A Clinical Report of Holotropic Breathwork in 11,000 Psychiatric Inpatients in a Community Hospital Setting

JAMES EYERMAN, MD

Jeffrey and Cielle had the good fortune of meeting Dr James Eyerman who conducted a study using Holotropic Breathwork in a hospital setting

Context: Holotropic Breathwork is a powerful, spiritually oriented approach to self-explorationand healing that integrates insights from modern consciousness research, anthropology, depth psychologies, transpersonal psychology, Eastern spiritual practices, and many mystical traditions.

Objective: Holotropic Breathwork offers many opportunities that may enhance treatment, including entering non-ordinary states of consciousness to seek healing and wisdom via a n atural, non-addictive method, a direct experience of one’s Higher Power, and for physical and emotional catharsis associated with stress and prior trauma.

Design: The experiences of 482 consecutive patients were documented.

Patients and Setting: 11,000 psychiatric inpatients from a variety of psychiatric units dedicated to various diagnoses participated in Holotropic Breathwork over 12 years at community hospital.

Main Outcome Measure: Transpersonal (“mythopoetic”) experiences were reported by 82% of participants.

Results: This procedure was well received. No complaints of adverse reactions were recorded during the sessions nor afterwards on the clinical units.

Read the full abstract here