Expressive Arts Therapy Program

You were born and raised in North London, England. Why did you move to the United States?

After graduating with a Bachelor of Divinity from London University, I began a series of rather radical transitions and moved to the United States to pursue a career as a professional tennis player. In 1975, at age 25, I decided to make the United States my home, first living on Long Island, then in Savannah, Georgia, and finally, since 1980, in the Bay Area.

My abiding interest throughout all my transitions has been classical music. Although I am not a trained musician, I used to dabble with the French horn and have been singing with the Oakland Symphony Chorus for the last decade. I have been fascinated with holistic science for some time, and my most current interests are letter arts and illuminations, stone carving, mandalas, and fiddle music. This year I finished building a 50-foot Chartres labyrinth in a horse corral in Placerville.

What led to your "journey" to CIIS?

After 10 years of playing professional tennis, I was the on-site pro tour organizer for several years traveling to a different city and/or country every week. I finally decided it was time to find out what the rest of the world was doing.

I entered the field of marketing communications via sports marketing and held positions in corporate, agency, and nonprofit environments for 20 years. I was Vice President for Communications and Enrollment Planning at Mills College, and Director of Communications at Children's Hospital Oakland for many years before forming my own marketing communications company.

Although my company was doing well, I woke up one day convinced it would not take up the rest of my life. Something very strong and very mysterious seemed to be calling me, and I could not ignore it.

Why did you choose the Expressive Arts Therapy program at CIIS?

In the process of starting my life over (again), music and art led me back to the sacred, giving me insight beyond words and healing that I wasn't aware I needed. My experience was so powerful that it became clear that using the arts to help others was my next "calling" in life. Actually, it seemed as if it was my real calling.

I felt I'd caught glimpses of the sacred through lay studies in science and psychology. At CIIS, by combining the expressive arts and psychology in an environment that nurtured the spirit, I felt like I was finally coming home.

What specific quality about CIIS appealed to you?

What appealed to me about CIIS was its mission of integrating body, mind, and spirit and its leadership in this approach. The faculty read like a who's who in integrative spirituality. It was very appealing to know these "lights" would be accessible to me.

What have been the most outstanding aspects of studying in this department and at CIIS?

Three aspects of this program have had a profound impact on me:
• Having every class speak to me personally and meaningfully.
• Being in a supportive, like-minded cohort with the most creative yet bolted-down people I have ever had the privilege to be amongst.
• Being given the tools to actually go out and use what I've learned.

Describe how and why a specific course, book, or project has had a significant impact on you and your life.

William James's book The Varieties of Religious Experience was extremely significant to me, as it introduced the idea that certain experiences of "the other" exist universally. It validated my own experiences and helped me see that it is possible to be spiritual without being either religious or brilliant or even literate. Many years after I had discarded religion completely, this book kept the door open for my spiritual side to emerge when I was finally ready to accept it.

What is unique or special about the CIIS community?

I get the sense that everyone here is a seeker — souls taking their life journey seriously. Wherever you are on your journey, you can fit in. That's a relief!

What are your plans after you graduate from CIIS?

I plan to spend a couple of years doing internship work toward a Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) license, and then I'd like to combine work in an integrative health setting with starting a private practice in guided imagery and music. By the time I get to collect Social Security, I should be just about ready to take off in my new career!

Expressive Arts Therapy Program