Vision and Philosophy

The Institute aspires to become a world class “arts based” education provider for counselling and therapy in the areas of visual art, music, movement and holistic and transpersonal modalities. In particular, Phoenix is undertaking further research and development to provide professional psycho-spiritual approaches to well being and management of mental and spiritual health. Added to this, Phoenix continues to combine both, scientific disciplines with traditional Eastern and indigenous models of health.

At Phoenix, we believe that transpersonal therapy provides people in transition and change with an alternative to symptom suppression. It helps them adapt creatively to crisis and life transition by using
experience to grow and heal. Experience is transformed into a breakthrough - rather than breakdown.

Unlike the mainstream medical model that orients itself around the elimination of symptoms to ‘normalise’, the transpersonal model is based on awareness and authenticity, a more ‘conscious’ life management.

Transpersonal work is crucial in today’s alienated society. People want to connect with their humanity to better understand who they are, and where they fit in their communities and in the world. This understanding transforms feelings of alienation and disempowerment into a sense of balance and connection. It provides the maps and insights to create a personal life map with purpose and direction. It offers an alternative to live ‘consciously’ in the world.

Objectives

From within a Transpersonal framework, Phoenix aims for graduates to have the ability to:
• provide therapy for a wide range of clients and problem types
• provide assistance with management of clients’ mental health problems
• provide assistance in managing clients’ life crises
• develop therapeutic programs for individuals, groups and communities
• develop case management strategies
• keep professional case records as well as analysing and writing up professional, clinical reports
• apply transpersonal concepts, theory, research and strategies in all service delivery settings
• act ethically and within the framework of relevant legal/legislative requirements
• where art therapy is concerned, all of the above together with the ability to:
- draw upon art and art therapy knowledge and techniques
- develop art therapy strategies in all service delivery areas

Phoenix aims to educate and train new kinds of practitioners who not only deliver superior services, but also offer leadership in social change and community building to create bridges between cultures within Australia and internationally.