experiences has become a major focus in several modes of therapy, and both local and overseas therapists now regard it as having a vital and dynamic role to play in the process of transformation and healing of the individual psyche. ‘Past-life’ experiences have often been in-extricably connected to the concept of reincarnation, yet recent research reflects that belief in reincarnation is not a necessary prerequisite for its occurrence, for often these experiences occur in therapy despite the disbelief of both client and therapist. Because many therapists claim that ‘past-life’ work is one of the most powerful and concentrated tools available to therapy short of psychedelic drugs, it is imperative to explore ‘past-life’ experiences and to answer some basic questions such as, ‘What is a “past-life” experience/regression?’, and ‘how can we understand such experiences in psychotherapy?’ This article, academically and rigorously, sets out to do that. Several explanations have been identified, and one useful perspective that deepens our therapeutic access to past life material is briefly documented.