The Challenge of Intimacy in a Culture of Self-discovery and Self-transcendence with Psychologist / Author Dr. Keith Witt

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Seekers tend to be absorbed with vertical development, or “waking up” as we refer to it in Integral. Most contemplative traditions and spiritual practices center on waking up techniques and commitments. Such emphases run the risk of ignoring the elephant in the living room—that humans are first and foremost relational beings.

Authentic waking up experiences which aren’t reflected in increasing capacities for intimacy and self- awareness of defensive states inevitably lead to spiritual bypassing. Authentic waking up experiences which include increasing capacities for intimacy and self-awareness of defensive states lead to more love and personal power.

How do we balance these two central developmental mandates? Keith’s book Loving Completely emphasizes the centrality of conscious connection integrated with conscious introspection in creating and maintaining joyful relationships. His book Shadow Light emphasizes the importance of creating an evolving relationship with the constructive and destructive Shadow material which constantly flows from our adaptive unconscious into our current awareness. Individual awakening thus embraces relational awakening, which guides us to more individual awakening.

Given the inherent problems in every worldview with relationships and self-awareness, Keith has found this approach of combining intra- and interpersonal awakening and regulation to be central in his work with individuals, couples, families, and groups.

Dr. Keith Witt is a Licensed Psychologist, teacher, and author who has lived and worked in Santa Barbara since 1973. He has conducted over 65,000 therapy sessions and published eight books, including Loving Completely, Shadow Light, and Integral Mindfulness. His books Waking up and Sessions were two of the
first books on Integrally informed psychotherapy. In presentations and classes around the U.S. and internationally, Keith has explored love, therapy, interpersonal relationships, and development, from multiple perspectives, weaving neuroscience, Integral theory, wisdom traditions, and numerous forms of
psychotherapy into a coherent cosmology of love and healing.