Kathy Koller

Kathy Koller

psychotherapy

She/Her/Hers...

I’ve always been drawn to questions about consciousness and the mystery of what happens when our ordinary sense of reality begins to shift. My curiosity about spiritual awakening and non-ordinary states of consciousness has led me through years of meditation practice, study, and personal exploration—some experiences luminous and expansive, others disorienting, but all deeply transformative.

During an intensive meditation retreat in Southeast Asia, I entered a state of consciousness that felt both altered and profoundly real. One part of me knew exactly where I was; another part seemed to lose its bearings. The world appeared luminous, alive, and subtly vibrating with energy. While it was at times beautiful, it was also unsettling. This shift arose spontaneously through meditation itself. When I sought guidance, I discovered how little language or support existed for what I was going through. That experience stayed with me and eventually shaped my path as a therapist.

I came to realize how easily experiences of spiritual emergence or spiritual emergency can be misunderstood. In some settings, they’re dismissed or pathologized; in others, they’re overly idealized without attention to grounding and integration. Both extremes can leave people feeling isolated or afraid of their own awakening. As a therapist, I aim to offer something in between—a grounded, compassionate approach that recognizes spiritual awakening as a natural, though sometimes destabilizing, process of transformation.

My professional work is rooted in mindfulness-based and somatic approaches, informed by both psychological and contemplative traditions. I draw from Buddhist meditation, yoga, and transpersonal psychology, as well as influences such as Stanislav and Christina Grof, Ram Dass, Eckhart Tolle, and contemporary neuroscience of consciousness. Over time, I’ve come to specialize in helping individuals integrate non-ordinary states of consciousness—whether they arise through meditation, spiritual practice, trauma release, or spontaneously.

In therapy, I support people experiencing:

– Meditation-induced shifts in perception or identity
– Kundalini-type energetic awakenings
– Mystical or intuitive experiences that feel confusing or destabilizing
– Existential or identity crises related to awakening
– Heightened sensitivity or creativity following a spiritual opening
– “Dark night” phases or periods of spiritual exhaustion

My role is not to define what is happening but to help you stay connected to your own understanding of it—to create safety, coherence, and meaning as you navigate your process. I view spiritual emergency not as pathology but as a signal that consciousness is reorganizing itself in a deeper way. With the right support, these experiences can lead to greater authenticity, compassion, and integration.

I have a particular interest in working with those whose awakening unfolds outside of a formal lineage or tradition. Many people encounter profound shifts today through meditation apps, yoga, breathwork, or intense life transitions without a framework to make sense of what’s happening. I offer a bridge between psychological insight and spiritual understanding, helping people integrate their experiences into daily life in a way that honors both the body and the spirit.

Over the years, I’ve supported individuals in navigating spiritual emergencies and non-ordinary states with sensitivity, respect, and an emphasis on grounded awareness. I understand from personal experience that awakening can feel both awe-inspiring and overwhelming—that it can dissolve what once felt solid while revealing something vast and compassionate beneath it.

For me, this work is about helping people remember they’re not broken or lost—they’re unfolding. Spiritual awakening can bring confusion, yes, but it can also bring a profound sense of belonging and meaning when met with care and understanding. My approach as a therapist integrates the psychological, somatic, and spiritual dimensions of healing, offering a steady presence for those navigating this complex and transformative terrain.