Further Thoughts on Consciousness, Mystical Experience, Character, and Clinical Process: Reply to Fox, Rundel, and Guss.

This is a reply to the discussions by Arthur Fox, Megan Rundel, and Jeffrey Guss. Clarification is made on the utility of diagnosis, as well as further elaboration on what is common to both psychedelic states and the altered states of consciousness encountered in deep psychoanalytic work. Additional thoughts on the integration of a relational multiple self-state model with psychedelic therapy are provided. The importance of updating our psychoanalytic models as new science emerges is emphasized. The intersection of the analyst's belief system and its impact on countertransference is discussed. Differentiating the impact of the analyst's influence from the patient's openness to revelatory experience is addressed. Burton also responds to discussants on the subjects of ego dissolution, the presence/absence of conscience, defining mystical experience, Seth's childhood/family experience, and defining set and setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]