ABOUT
ME
Mission Statement
The full name of the organization is “Engaging the One Heart: Community and Educational Services”.
It's purpose is to share my various spiritual and social interests, including sharing some of the practices and ideas I have developed as a Transpersonal (Psycho-Spiritual) and Narrative Psychologist. This organization is separate from my business practice as a psychologist, and a way to share with others some information for free that you might find valuable.
I will be hosting educational, psycho-educational, and social events to share my interests and create an experience of community. I am open to others joining me in the development of this NPO, and have a goal of applying for 501(c)(3) status, where we may take tax-deductible donations to develop community projects. We may also apply for grants for projects, and provide salaries for project leaders. Most of our events at this time will not involve any fees.
This website will be linked to a Facebook page and a meetup.com, which will be coordinated to reach the largest potential audience.
Professional Journey
In 1980, I earned an MA in Transpersonal Psychology from the California Institute of Asian Studies (now the California Institute of Integral Studies) in San Francisco. This was the first nationally accredited program in transpersonal psychology, a field that integrates modern psychological science with spiritual and religious perspectives. Designed to be inclusive of all cultures and belief systems, transpersonal psychology addresses how spiritual practices and non-sectarian insights can aid individuals facing life’s challenges.
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After completing my MA, I became a certified mental health counselor, working in crisis intervention and providing individual and group therapy. For eight years, I served at a community mental health center that was also a teaching hospital for Harvard University, gaining experience in state-of-the-art treatments for major mental illnesses like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
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I went on to earn a Psy.D. in 1990 from the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology (now William James College), where I focused on integrating transpersonal and mainstream psychology. My dissertation research led me to specialize in narrative psychology, particularly in the context of communication. This interest in transformative dialogue brought me to study with leading practitioners such as Laura and Dick Chasin of the Public Conversations Project (now Essential Partners) and to the Dialogue Program at MIT's Sloan School of Management with Bill Isaacs. Here, I honed skills in facilitating productive conversations among groups with deeply rooted conflicts, such as those in political, cultural, and labor disputes.
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In 1997, I became a licensed psychologist and spent the next 20 years with the Indian Health Service in various locations. Living on a reservation in Montana deepened my appreciation for multicultural approaches and introduced me to the profound teachings of Native American spirituality. These teachings have influenced both my personal life and professional practice.
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In June 2020, I retired from my hospital role to establish a private practice offering telehealth services across the United States.
Personal Background and Spiritual Path
I was raised in Marblehead, MA, a coastal town north of Boston, within the Reform Jewish tradition. My engagement with Judaism deepened in adulthood when I encountered Jewish mysticism, enriching a journey that had already led me through the study of diverse spiritual traditions, including Sufism, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, and indigenous spirituality.
Mentors and Influences
Among those who have shaped my path are:
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Murshid Abraham Sussman - a clinical psychologist, and a senior mentor in the Sufi Ruhaniat and Dances of Universal Peace lineages, an inspired musician, and an experienced guide in the path of the awakening heart (https://northeastsufis.org)
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Salvador Roquet – A psychiatrist and pioneer in psychedelic research, who studied with Oaxaca Shaman Maria Sabina (https://chacruna.net/salvador-roquet-remembered)
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One of my earliest spiritual memories came from a distant relative at a family reunion, when I was 10 years old, who pointed to the night sky and asked, “Who made those stars?” I later recognized this quote from Isaiah 40:26. Although I didn’t fully understand it at the time, this question planted in me a sense of wonder that continues to shape my spiritual path.
I am deeply grateful to all who have shared wisdom and insight, helping me discover how to live with meaning, love, and kindness.