Engelbert Winkler, Ph.D.

“The deepest healing processes take place not only within the body, but also at the boundaries of consciousness—where ordinary and extraordinary states merge and open up new dimensions of human existence.”

This conviction shapes the work of Dr. Engelbert Winkler—a clinical psychologist, health psychologist, and psychotherapist who is now regarded as a visionary pioneer in consciousness research and therapeutic innovation. With his groundbreaking work on near-death experiences and the development of the Lucia N°03 light source, he has elevated the topics of consciousness expansion and holistic healing to a scientifically grounded yet transformative level.

Scientific Roots

His academic journey began in 1989 at the University of Innsbruck, where he studied philosophy, education, and psychology, laying the foundation for an exceptionally holistic approach. Additional certified training in logotherapy, existential analysis, and hypnotherapy created a rare synthesis of scientific rigor and therapeutic depth. As an expert in depression and anxiety, as well as a traffic psychologist, supervisor, and sworn expert, he brings a unique combination of clinical expertise and innovative research to the table.

Personal motivation

Since 1994, Dr. Winkler, as the founder and director of the “Cooperative Family Consulting” practice, has been at the forefront of a revolutionary movement in youth care. This specialized outpatient and inpatient facility of the Tyrolean Youth Welfare Service is dedicated to the care and treatment of children and adolescents with severe behavioral problems. The development of the supervised housing project for adolescents (XXL Project) demonstrates his visionary approach: up to eight adolescents between the ages of 14 and 18 are cared for in their own apartments—a revolutionary concept that combines autonomy with professional support.

Research, Innovation, and Expanding Consciousness

Dr. Winkler’s research into the neural basis and effects of near-death experiences is opening up new horizons in our understanding of human consciousness. This groundbreaking work explores the boundaries between life and death, and between ordinary and extraordinary states of consciousness.

As a co-developer and optimizer of the Lucia N°03 light source, Dr. Winkler created a revolutionary tool for consciousness research that enables safe and controlled expansion of consciousness. The development of new psychotherapeutic intervention methods, including the hypnagogic light experience and heliotropic breathing, represents a paradigm shift in therapeutic practice.

His extensive publications include *The Western Book of the Dead* (1996), *Encounter with the Living Light* (2001), *Enlightenment at the Moment of Death* (2007), *Lucia No. 03: Hypnagogic Light Experience & Neuroart* (2013), “Striving for Being: The Sun Play” (2016), and “Meta-Counseling and Meta-Therapy” (2024). His scholarly articles in the “Journal of Near-Death Studies” and guest columns in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung demonstrate the international recognition of his research.

A particular strength – networked thinking

He knows how to combine scientific rigor with a deep understanding of human nature and advocates for an integrative understanding of healing—as an interplay of body, mind, and consciousness. His 30 years of practical experience have made him one of the leading experts in integrating consciousness research into therapeutic applications. At the Mycoverse Foundation, he contributes his expertise in consciousness research, therapeutic innovation, and holistic healing, helping to open up new dimensions of therapeutic practice in which the full spectrum of human states of consciousness is harnessed for the purpose of transformation.