The term “unworthy” appears in 86 languages, reflecting a deep ego-mind fear of “not being enough”. This widespread prevalence of feeling worthless, flawed, and broken – and the compulsive need to prove the opposite - suggests that we are collectively ensnared in a painful misperception and a lack of awareness of our intrinsic, radiant human nature.
Unfortunately, the field of psychology has been predominantly focused over the past century on the psychopathology of the ego-mind. Traditional psychotherapy, confusing symptom relief with true healing, promotes a relentless quest for ego improvement and offers to fix symptoms, often perpetuating the cycle of self-judgment. Discovering the childhood origin of the unworthiness cycle and cognitively managing the imprint does not automatically heal it… The focus on psychological disturbances has led to a neglect of the original concept of psychology (German: Seelenkunde), which was rooted in exploring the psyche or soul.
However, research studies involving psychedelic medicines worldwide show that these compounds have the ability to disrupt rigid thought patterns and entrenched beliefs, including those dogmas present within our professional field. Unlike any other time in human history, recent studies in psychedelic psychotherapy offer a unique opportunity to explore our profound healing potential. At the heart of this healing process is a transformative shift in identification, moving away from ego identity (personality) towards a deeper connection with one's Essence, Soul, or All That Is. This ends the futile pursuit of resolving the duality of feeling worthy or unworthy. As we gain new insights about our true essence, our capacity for existential joy, sense of awe, and the ability to access what is authentically true for each of us, we may be on the verge of revolutionizing our concepts of what it means to be human… just in time, as the rising of AI is challenging our value, purpose and relevance as human beings.
Do you have personal experiences of how psychedelic medicines have transformed your belief system, influenced your worldview, and led to significant personal breakthroughs? You will have an opportunity to share your personal insights in the later part of the presentation.
About Gabriele Hildberg
Silicon Valley-based Gabriele Hilberg, Ph.D., MFT has been a psychotherapist and psychonaut for over thirty years with over 40.000 hours working with clients. Educated in both Germany and the United States, she has led workshops globally and spoken at numerous international conferences.
Her clinical work as a psychotherapist was significantly influenced by her early psychedelic-psychotherapy training in Europe in the late 1980’s. Combined with more recent trainings it has uprooted her fundamental understanding of traditional psychotherapy processes and led her to focus on the inherent healing potential of the psyche/soul.
As she integrates new research findings with profound insights from her work with clients, she is committed to pushing the boundaries of professional dogmas within the field of psychology.