activities · 17
what they do
direct service · 12
- Host public events and panel discussions for community engagement and professional developmentOrganizes panel events, public conversations, and workshop series—such as the Beloved Community Transformation Series and discussions on Filipino indigenous wisdom—that connect students, alumni, and the public to foster professional growth and collective wellbeing.
- Host public events and speaker series on community, transformation, and indigenous wisdomOrganizes public conversations, panel discussions, and transformation series on topics such as Beloved Community, Filipino indigenous wisdom, and personal and collective wellbeing, often featuring students, alumni, and guest speakers.
- Hosts public events, workshops, and information sessions for students and the broader communityOrganizes panel discussions, online information sessions, campus tours, and public conversations on topics such as graduate programs, F-1 visa processes, expressive arts, somatic psychology, Filipino indigenous wisdom, and building Beloved Community, including events featuring alumni and current students.
- Offer graduate and certificate programs in integral and contemplative disciplines Graduate Psychology and Specialized Therapy TrainingProvides a range of degree and certificate programs, including a Master of Arts in Asian Contemplative and Transcultural Studies, a Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.), a Master of Science in Critical Sexuality Studies, a Climate Psychology Certificate, and the world's first psychedelic-assisted treatment and therapy program, all emphasizing transformative, interdisciplinary, and culturally informed approaches to psychology, health, and society.
- Offer graduate and certificate programs in integral and contemplative fields Graduate Psychology and Specialized Therapy TrainingProvides a range of degree and certificate programs, including a Master of Arts in Asian Contemplative and Transcultural Studies, a Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) program, a Master of Science in Critical Sexuality Studies, and a Climate Psychology Certificate program, all emphasizing transformative, interdisciplinary, and culturally informed approaches to psychology, health, and society.
- Offers graduate degree programs in psychology, counseling, and integrative studies Graduate Psychology and Specialized Therapy TrainingProvides a range of graduate-level academic programs including a Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) with an integral and depth psychological approach, a Master of Arts in Asian Contemplative and Transcultural Studies, a Master of Science in Critical Sexuality Studies, and one of the first two Board of Behavioral Sciences-approved Drama Therapy programs in the U.S.
- Operate community counseling clinics and public program spaces Trauma-Informed Coaching CertificationRuns award-winning community mental health clinics and hosts public programs, art exhibitions, and events that serve both the local community and students in training.
- Operate community mental health training and counseling clinics Trauma-Informed Coaching CertificationRuns a Community Mental Health program in partnership with public and nonprofit agencies in the San Francisco Bay Area, training counselors using a liberation psychology framework, and operates award-winning community counseling clinics that serve the public while providing student training opportunities.
- Operates community mental health training and counseling clinics Trauma-Informed Coaching CertificationRuns community counseling clinics in partnership with public and nonprofit mental health agencies in the San Francisco Bay Area, training counselors using a liberation psychology framework; these clinics are award-winning and serve as training sites for graduate students.
- Provide admissions and academic support for prospective and current students Campus Tours and Information SessionsOffers online information sessions, campus tours, admissions office hours, and visa guidance workshops to support prospective and international students in navigating graduate programs, particularly in psychology, health, and expressive arts.
- Provide admissions outreach and prospective student support Campus Tours and Information SessionsOffers online information sessions, campus tours, admissions office hours, and specialized workshops—including for international students—to guide applicants through graduate programs in psychology, expressive arts, and somatic psychology.
- Train mental health professionals through accredited clinical and expressive arts therapy programs Clinical Supervision & Licensure SupportOffers one of the first two Board of Behavioral Sciences-approved graduate programs in Drama Therapy in the U.S. and operates a Community Mental Health program in partnership with Bay Area agencies, training counselors in liberation psychology and clinical practice.
capacity building · 5
- Deliver professional certificate and advancement programs Graduate Psychology and Specialized Therapy TrainingOffers certificate programs and specialized training for professionals seeking career advancement and expertise in emerging fields, including climate psychology and psychedelic-assisted therapy.
- Deliver professional certificate and career advancement programs Professional Psychology & Behavioral Science ProgramsOffers certificate programs designed for professionals seeking expertise and career advancement in specialized fields such as climate psychology and contemplative studies.
- Maintains a diverse and globally representative student body Tuition Assistance for Diverse Student EnrollmentIn Fall 2024, the institute had 1,877 students enrolled, with representation from 56 countries and 33% of students identifying as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC).
- Offers specialized certificate and training programs for mental health professionals Graduate Psychology and Specialized Therapy TrainingProvides professional development through certificate programs such as the Climate Psychology Certificate, which trains mental health practitioners to address eco-anxiety and eco-grief, and the world’s first psychedelic-assisted treatment and therapy program.
- Supports student success and professional licensure in counseling psychology Professional Training Program AccreditationGraduates from counseling psychology programs have achieved a 98% pass rate on California MFT licensure exams, with data confirmed for 2024.
strategies · 20
how they think
Theories of action extracted from this org's own source material. Click any to see the full field of orgs running the same approach.
- Career Integration through Narrative and Diverse Pathways career_integration_narrativeThe organization demonstrates the relevance and impact of its education by using student and alumni narratives to illustrate how their learning translates into meaningful professional work. It also highlights diverse graduate career outcomes to showcase the breadth of opportunities available to its graduates.
- Co-learning and Nowtopian Research for Social Transformation co_learning_nowtopian_researchThe organization employs a co-learning model that brings together scholars and activists in collaborative environments, inspired by popular and non-traditional educational movements. This is coupled with a "nowtopian" research methodology focused on generating social scientific knowledge that challenges and transcends existing systems of capitalism, hierarchy, and ecological destruction, aiming for social transformation.
- Co-learning and nowtopian praxis for transformative knowledge praxis-centered educationUses collaborative, non-hierarchical models of co-learning with scholars and activists, grounded in praxis-centered education and nowtopian research that aims to build alternatives to capitalist and ecologically destructive systems.
- Co-learning and nowtopian research for transformative knowledge production co-learning_with_scholars_and_activistsEmploys a collaborative co-learning model between scholars and activists, inspired by non-traditional education movements, and uses "nowtopian" research to build social scientific knowledge that challenges capitalism, hierarchy, and ecological destruction.
- Dialogue-based community building for belonging and justice dialogue-based community buildingFosters community through public dialogue and programming that promotes courageous conversations, anti-racism, inclusion, and collective responsibility, aligned with a Beloved Community vision.
- Embodied and relational learning bridging theory and lived experience embodied practiceCombines academic rigor with somatic, expressive arts, and experiential practices in flexible learning environments to connect intellectual knowledge with bodily and emotional understanding.
- Holistic and Dialogue-Based Community Building for Social Justice holistic_dialogue_community_buildingThe organization fosters community building through public programming and dialogue events to cultivate courageous conversations and connections, as part of a "Beloved Community" initiative. This approach addresses structural injustice holistically, emphasizing care, compassion, and shared responsibility.
- Integral Education Model integral_educationThe organization utilizes an integral education model that synthesizes intellectual, experiential, spiritual, and practical learning, often drawing from Eastern, Western, and Earth-based wisdom traditions. This approach aims to cultivate the whole person, integrating all aspects of a student's experience to foster wellness, healing, social impact, and higher consciousness, and to train practitioners and scholars across various disciplines.
- Integral education model integrating mind, body, spirit, and action integral_educationAn embodied, whole-person educational approach that synthesizes intellectual, experiential, spiritual, and practical dimensions of learning to cultivate therapists, thought leaders, activists, and creatives. This model integrates wellness, healing, social impact, and higher consciousness through a synthesis of Eastern, Western, and Earth-based wisdom traditions.
- Integral education model integrating mind, body, spirit, and action integral educationAn educational approach that synthesizes intellectual, experiential, spiritual, and practical dimensions of learning to cultivate whole-person development, combining theory with embodied practice and reflective action.
- Interdisciplinary and Integrative Approaches to Consciousness and Social Justice interdisciplinary_integrative_studiesThe organization integrates interdisciplinary frameworks, including philosophy, cosmology, and consciousness studies, with expressive arts, somatic approaches, spirituality, and gender and social justice frameworks. This holistic approach is applied in graduate education, psychology, and community building to address complex issues and foster a deeper understanding of human experience and social systems.
- Interdisciplinary integration of consciousness, spirituality, and social justice spirituality_and_social_justice_integrationCombines philosophy, cosmology, consciousness studies, and spiritual traditions with gender and social justice frameworks to create transformative academic programming grounded in liberation psychology, cultural humility, and structural critique.
- Interdisciplinary integration of consciousness, spirituality, and social justice spirituality_and_social_justice_integrationFrames education through an interdisciplinary lens that unites philosophy, cosmology, consciousness studies, spirituality, and gender and social justice to address systemic oppression and promote liberation.
- Liberation Psychology with Cultural Humility liberation_psychologyThe organization applies a liberation psychology framework, combined with cultural humility, to understand the profound effects of trauma and social systems on mental health. This approach aims to address systemic issues and promote healing within diverse communities.
- Passion-aligned and personalized student support in academic advising passion-aligned integrative advisingGuides prospective and current students through integrative, individualized advising that aligns with personal passions and career goals, supported by narrative examples and responsive engagement.
- Passion-aligned, narrative-driven advising and career integration career_integration_through_narrativeUses integrative, passion-aligned advising and student/alumni narratives to help prospective students connect with fitting graduate programs and demonstrate how CIIS education translates into diverse, meaningful professional pathways.
- Personalized and Passion-Aligned Student Support personalized_student_supportThe organization provides personalized support to students, combining informational presentations with open Q&A sessions to address individual needs. This includes a passion-aligned, integrative advising approach to help prospective students identify fitting graduate programs that align with their interests in psychology and health.
- Personalized, dialogic student and community support personalized_student_supportProvides personalized student support through informational sessions and open dialogue, while using public programming and courageous conversations to build community connections and advance anti-racism, care, and shared responsibility.
- Praxis-Centered and Embodied Learning praxis_and_embodied_learningThe organization emphasizes praxis-centered education, integrating deep reflection with meaningful action. This involves combining intellectual rigor with embodied practice within flexible, relational learning environments to bridge theory and lived experience, cultivating the whole person.
- Praxis-centered, embodied learning bridging theory and lived experience praxis-centered_educationEmphasizes deep reflection combined with meaningful action (praxis) and integrates intellectual rigor with somatic and expressive practices in flexible, relational environments to connect academic theory with personal and social transformation.
named programs · 25
what they call their work
Blue Sky Leadership Certificate
11-month hybrid program for professionals in technology, business, and arts focused on consciousness, transformation, and impact
Climate Psychology Certificate
Online certificate program providing psychological training for therapists to address eco-anxiety, eco-grief, and climate-related mental health impacts
Doctor of Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.)
Five-year on-campus program integrating depth psychology, somatic, transpersonal, and humanistic approaches to clinical training
Doctor of Ecology, Spirituality, and Religion
A doctoral program exploring the intersections of world religions, Indigenous traditions, eco-spirituality, eco-justice, and eco-feminism, preparing students to address ecological trauma and transformation for a just and sustainable future.
Doctor of Philosophy in Anthropology and Social Change
PhD program focused on counter-hegemonic knowledge, urban social movements, and alternatives to capitalism and ecological crisis
Doctor of Philosophy in East-West Psychology
A doctoral program exploring the convergence of Eastern, Western, and Indigenous psychologies and spiritualities, engaging in research for a diverse, multicultural, and peaceful world, preparing graduates for academia, activism, and spiritual coaching.
Doctor of Philosophy in Human Sexuality
An interdisciplinary doctoral program in critical sexuality studies, exploring the intersections of power and sexuality, preparing graduates for careers in research, education, clinical and organizational settings, advocacy, and policy.
Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) in Clinical Psychology
A postconventional doctoral program providing a pathway to licensure as a clinical psychologist, integrating depth psychological perspectives for healing, growth, and wholeness, preparing graduates for therapy, assessment, supervision, and research roles.
MA-CP in Community Mental Health
Hybrid program training psychotherapists in liberation psychology, cultural humility, and trauma-informed care for underserved communities
MA-CP in Drama Therapy
On-campus program combining theater and therapy to train drama therapists in experiential and clinical methods
MA-CP in Expressive Arts Therapy
Hybrid, low-residency program training expressive arts therapists using visual, musical, and dramatic arts in clinical settings
MA-CP in Integral Counseling Psychology
On-campus program integrating spiritual traditions and contemporary psychotherapy for training licensed therapists
Master of Arts in Anthropology & Social Change
Two-year hybrid program training scholars and activists in social movement theory, post-structuralist philosophy, and community organizing
Master of Arts in Asian Contemplative and Transcultural Studies
Online MA program exploring contemplative traditions of South and East Asia and their role in personal and global transformation
Master of Arts in East-West Psychology
Hybrid or online non-clinical psychology program integrating Eastern, Western, and Indigenous wisdom traditions
Master of Arts in Ecology, Spirituality, and Religion
Online program examining ecological issues through religious studies, environmental ethics, and eco-spirituality
Master of Arts in Expressive Arts Coaching & Community Building
Online experiential program training coaches in multimodal arts-based approaches for individual and community development
Master of Arts, Counseling Psychology (MA-CP) in Community Mental Health
A program integrating psychotherapy fundamentals with liberation psychology, cultural humility, and understanding of trauma and social systems, preparing students for dual licensure as psychotherapists in various settings.
Master of Arts, Counseling Psychology (MA-CP) in Drama Therapy
A Board of Behavioral Sciences-approved program integrating theatre and therapy, training students to become skillful, ethical, and culturally attuned drama therapists.
Master of Arts, Counseling Psychology (MA-CP) in Expressive Arts Therapy
A BBS-approved, low-residency degree program for California residents, weaving multimodal expressive arts into courses to train future leaders in expressive arts therapy for various mental health settings.
Master of Arts, Counseling Psychology (MA-CP) in Integral Counseling Psychology
A program combining spiritual traditions of the East and West with contemporary therapeutic practices, training graduates to become licensed psychotherapists in private practice, schools, and nonprofit organizations.
Master of Science in Critical Sexuality Studies
Online interdisciplinary program analyzing intersections of power, gender, and sexuality in social and cultural contexts
PhD in East-West Psychology
Doctoral program exploring the convergence of Eastern, Western, and Indigenous psychologies and spiritualities
PhD in Ecology, Spirituality, and Religion
Doctoral program focused on ecological trauma, Indigenous traditions, and transformative worldviews for planetary flourishing
PhD in Human Sexuality
Interdisciplinary doctoral program exploring power structures in sexuality, gender, and social justice
relationships · 10
who they work with
- Admissions Office Partner — Organizes student and alumni panel events for prospective students.
- Carl Lorenz Cervantes Partner — Collaborates on a conversation about Filipino indigenous wisdom
- Center for Psychedelic Therapies and Research Partner — Shirley Strong consults with the Center, offering workshops on building Beloved Community and increasing belonging.
- Dennis Spears Partner — Admissions counselor participating in information sessions for the School of Professional Psychology and Health
- Ishan McCarthy Partner — Admissions counselor participating in information sessions for the School of Professional Psychology and Health
- Jessica Johnson Partner — Admissions Counselor co-hosting the workshop
- Provost's Office Partner — Shirley Strong consults with the Provost's Office on building Beloved Community and increasing belonging.
- San Francisco Bay Area public and nonprofit mental health agencies Partner — Developed the Community Mental Health program in partnership with these agencies.
- Shmee Giarratana Partner — International Student Advisor and SEVIS Primary Designated School Official leading the workshop
- Vice President Rachel Bryant Partner — Collaborated with Shirley Strong on facilitating events in the Beloved Community Transformation Series.