From time to time, I ask myself why I am withholding a lot of valuable information that was taught at the University of Santa Monica. Many of these techniques are ones I use daily in my practice and have helped thousands of people. Being in an almost trance-like state while counseling others has helped me survive an industry I have worked in for over 30 years, many of those years spent at a crisis center. The tools that have gotten me through might sound a bit “woo-woo” to many, so perhaps I have withheld them to avoid ridicule. I realize now that I have worried about the opinions of a few instead of trying to educate the majority of people who are hungry for change. In practice, however, the spiritual tools of Spiritual Psychology can be life-changing!

For you first-time readers, I am Dr. Scott Alpert, the owner and clinical director of Basic Steps Mental Health. I was exposed to the teachings of the University of Santa Monica way back in 1989, when I attended my first personal growth seminar offered by an affiliate of the university called Insight. The seminar was entitled The Awakening Heart Seminar, and it changed me forever. At the time, I was living in constant fear and trying to figure out how to simply breathe. So, reluctantly, I attended the course and began learning the elements that have guided me ever since. I have been a bit uneasy about sharing this because I have seen how people have been scorned for their paranormal beliefs. In our country, religion leaves a bad taste in one’s mouth, especially when it has been used to punish and kill, as it has throughout the ages. Pushing through all of these doubts helped me open my mind, change the direction of my life, and attend and complete my studies at the university, but still some doubts remained—are people really open to Spiritual Psychology?

The other day, I was explaining what we do at our facility, how we focus on the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual levels. But once the word spiritual was voiced, the person immediately refused to even consider going through the course. Their preconceived notions and prejudices blocked them from experiencing one of the top programs in the country—or so I feel, but then again, what business owner doesn’t feel the same? What I ask of you in this article is to let go of your preconceived notions and have an open mind.

Spiritual Psychology is not religious per se; however, there are many truths from the Bible that take certain concepts and bring them to life. “Why focus on the speck in your brother’s eye when you have a plank in your own?” This refers to projections, as described by Sigmund Freud. I ask that you gather these facts before you make a decision about whether Spiritual Psychology is a scam. I have the records—I have treated over 10,000 different people, and the number of miracles that have taken place has been staggering. When people realize how powerful they are, and with the proper determination, they can not only change for the better but also keep that change ongoing. That is because… well, keep reading.

On the first day in grad school, they told us we had the power to move matter, and it was proven. There was an experiment with water in which a man took a picture of it under a microscope. It showed colors that were mostly green and black. Then they gave this same water to a Buddhist monk, who blessed it, and that same water was not only clear but had a crystalline design like a snowflake. Okay, so that was from a monk. The next experiment took place when the man took water, placed it in bottles, and labeled them. One said love, another joy, and another said, “I hate you, I want to kill you!” The love and joy bottles had slightly different crystalline designs, but the “I want to kill you” bottle was mostly black and green. And this happened simply by people looking at the bottles! The weird thing is—we are 98% water! Just think about what your own thoughts are doing to you.

The first step in treatment at our facility focuses on how you think. What percentage of positive versus negative thoughts are going on in your head? The average person has 30,000 thoughts a day—how many of these are positive? Or should I ask, what is the color of your internal water?

This is just a sliver of how to improve yourself spiritually. Unfortunately, nobody has taught us how to use our innate, God-given power. God is the placeholder here. Many use Higher Power or Universal Love Energy. Some think of God as the beauty in nature. Many people feel that God is a punishing God. That isn’t my God—my God is love. Doesn’t it feel good when you express and receive love? If you are happy, those around you are happier, and happiness is attracted to you. Why do you think certain people get all the breaks? It’s because they are good. What you put out comes back to you—this is called karma. Therefore, if you want love, be more loving. If you want peace, meditate on peace.

There was an experiment coauthored by the Washington Police Department demonstrating that when people gathered and meditated on peace, the crime rate dropped 15% during the summer. And of course, it did—as did the results of more than 50 previously conducted experiments. Does this society focus on peace and love? You answer that. Wherever I go in this country, fear and sadness are what I see. Go to the mall. Watch the people walking about. Yes, there is joy there too—but mainly from children under the age of ten. Have we all lost that childhood innocence, that sense of well-being and joy?

Try this: Hold out your arm and ask somebody to push down on it, and try to resist. Don’t have them mash your arm down; just allow them to feel your resistance. Next, surround yourself with negative thoughts. I am sure you are aware of the horrible things that have happened—i.e., the fear of no money, people leaving you, not feeling good enough, or memories of something traumatic. Next, have the same person push down again on your arm. Are you stronger or weaker? It can be eye-opening to realize how much of an impact negativity has on our strength. Then try the opposite—surround yourself with a feeling of love and joy. What impact did the positive thoughts have on you?

This brings us back to the water experiment. When we are black and green, we are weaker. Chronic negativity equals chronic illness. Laughter therapy may be a solution. That is an interesting thought, but why not? I heard of one study of a man who contracted skin cancer and learned that it responded very well to happiness. So he watched comedy movies and skits, went to comedy clubs, and literally healed himself with laughter! What makes you happy? List it out and then do it.

We incorporate play therapy in our program, but more on a Developmental Psychology level. Track an emotional reaction you have currently had back in time to where it started. This core wound is of great importance—because when you treat core wounds at their source, everything similar heals! Opposite hand writing allows you to have conversations on paper with your wounded self. Opposite hand play allows you to have fun with that younger self. Play games using your opposite hand. Shoot, you should have seen me climbing trees in my 40s. My neighbors thought I had lost my shit (maybe they were right). “When love is applied to hurt, we heal.” This is the slogan of Spiritual Psychology.

Now for the weirder stuff. One tool they taught in school is called Containment. Containment refers to the counselor holding a tone that a client will shift to. It takes “The Law of Attraction” to a whole different level. In this approach, the counselor needs to be receptive, almost in prayer, and tuning into the client. The next step is to open up to Universal help. Universal help refers to God’s intervention. Another slogan at the university was, “The Father does the work.” And how true is that! Often in sessions, I am in prayer, asking for God’s wisdom to guide me, and suddenly something will come to mind, and I will voice it. People praise me for my wisdom, but I can’t claim I am that brilliant. I simply heard it in my head. One day I asked a client to talk about what happened with their bicycle when they were 7 years old. They got offended. “Who told you that?” How could I answer that some inner voice said something? Kind of weird, but after years and years of doing so, I expect that information to continue to illuminate me. And no, I give this all up to the God of my understanding.

But I am not supposed to write about God. There is no God, many of my clients will say. I ask why they are attending Spiritual Psychology, and all they respond is that they feel comfortable, can talk about things they have never voiced in their lives, and feel it won’t be held against them, which is true.

My friend Albert Saparoff used to do non-touch healing in my spirituality groups in the 1990s. Albert created the Get High on Life program for inner-city youths. He was trained at a seminar on non-touch healing and, as he put it, centered himself in “the Universal Healing Energy.” He stated that he was just a conduit and would allow that force to flow through him, through his hands, and bathe the person he was working on in light. One by one, my clients would wait for his healing, and we witnessed miracle after miracle take place. Albert was a gift, though he would say the healing force of the universe was the real gift.

So, now the cat is out of the bag, so to speak. Why withhold this most sacred part of me if it can help countless people feel better? Wayne Dyer said, “Don’t die with your music still in you.” So, Wayne, here is more of my music—and to be honest, there is a ton more. Why withhold the fact that “we are spiritual beings having a human experience”? Or that we are created in the image of God, and that image or blueprint is deep inside us all? You feel your force. You know that you have power, but instead of developing it, you squash it down and pretend you are a victim of circumstance. What if the issues in life are preordained? What if God (your Higher Power) wanted you to face these challenges? What if the challenges are meant for the growth of your soul? Spiritual Psychology’s slogan was Soul-Centered Education.

Roberto Assagioli, from Psychosynthesis, stated that because we have that image of God within, what keeps us away from that God sense is living in the future or in the past. But as we live in the here and now, that’s when the light inside us shines and attracts more of it to us.

What is this Light, you may ask? The Light is our goodness. When you are in a state of joy, happiness, and love, that’s when we shine. Let’s take this a step further: If God is love, then the most godly thing we can do is love ourselves and others. How can we do this if we feel we have no value? Well, this is where the psychology of Spiritual Psychology is of utmost importance.

Think about someone you admire and then jot down their qualities. Make sure this list is lengthy. After it is completed, notice who you are also referring to – You! We call this owning the projections. Projections refer to people being the mirror image of us. “Look at that idiot,” you may say. How would you know they are an idiot unless you are one, too? “It takes one to know one.” Or, “When you point your finger at someone, three fingers are pointing back at you.” My favorite: “I know you are, but what am I?” This was a favorite in elementary school. If you spot it, you got it; and if you got it and want to change it, then change it. “I can see that I can be an idiot too; my intention is to be smarter.” Fight for the positive. Make those changes. Open up to love. You will survive. Surround yourself in joy. See how long you can do so. If you need assistance, we are here to help.