A Biofeedback and Neurotechnology Cybertherapy System for the Support of Transpersonal Psychotherapy

Transpersonal psychology is the study of human nature that is based on the assumption that humans have potentials that go beyond the limits of their ego and integrate the spiritual experience into a broader understanding of the human psyche and consciousness. Transpersonalists have used altered states of consciousness to aid psychotherapy for decades. To support transpersonal psychotherapy, a cyberpsychotherapy system is proposed. The system can be used to induce a nonordinary state of consciousness, which transpersonal psychologists can use as a healing tool to treat patients suffering from psychological issues, such as psychosis. These treatment sessions can take place over long distances thanks to internet technology. The cyberpsychotherapy system employs a quantum signal generator to induce altered states of consciousness, which is based on Persinger's Koren Helmet (1983). This therapy includes an EEG that acts as a biofeedback device to determine if the patient has reached the desired level of consciousness. Furthermore, this EEG measurement can be used to inform the adjustment of the signal generator frequency to improve the patient's psychotherapy experience, if necessary. The cybertherapy system based on neurotechnology and quantum biofeedback was tested on ten patients. To confirm the system's efficacy, data was collected and analyzed. Although the results show that the patients were unable to achieve the desired level of consciousness for the psychotherapy, there was statistically significant evidence that the proposed system can alter an individual's level of consciousness, which may help inform future designs aimed at inducing the most conducive state of consciousness for psychotherapy.