Head of Psychophysiology of Consciousness: Spirituality, Mindfulness, Quality of Life and Health

Dr. phil. Niko Kohls, Dipl.-Psych.

kohls@grp.hwz.uni-muenchen.de

Education:

1980 – 1984: Primary School (Volksschule Gräfelfing)
1984 – 1992: High School Degree (Kurt-Huber-Gymnasium Gräfelfing)
1992 – 1994: University of Jena, Psychology
(Intermediate Diploma 08/04, “magna cum laude”)
1994 – 1998: University of Freiburg, Psychology
(Diploma 10/98, “summa cum laude”; 1.1)
02/01 – 02/03: University of Freiburg, PhD Psychology
(Dr. phil. 06/04; “magna cum laude”; 1.6)

Work Experience:

07/95 – 10/95: Student Internship
Human Resources Department, Ciba-Geigy GmbH, Wehr, Germany
Activity: Helped with the production and evaluation of a demand analysis of organizational training and personnel development actions

02/96 – 03/96: Student Internship
Psycho_Logik, Freiburg, Germany
Activity: Assistance with the organization and evaluation of a survey for the measurement of employee satisfaction and attitudes towards leadership and communication styles for a hospital organization

05/96 – 10/96: Freelance Consultant
Psycho_Logik, Freiburg, Germany
Activity: Planning and programming of a database for job and task descriptions as freelancer

12/96 – 06/98 Student Assistant
Institute for Frontier Areas of Psychology and Mental Health, Freiburg, Germany
Activity: Network administration (Windows NT), web design, internet research, IT staff training

10/98 – 12/00: Project Manager, Institut PMR, Freiburg, Germany
Activity: Conception of a computer-based analysis module for outpatient clinics (patient, doctor and nurse survey); management, organization and communication training for physicians

03/01 – 10/02: Statistical and methodical advisor of the project „The competent patient -
Evaluation of the counseling service – Second Opinion“, Tumor Biology Center Freiburg
Freiburg, Germany
Activity: Data validation, data consolidation and data management, statistical analysis and testing, interpretation and reporting

06/01 – 02/04: Freelance Consultant
Kollmann and Partner, Freiburg, Germany
Activity: Evaluation research on the effects of e-learning for the Allianz Group, study design, data management, statistical analysis and reporting

03/04 – 11/05: Postdoc Research Fellow (100% FTE)
Department of Environmental Medicine and Hospital Epidemiology, Freiburg University Hospital, Germany                                              
Activity: Statistical and methodological support, writing of research reports and papers, total quality management projects, employee satisfaction surveys,

12/05 – 12/07: Senior Postdoc Research Fellow (100% FTE)      
University of Northampton, School of Social Sciences, Psychology Division, Northampton, United Kingdom
Activity: Helped devising and running MSC program, lecturing, statistical and methodological support, responsible for devising and conducting research on spirituality & health as part of the Brain Mind & Healing Program of the Samueli Institute.

01/08 – : Rockefeller-Samueli-Research Fellow of Brain, Mind and Healing Program
Generation Research Program, Human Science Center, Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich,          Bad Tölz, Germany
Activity Establishment of a new research group „Psychophysiology of Consciousness: Spirituality, Mindfulness, Quality of Life and Health”

Academic Positions and Invited Visiting Fellowships:

05/07 – : Member of the Adjunct Faculty oft Akamai University, Hawaii, USA

11-12/07: Visiting Scholar, Institute for Frontier Areas of Psychology and Mental Health, Freiburg (PD. Dr. Harald Atmanspacher, Prof. Dr Hartmann Römer)
Objective: Mixed Methods Research as heuristic for harnessing complementary research methods.

Publications:

Diploma Thesis:

Kohls, N. (1998). Konstruktion und Validierung eines Fragebogens zur Identifizierung von stabilisierenden bzw. destabilisierenden „mystischen“ Erfahrungen. Unveröffentlichte Diplomarbeit, Universität Freiburg i. Br.


 Ph.D. Thesis (published as a monograph):

Kohls, N. (2004).Außergewöhnliche Erfahrungen – Blinder Fleck der Psychologie?Münster: LIT.
Reviewed by:
Prof. Dr. Suitbert Ertel in Zeitschrift für Anomalistik, 2005, Band 5, Nr 2+3, p. 355 – 360,
Prof. Dr. Ernst Plaum in Zeitschrift für Psychotraumatologie und Psychologische Medizin, 2006, Heft 2, p. 96 - 100

Peer Reviewed Publications

Walach, H, Kohls, N. & Belschner, W (2005). Transpersonale Psychologie – Psychologie des Bewusstseins: Chancen und Probleme. Psychother Psychosom Med Psychol; 55: 405-415.

Kohls, N. & Walach, H. (2006). Exceptional experiences and spiritual practice: a new measurement - A New Measurement Approach. Spirituality & Health International, 7(3), 125-150.

Kohls, N. & Walach, H. (2007). Psychological Distress, Experiences of Ego Loss and Spirituality: Exploring the Effects of Spiritual Practice. Social Behaviour and Personality, 35 (10), 1301-1316.

Walach, H., Bösch, H., Lewith, G., Naumann, J., Schwarzer, B., Falk, S., et al. (2008). Effectiveness of Distant Healing for Patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Randomised Controlled Partially Blinded Trial. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 77(3), 158-166.

Kohls, N., Hack, A. & Walach, H. (2008). Measuring the Unmeasurable by Ticking Boxes and Actually Opening Pandora’s Box? Mixed Methods Research as a useful tool for investigating Exceptional and Spiritual Experiences. The Archive for the Psychology of Religion/ Archiv für Religionspsychologie, 30, 155-187.

Walach, H. & Kohls, N. (2008). Spiritualität als Ressource – Einige wissenschaftliche Befunde. Schwerpunktheft „Spiritualität und Gesundheit“. Prävention –Zeitschrift für Gesundheitsförderung, 2, 43 -47.

Kohls, N., & Walach, H. (2008). Validating four standard scales in spiritually practicing and non-practicing samples using propensity score matching European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 24(3), 165-173.

Giordano, J. & Kohls, N. (2008, in press, Mind & Matter). The Self, Suffering and Spirituality.

Kohls, N., Walach, H. Wirtz, M. (2009). The relationship between spiritual experiences, transpersonal trust, social support, and sense of coherence and mental distress-a comparison of spiritually practising and non-practising samples. Mental Health, Religion & Culture 12 (1), 1–23.

Kohls, N., Sauer, S. & Walach, H. (2009). Facets of Mindfulness – Results of an online study investigating the Freiburg Mindfulness Inventory. Personality & Individual Differences 46 (2), 224 -230.

Kohls, N., Walach, H. & Lewith, G. (under peer review, Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology). Being mindful improves stress tolerance in chronically ill patients; a cross-sectional pilot study.

Schülke, A.,Kohls, N., Plankensteiner, A., Becker, U., Ritter, W., Maier, E., Plischke, H., Haase, G., Grigore, O., Pohl, W., Kempter, G. (accepted for publication, Technology). Lessons learned from a pilot project aiming at implementing ambient assisting technologies to elderly people’s homes.

Walach, H., Kohls, N. & Schmidt, S. & Hinterberger, T. (accepted for publication, The Archive for the Psychology of Religion). Spirituality: The Legacy of Parapsychology.

Giordano, J. & Kohls, N. (submitted, Clinical Journal of Pain). Neurogenesis, Neuroplasticity, and the Brain-Mind: Implications for a Neurophilosophy of Pain and Neuroethics of Pain Care.

Hinterberger, T., Kohls, N. (in preparation). Hemispheric Asymmetry in Experienced Meditators.

Non Peer Reviewed Publications:

Müller, G.F.; Kohls, N. (2001). Persönlichkeit und Praxiserfolg: Der Arzt als Unternehmer. Deutsches Ärzteblatt (98), Ausgabe 14, p 895-896.

Kohls, N. (2002). Auf den Spuren der transpersonalen Psychologie im Internet. Zeitschrift für Transpersonale Psychologie und Psychotherapie, 8. Jahrgang, Heft 1, 2002, p 76 – 78.

Kohls, N. (2007). Research Digest. Commentary on Simmonds (2006) and Cahn & Polich, (2006). Spirituality & Health International, 8 (1), p 44–53.

Kohls, N. (2007). Research Digest. Commentary on Cotton, Zebracki, Rosenthal, Tsevat & Drotar (2006) and Wachholtz & Pargament (2006). Spirituality & Health International, 8 (2), p 101–105.

Kohls, N. (2007). Evidence Based Spirituality. (2007), Network Review, 94, p. 26 - 27.


Book Chapters:

Kohls, N., Friedl, C., & Walach, H. (2001). Häufigkeit und subjektive Bewertung von aussergewöhnlichen menschlichen Erfahrungen. Explorative Ergebnisse einer Fragebogenstudie zu differentialdiagnostischen Zwecken. In W. Belschner, J. Galuska, H. Walach & E. Zundel (Eds.), Perspektiven Transpersonaler Forschung. Jahresband 1 des DKTP (pp. 89-116). Oldenburg: BIS-Verlag.

Walach, H. & Kohls, N. (2005). Grade of Membership (GoM) Analysis as a Senitive Method for Evaluating Categorial Data – Introduction and Some Examples. In: Beauducel, A.. Biehl, B., Bosnjak, M., Conrad, W., Schönberger, G. & Wagner, D. (Eds.), Multivariate Research Strategies – Festschrift for Werner W. Wittmann (pp. 151 – 172). Aachen: Shaker.

Kohls, N., & Sommer, A. (2006). Die akademische Psychologie am Scheideweg: Positivistische Experimentalpsychologie und die Nemesis der Transzendenz. In A. Büssing, T. Ostermann, M. Glöckler & P. Matthiessen (Eds.), Spiritualität, Krankheit und Heilung - Bedeutung und Ausdrucksformen der Spiritualität in der Medizin - Perspektiven, Schriften zur Pluralität in der Medizin und Komplementärmedizin (pp. 184 – 218). Frankfurt: Verlag für akademische Schriften.

Walach, H., Gander, ML & Kohls, N. (2008, in print). Mind-Body-Practices in Integrative Medicine. In Giordano, J. (Ed.), Complementary and Integrative Approaches to Chronic Pain. Jones & Bartlett: Boston. [http://www.jbpub.com/catalog.cfm?bc=3820-4]

Weis. J., Heckl, U., Kohls, N. & Bartsch, H.H. (2008, in print). Das Beratungsangebot "Second opinion" Erfahrungen und Ergebnisse eines Modellprojekts einer ambulanten Beratung für onkologische Patienten. In: U. Koch & J. Weis (Eds.). Jahrbuch der Medizinischen Psychologie. Psychoonkologie. Hogrefe.

Kohls, N. (2008, in print). Atonovsky`s Koheränzgefühl - eine Säkularisierte und Psychologisierte Form der Spiritualität?“ In: Offenbächer, M. & Sigl, C. (Eds.). Trotz chronischer Krankheit gesund bleiben. München: Pflaum.

Kohls, N. (2008, in print). Are spiritual and transpersonal aspects important for clinical parapsychology? In Hövelmann, G., Karmer, W., Bauer, E. (Eds.) Towards a Clinical Parapsychology [Working Title]. Utrecht: Het Johan Borgman Fond.

Kohls, N. & Benedikter, R. (2008, in print). Origins of the modern concept of “Neuroscience” in Wilhelm Wundt’s experimental psychology: The importance of the epistemological battle between “Empiricism” and “Idealism” in Central Europe in the second half of the 19th century for the productive ambivalence of today’s concept of “Neuroscience”. In: Giordano, J. & Gordijn, B. (Eds.), Neuroethics: The Silent Revolution in Neurosciences. Cambridge: University Press.


Selection of Invited Talks / Conference Contributions:

Kohls, N., Walach, H. (2001). Konstruktion und Validierung eines Fragebogens zur Erfassung transpersonaler Erfahrungen. Invited Lecture, Annual Meeting of the German College of Transpersonal Psychology, University Freiburg, Germany.

Kohls, N., Kress, G., Walach, H. (2002). Konstruktion und Validierung des Fragebogens zur Erfassung transpersonaler Erfahrungen. Invited Lecture, of the German College of Transpersonal Psychology held at the congress „Psychotherapie und Spiritualität“, Bad Kissingen, Germany.

Kohls, N., Walach, H., Kress, G. (2002). Ausgewählte Ergebnisse der Freiburger Fragebogenstudie zu außergewöhnlichen Erfahrungen. Invited Lecture, Institut für Grenzgebiete der Psychologie, Freiburg, Germany.

Kohls, N. (2003). Geistige Gesundheit und außergewöhnliche Erfahrungen – Ergebnisse und Probleme einer Fragebogenstudie; Invited Lecture, IXX. Annual Meeting of the Wissenschaftliche Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Parapsychologie (WGFP), Offenburg, Germany.

Kohls, N. (2004). Außergewöhnliche Erfahrungen, veränderte Bewusstseinszustände und die Anfänge der Experimentalpsychologie und Psychoanalyse – Wilhelm Wundt und Sigmund Freud noch einmal besucht ... . Invited Lecture, XX. Annual Meeting of the Wissenschaftliche Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Parapsychologie (WGFP), Offenburg, Germany

Kohls, N. (2005). Außergewöhnliche Erfahrungen, Spiritualität, veränderte Bewusstseinszustände, geistige Gesundheit und die akademische Psychologie. Invited Lecture, University of Innsbruck, Austria.

Kohls, N. (2005). Außergewöhnliche Erfahrungen und geistige Gesundheit. Invited Lecture, Meeting „Spiritualität, Krankheit und Heilung - Bedeutung und Ausdrucksformen der Spiritualität in der Medizin“, Medical Section of the Goetheanum, Arlesheim, Switzerland.

Kohls, N. (2005). Spirituelles Nichtpraktizieren – ein Gesundheitsrisiko? Invited lecture, scientific meeting "Neuroscience and Spirituality”, University of Graz, Austria.

Kohls, N. (2006). Spirituality & Health - Exceptional Experiences and Mental Health – Results of a Questionnaire Study. Invited Presentation, Postgraduate Research Degree Student & Contract Researcher Conference,The University of Northampton, United Kingdom.

Kohls, N. (2007). Lack of Spiritual Practice. A Risk Factor for Mental Health? Invited Lecture, Samueli Institute, Washington DC, USA.

Kohls, N. (2007). Exceptional Experiences & Lack of Spiritual Practice – A Risk Factor for Psychological Distress?. Invited Lecture, First Expert-meeting on Clinical- Parapsychology, Het Johan Borgman Fonds, Naarden, Holland.

Kohls, N. (2007). Academic psychology at its crossroads – Wundt`s Experimental Psychology and the Exclusion of Transcendence. Invited Lecture, 11th Annual Conference of the Transpersonal Section of the British Psychological Society, Scarborough, United Kingdom.

Kohls, N. (2007). Achtsamkeit - ein Resilienzfaktor gegen psychische und körperliche Beeinträchtigung  bei chronischer Erkrankung?. Invited Lecture, Institut für Grenzgebiete der Psychologie, Freiburg, Germany.

Walach, H. & Kohls, N. (2008). ‘Spiritual Experience, Spiritual Practice and Psychological Distress’. Invited Key Note Lecture, Royal College of Psychiatrists, London.

Kohls, N. (2008). Health-Research and Spirituality. Invited Key Note Lecture, Philosophy Department, Leiden University, Holland.

Kohls, N. (2008). Bewusstsein – Gesundheit – Kreativität. Invited Lecture, Klausurtagung Bauhaus Luftfahrt e.V., Niederaltaich.


Conference Contributions (Peer Reviewed & Published Abstracts):

Kohls, N., Walach, H. (2000). Konstruktion und Validierung eines Fragebogens zur Erfassung transpersonaler Erfahrungen. Kongress der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Psychologie. Jena, Posterbeitrag.

Kohls, N., Walach, H., Kress, G. (2002). Ausgewählte Ergebnisse der Freiburger Fragebogenstudie zu außergewöhnlichen Erfahrungen. Kongress derDeutschen Gesellschaft für Psychologie, Berlin,Posterbeitrag.

Walach, H. & Kohls, N. (2003). The Prevalence of Extraordinary Experiences and Its Relationship To Mental Health – A Questionnaire Study. Society for Psychotherapy Research - 34th Annual Meeting, Weimar.

Kohls, N. & Walach, H. (2004). Exceptional Experiences and Mental Health - Results and Problems of a Questionnaire Study - Contribution to the panel “Counseling Person with Exceptional Experiences - The Example of IGPP"; Talk given at the 2004 Parapsychological Association in Wien.

Kohls, N. (2004). Außergewöhnliche Erfahrungen und ihr Zusammenhang mit psychischer Gesundheit. Vortrag, Kongress derDeutschen Gesellschaft für Psychologie Göttingen.

Kohls, N. (2006). Exceptional Experiences and Mental Health - Results of a Questionnaire Study. Congress Diversity and Debate in Alternative and Complementary Medicine, University of Nottingham, United Kingdom.

Kohls, N. & Walach, H. (2008). Lack of Spiritual Practice -an important risk factor for suffering from distress. Newsletter 25. Spirituality and Psychiatry Special Interest Group, Royal College of Psychiatrists. [http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/college/specialinterestgroups/spirituality/publications/newsletter25.aspx]

Book Reviews:

Philosophie des Übersinnlichen. by Gottlieb Florschütz. In Zeitschrift für Transpersonale Psychologie und Psychotherapie, 2002; 8(1), 99-100.

Psi Wars. Edited by Alcock, J, Burns, J. & Freeman, A.: Getting to Grips with the Paranormal (together with S. Schmidt). In Zeitschrift für Anomalistik, 2005, Band 5, Nr 2 + 3, p. 361 – 370.

Heilsamer Zauber -– Psychologie eines neuen Trends? by Eckhart Straube. In Forschende Komplementärmedizin 2006;13:128-129.

Memory & PSI - Special of the European Journal of Parapsychology 2006 (21.2). In Zeitschrift für Anomalistik Band 7; Nr 3, p. 330 - 339.

Hans Bender (1907-1991) und das „Institut für Psychologie und Klinische Psychologie" an der Reichsuniversität Strassburg“ by Frank-Rutger Hausmann (together with G. Hövelmann). In Zeitschrift für Anomalistik (im Druck).


Editorial Board Membership:

Spirituality & Health International (Research Digest Editor)

Ad-hoc Peer Reviewing:

Personality & Individual Differences

The Clinical Journal of Pain

British Journal of Psychiatry

Journal of the Society for Psychical Research

Identity: An International Journal of Theory and Research

Mind & Matter

Spirituality & Health International

Zeitschrift für Parapsychologie und Grenzgebiete der Psychologie

Teaching Activities:

2002 – 2005: Philosophy of Science (Deputy lecturer for Prof. Walach) University Freiburg
2004 – 2005: Organisation of the MsC and PhD colloquium of the Department of Evaluation             Research in Complementary and Alternative, University Hospital Freiburg
2005 – 2006: Introduction Research Methods, Undergraduate Module, The University of Northampton
2006 – 2007: Spirituality, Health & Wellbeing, Postgraduate Module, The University of Northampton
2007 – 2008: Psychophysiology of Conciousness, seminar, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich