Ken Wilber's Integral Psychology

Incorporating It Into Your Life and Your Practice

Clinical Update
By Zur Institute

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Like many of you, I have heard about Ken Wilber and his important contribution to psychology since I was a graduate student. However, I never had the opportunity to learn more about it. While many of us are aware that Ken Wilber is a founding father of integral psychology, few have come to really understand and incorporate his AQAL model into their personal lives and clinical work.

Wilber's AQAL Model Defines and Describes Six Irreducible Aspects of Human Development

Quadrants - major perspectives
Levels - states of development
Lines - multiple intelligences
States - waking, dreaming, altered, etc.
Types - Myers-Briggs, Male/Female, etc.
Self-Esteem - who navigates and integrates them all

Integral Psychology: A Recap

The Integral Model incorporates the best practices of all existing schools of psychology, and situates their partial truths within a larger, more holistic context called Integral Psychology.

Since psycho-pathologies can arise within various levels of development, the need for stage-specific treatments are imperative.

Since there may be issues specific to different Stages of Development, accurate diagnosis is imperative for appropriate clinical treatment.

The Integral Model reminds us that there are multiple intelligences, rather than just one!

The Integral Psychograph reveals high, medium, and low development among multiple intelligences.

The Wilber-Combs Lattice is a cross-referencing system that shows the relationship of various transpersonal experiences to both States and Stages.

The Integral Model identifies Pre/Trans fallacies that properly situate States in relation to Stages of Development for diagnosis and treatment.

The AQAL model can allow therapists to take an integrally informed approach to their discipline.

The AQAL model can allow therapists to apply Integral Methodological Pluralism to their discipline.