Synchronicity, a term coined by the Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung in the 1920’s, relates to striking and meaningful coincidences that connect our inner and outer worlds. Such experiences suggest some form of synchronisation between what is going through our mind and the external environment.
Many people experience synchronicity as being fortuitous, eliciting positive emotions and enhancing a feeling of connection with others. This workshop highlights how acknowledging synchronicity can be a useful positive psychology intervention consistent with the PERMA model, which encourages interventions that enhance positive effect, engagement with life roles, positive relationships, personal meaning, and accomplishment.
Increasing interest in the subject seems related in part to an increasing interest in acknowledging spirituality in psychotherapy.
Many people, including many therapy clients, view synchronistic experiences as being personally meaningful, and at times as having had a strong impact on their life direction. Many people view striking coincidences that affect their life course as having been "meant to be". Exploring synchronicity can also be a window into clients’ transpersonal beliefs.
This session aims to equip psychologists to draw on their clients’ experience of synchronicity to enhance their wellbeing and sense of life purpose. It includes case studies and many personal anecdotes.