Integral Psychology

There is a growing acceptance of spirituality in psychology, psychotherapy, and medicine and a growing understanding within our culture that meditation and other traditional Eastern forms of spiritual practice can be applied in psychological practice. In this program we will study the developing theory and practices of integral psychology. Integral psychology draws upon the major spiritual traditions of the East and West, recent cultural and social sciences research, and the innovations made by contemporary psychoanalytic, humanistic, systemic, and transpersonal psychologies. Integral psychology includes the development of consciousness and self-awareness using imaginative somatic and expressive arts languages.

Pedagogical practices will include workshops, book seminars, lectures and video, with an emphasis on experiential learning in individual, small and large group formats. Multi-modal expressive arts laboratories based on person-centered psychology will be explored throughout the program. As described by Natalie Rogers, an international leader of expressive arts therapies and daughter of pioneering psychologist Carl Rogers, "The combination of expressive arts – the integrated process of using movement, visual art, music, journal writing and drama – and person-centered listening are powerful ways to become aware of our feelings about world events and transform these feelings into self-responsible action. The expressive arts bring us into balance by engaging our imagination, intuition and spiritual practices." The program will explore ways in which the application of integral psychology and spirituality can provide co-creative perspectives on health reform, social change and community building. This program will also include a retreat to provide an opportunity to engage more deeply in the practices of integral psychology and person-centered expressive arts. No previous art or movement experience is needed. Students need to be willing to work with integral psychology theory and self-knowledge through mindfulness, somatic and expressive arts practices in addition to discussion and reading.