The Psychoalchemist is a field journal at the edge of the clinical and the mystical. It draws from my studies in modern psychoanalysis and mysticism, as well as my personal experiences, to explore what it means to become a spiritually initiated being in touch with their real self. Written for disillusioned and curious clinicians, patients, artists, seekers and those weary of both self-help and clinical neutrality, this is a space for deconstructing the origins of the rules alongside what is sacred, colourful, feral and unresolved. The Psychoalchemist explores both mundane and mystical paths to a more honest, joyful life.

Who writes The Psychoalchemist?

The Psychoalchemist is written by me, Kate O’Connor - I’m a clinical psychologist and psychoanalytic psychotherapist based in Brisbane, Australia. You can find out about my clinical work here - I offer psychotherapy and clinical supervision both in-person and online to patients and colleagues around the world.

Why the name?

When I am especially disillusioned with clinical psychology, I often joke about disappearing to the forest and becoming a shaman. Like shamanism (which is, itself, obviously not a joke at all), the study of alchemy continues to draw my attention, both for the way it offers the promise of deep spiritual transformation, and the fact it feels so slippery and mysterious to grasp. I don’t know if ‘psychoalchemy’ is actually a thing but it seems to most closely capture what calls to me as a writer, a therapist, and a patient - the mysterious, elusive, clumsy, unmanualised, a-little-bit-crazy pursuit of a hard-to-define, maybe-impossible transformation into something (or someone) lighter, brighter and more alive than the old, heavier, denser version that came before.

Why subscribe?

Subscribing to The Psychoalchemist would be a much-appreciated show of support for my writing, and will ensure you stay up to date with every new edition. If you really love my work and really want to make my day, you can also upgrade to a paid subscription.