We recently had the chance to sit down with CIIS alumna Connie Hills, a 1998 graduate of the Clinical Psychology Doctoral program, a practicing psychotherapist and neuropsychologist, and an American Sign Language user in San Francisco. Many years before coming to CIIS, Connie's career began as a sign language interpreter for the deaf, a population she's passionate about to this day.

"I was practicing as a freelance translator for about five years and I did a lot of public health interpreting where there were long waits in the waiting rooms. And my deaf clients would tell me all these secrets, all these private pieces of their lives," she said. "I found I had this knack for listening to people and understanding them. I also couldn't find one doctor who could sign," she continued, "and I didn't know one therapist who could sign, and I didn't know one psychologist who could sign. And there was clearly a need. So I got my Master's degree in Mental Health Counseling at Gallaudet University and then went back to Seattle and practiced as a therapist for about four or five years."

She soon became interested in pursuing a Ph.D. and had joined a consultation group with other therapists discussing the transpersonal aspects of psychology. Said Connie, "My interest in particular was in how I was going to be able to do this work for a long period of time and not get burned out. It's intense work and you're absorbing people's suffering every day. The transpersonal discussion was really refreshing to me -- it has always opened up to me the places that are normally closed."

Although Connie was enjoying a successful career in Seattle, she decided to close up shop and head back to California for her doctoral work at CIIS, a decision that mystified people around her. "It was interesting because at the time I had a 16-year-old client to whom I had a really strong attachment," said Connie. "And I knew she needed a darn good reason for why I was leaving, because I had really helped her transform her life. I've been a feminist for as long as I can remember, and I just looked at her and said, 'I want more power as a woman. I want more credibility. I want more knowledge. I want to be the person that other people come to consult with.' It was very clear to me. And my client got it; she thought it was great. It was true then, and it still is true."

After hearing about CIIS from a respected colleague, Connie submitted an application. "I didn't apply to any other programs," she explained. "None fit with what I wanted, so I thought, 'I'll just start here and see what happens.' I liked CIIS because it offered the opportunity to study transpersonal theories, which were not being taught in other schools. It also seemed to draw older students. Being among my peers and among other professionals who were already out in the world and were pretty clear about what they wanted to do was important to me," she explained. "I was always somebody who colored outside of the lines, so I figured, 'Why stop now?'"

Drawn to the study of transpersonal psychology offered at CIIS, Connie found a much richer academic environment than she had expected. Once she began the application process, she was amazed at the diversity of courses offered: "It wasn't just transpersonal theory, it was Buddhism, women's spirituality, body-centered psychotherapy... It was just a perfect blend of traditional scientist/practitioner-based clinical psychology and nontraditional perspectives." Taking as many electives as she could once she enrolled in the Clinical Psychology Doctoral program, Connie found her focus in Buddhism and took several influential courses with Dr. Rina Sircar on Buddhist psychology.

After graduating in 1998, Connie has successfully cultivated an adult psychotherapy practice that is focused primarily on anxiety disorders, depression, and substance abuse -- a specialization she picked up during her post-doctoral residency at Kaiser and for which she had an instant affinity. In fact, Connie has since built a thriving neuropsychology practice. "I love it. I find it fascinating, in terms of my study of consciousness and my understanding of what happens to the brain as we get older and older and older, and of what happens to the brain when there's a head injury or some kind of assault or disease. I am also drawn to it because in psychotherapy you work with people over time -- I see people for years and sometimes we're still in the abyss together and I still don't understand what's going on. In neuropsychology, in 10 hours or less you can have a good conclusion for someone."

When asked whether or not she has been able to avoid absorbing people's suffering and burning out, she smiles and replies, "Yes. My meditation practice is extremely valuable for that. It's a personal practice I have, and I take as many meditation retreats with Dr. Sircar as I can. I go to Dr. Sircar's [Taungpulu Kaba-Aye] monastery to meditate. She's a wonderful teacher. She has taught me more about the mind than anybody -- she's absolutely brilliant. She's a good instructor but a human being first. I can't say enough about her -- you're lucky to have her right here."