Human separateness\/distinctiveness and interconnectedness with other people \/ Veniamin Kolpachnikov

During this session, I will present some ideas about the relationship between a person’s individuality and connectedness, their sense of belonging to others, in human experience. The genetic and functional aspects of this experience, as well as its conflicting and harmonious variants, will be examined. The concept of the “supraindividual organism” will be presented, and phenomenological evidence supporting this experience will be provided. This experience will be considered also in therapeutic and counselling practice.

Participants will be invited to discuss and share their personal experiences of experiencing their own sense of separateness and connection with other people.

I graduated from Psychological Department of Moscow State University in 1983, where have born my interest to the Person-Centered Approach. In 1993-!994 I had a postdoc in the University for Humanistic Studies and the Center for the Study of the Person in San Diego. After that and up to now I practice and teach PCA in Russia.