Doctor of Philosophy in Transpersonal Psychology: Faculty

Our Program Chair

Robert Wood, Ph.D.

Education:

Ph.D. Psychology (Concentration in Transpersonal Psychology) – Sofia University (formerly ITP)
J.D. – University of Utah
M.A. Transpersonal Psychology – Naropa University
MBA – University of Utah
M.S. Economics – University of Utah
B.A. Economics – University of Utah

Educational Research:

Ph.D. Psychology – Dissertation: Psycho-Spiritual Transformation Experienced by Participants of Modern Wilderness Rites of Passage Quests: An Intuitive Inquiry

M.S. Economics – Thesis: The Impact of Capitalism on Individual Self-Actualization

Licensures & Certifications:

Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

Research & Training Interests: Ecopsychology, transformation through nature, vision quest, shamanism, archetypal psychology, and psychospiritual transformation, intuitive inquiry, and quantitative psychological research.

Publications:

Wood, R. (2007). The archetypal experience of a modern vision quest. East Coast Sandplay Journal, 8(1), 1-9.

Doctor of Philosophy in Transpersonal Psychology: Faculty

Angel Morgan, Ph.D.

Core Faculty

Education

• PhD – Saybrook University
• MA – Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
• BA – UCLA

Licensures & Certifications

• Certificate in Dream Studies
• Certificate in Creativity Studies – Saybrook University
• Waldorf Teacher Training – Rudolf Steiner College
• Quality Classroom Certificate – Institute of HeartMath

Research & Training

Research and teaching interests include: Existential, Humanistic and Transpersonal Psychology, Psychology of Anomalous Experience, Dreams, Dreamwork, Lucid Dreaming, PTSD Psychology and Healing, Creativity, Visual Arts, Performing Arts, Literary Arts, Human Development, Parapsychology, Consciousness and Spirituality, Phenomenology, Tibetan Buddhism, Documentary Filmmaking, Gender Studies, Women’s Empowerment, Waldorf Education, and HeartMath. President of the International Association for the Study of Dreams (asdreams.org) Founder of Dreambridge (thedreambridge.com)

Publications

• Krippner, S., Saunders, D. T., Morgan, A., & Quan, A. (2019). Remote viewing of concealed target pictures under light and dark conditions. Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing. 15(1), 27-37.
• Morgan, A. K. (2018). Dreamer’s powerful tiger: A new lucid dreaming classic for children and parents of the 21st Century. Ashland, OR: The Dreambridge.
• Morgan, A. K. (2014, December). Dream sharing as a healing method: Tropical roots and contemporary community potential. Journal of Tropical Psychology, 4(e12). doi:10.1017/jtp.2014.12. Retrievable from Cambridge University Press

Marilyn Schlitz, Ph.D.

Core Faculty

Education

• Post Doc – Stanford University
• PhD – Univ of Texas, Austin)
• MA – Univ of Texas, San Antonio
• BP – Wayne State University

Research & Training

My work focuses on the intersection of consciousness, healing and transformation. I have conducted research in laboratories, clinical setting, and in field-based studies making use of qualitative and quantitative methods. I bring my diverse research experience to my courses and interactions with students.

Publications

• Schlitz, M. (2015). Death Makes Life Possible. Revolutionary Insights on Living, Dying and the Continuation of Consciousness. Sounds True. Boulder, CO.
• Schlitz, M., C. Vieten, & T. Amorok. (2007) Living Deeply, The Art and Science of Transformation. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger (also published in Spanish and German).
• Schlitz, M., T. Amorok. with M. Micozzi, Editors. (2005). Consciousness & Healing: Integral Approaches to Mind Body Medicine. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier: Churchill Livingstone.

Renee Snow, Ph.D.

Adjunct Faculty

Education

• PhD in Psychology – Institute of Transpersonal Psychology
• MA in Spiritual Psychology – University of Santa Monica
• MS in Accountancy – San Jose State University
• BA in Economics – University of California Santa Cruz

Licensures & Certifications

• Certified Financial Planner
• Enrolled Agent
• Certified Divorce Financial Analyst

Research & Training

The focus of my research has been in the field of behavioral finance and economics, especially how culture, religion, and spiritual practices influence money management. I teach classes in behavioral finance, finance, statistics, leadership, quantitative and qualitative research methods.

Publications

• Bakosh, L., Snow, R., Tobias, J., & Houlihan, J. (2015, January). Maximizing mindful learning: An innovative mindfulness intervention improves elementary students’ academic achievement. Mindfulness.
• Snow, R. (2014). Transpersonal Economics. In H. Baker & V. Ricciardi (Eds.), Investor behavior: The psychology of financial planning and investing (pp. 245-264). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
• Snow, R. & Taylor, L. (2012, Fall). Transpersonal practices for personal wealth management. The Journal of the Academy of Behavioral Finance & Economics, 2(2), 76-95.
• Snow, R.(2012, March). Eco Leadership: The Practice of Deep Understanding in Action. Integral Leadership Review, XII(2).

Ted Esser, Ph.D.

Adjunct Faculty

Education

• Ph.D. Humanities, East-West Psychology – CIIS
• Master of Arts Philosophy & Religion – CIIS

Licensures & Certifications

• Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC, LCPC) – New Mexico & Illinois
• Registered Art Therapist (ATR)
• Infant Mental Health Endorsed (IMH-E®)

Research & Training

Spiritual Emergence Network Association for Transpersonal Psychology, International Association for the Study of Dreams, American Academy of Religion, International Journal for Transpersonal Studies

John Elfers, Ph.D.

Core Faculty

Education

• B. A. Magna Cum Laude – Education, University of Cincinnati, 1975
• M. A. Counseling Psychology, Sierra University, Costa Mesa, CA 1988
• M. A. Educational Administration, California State University Northridge, 1999
• Ph.D. Psychology, Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, Palo Alto, CA 2009

Licensures & Certifications

• Elementary Teaching Credential, K-12 Multiple Subjects, State of California, 1994
• Marriage, Family Therapist (LMFT) License (#MFC32786) Board of Behavioral Sciences, 1995
• Administrative Services Credential, State of California, 2003

Research & Training

Research interests include transcendent sexual experience, gratitude, ecopsychology, adolescent spirituality, and transformative experience.

Publications

• Elfers, J. & Soule, K. (2020). Transformative elements of transgender experiences. The International Journal of Diverse Identities, 20(2).

• Lucana, S., & Elfers, J. (2020). Sacred medicine: Indigenous healing and mental health. The Qualitative Report, 25(12).

• Elfers, J., Offringa, R. (2019) Sexual ecstasy scale: Conceptualizations and measurement. International Journal of Transpersonal Studies. (38)1.

• Elfers, J., & Hlava, P. (2016). The Spectrum of Gratitude Experience, Palgrave MacMillan.

• Hlava, P., Elfers, J., & Offringa, R. (2014). A transcendent view of gratitude: The transpersonal gratitude scale. International Journal of Transpersonal Studies, 33(1), 1-14.

• Elfers, J., Carlton, L., Gibson, P., Puffer, M., J., Smith, S., & Todd, K. (2014). Core competencies for adolescent reproductive health. American Journal of Sexuality Education. 9:81-98.

• Hlava, P. & Elfers, J. (2014). The lived experience of gratitude. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 54(4), 434-455.

Elfers, J. (2013). A declaration of interdependence: Peace, social justice, and the “spirit wrestlers”. The International Journal of Transpersonal Studies, 32(2), 111-121.