Michael Hutton reported on his research comparing transpersonal psychotherapists to cognitive-behavioral therapists and psychoanalytic therapists. (Hutton, M. S. (1994). How transpersonal psychotherapists differ from other practitioners: An empirical study. JOURNAL OF TRANSPERSONAL PSYCHOLOGY, Vol 26 (No. 2), 139-174.) His findings:

1. Similarities. Therapists of the three oreintations did not differ in their personality styles and all believed in the need for thorough grounding in the traditional theories and practices of psychology.

2. Differences:

A. Transpersonal psychotherapists were more inclusive of approaches and techniques. That is, the cognitive-behavioralists used and saw value only in cognitive-behaviorism and the psychoanalysts saw value only in psychoanalysis. Transpersonalists, however, saw value in each of these approaches as well as in transpersonal psychology.

B. In addition, transpersonal therapists were more open to the spiritual interests of the client in therapy, felt the therapist's spiritual practice is important to her/his work, have had their own spiritual experiences affect their clinical practice, feel therapists should have knowledge of some spiritual paths, and feel that growth or awakening in psychotherapy occurs in both the client and therapist.