EMBODIMENT, INTEGRATION, AND WHOLE PERSON'S MENTAL HEALTH IN THE VUCA ERA
E:\6\So a\Global Conference
Global Conference on Advancing Mental Health
September 27th, 2026 2026
https://www.sofiaglobalconference.com
Table of Contents
Welcome Message About Sofia University Conference Introduction Conference Program Speakers Contact Frequently Asked Questions
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Dr. Carol Lee Humphreys
President, Sofia University
I am delighted to welcome you to the 4th Annual Global Mental Health Conference .
For five decades, Sofia University — formerly the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology — has stood at the forefront of whole-person education. From humble beginnings in a professor’s home to our university’s two campuses in California and our growing global presence, our vision has remained steadfast: to offer a transformational experience for positive agents of change. Since 1975, Sofia’s faculty, students, and alumni have continu- ally challenged conventional models and reimagined what it means to heal, lead, and transform lives from the inside out. This year’s conference theme, “Embodiment, Integration, and Whole Person’s Mental Health in the VUCA Era” continues Sofia’s longstanding commitment to advancing global mental health through inclusive dialogue, innovation, and heart-centered inquiry. Now more than ever, our world calls for integrated approaches that honor the mind, body, soul, and spirit across diverse cultures and communities. As we gather together today, we are proud to continue cultivating a global space where thought leaders, educators, doctors, mental health practitioners, psychologists, dream- ers, scholars, and creatives come together to share emerging insights, challenge assumptions, and co-create solutions to some of our most urgent mental health challenges. Thank you for being part of this vital conversation. We are honored by your presence and your passion. Special thanks to our Conference Chairs, Global College, faculty, staff, and partners for bringing this extraordinary event to life.
Please enjoy the conference and carry the conversation forward!
With genuine appreciation for all you do in the world,
Carol Lee Humphreys, PhD President, Sofia University
To learn more about Sofia University and explore our programs in transpersonal and transformative education, please visit us at: https://www.sofia.edu/about-us
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DBA Leadership and Master Global Leadership Program Chair, Academic Chair Global Mental Health Confer- ence, Sofia University Dr. Dorote Lucci
Associate Vice President (AVP) of Global Engagement, Sofia University Yali Wang
Dear Participants, Welcome to the 2026 Sofia University Global Conference on Advancing Mental Health. It is our great honor to welcome you to the fourth year of this evolving global conversation—one that continues to cross disciplines, cultures, generations, and ways of knowing in our shared inquiry into what it means to be well, to be human, and ultimately, to flourish. This year, our theme, “Embodiment, Integration, and Whole Person’s Mental Health in the VUCA Era,” takes us one step further in the journey we began together. In previous years, we have asked how mental health might be reimagined. This year, we ask: How do we embody it? How do insight, research, consciousness, emotion, resilience, and meaning become lived experience? How do we remain grounded in our bodies and connected to one another while navigating a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence, technological acceleration, uncertainty, and change? And how do we create the conditions not simply for surviving these transformations, but for human flourishing within them? Our conference is intentionally designed as a single-track journey. Rather than separating disciplines into parallel conversa- tions, we invite them to encounter one another. Across our gathering, we will move through consciousness and perception, emotion and resilience, sleep and dreams, prenatal and early human development, the needs of youth and the journey of gracefully aging, dignity and public health, technology and human trust, recovery and belonging, leadership, adult develop- ment, legacy, and flourishing. The thread connecting these conversations is embodiment—local as individuals and global as community. Mental health is not experienced in abstraction. It is lived through bodies, relationships, families, communities, cultures, environments, organizations, and increasingly, technological systems. A whole-person approach therefore also asks us to think in whole systems. This commitment begins even before the formal conference program. Our pre-conference panel on Sport and Youth Mental Health places young people at the forefront of the conversation, exploring how sport, movement, embodiment, community, and belonging can become pathways to resilience and mental wellbeing. It asks us to listen not only to what young people need, but also to their voices, creativity, agency, and capacity to shape the future. This youth-centered work is further connected to UN Youth Day, our presentation in New York, and the UN Youth Office and their work, extending our confer- ence conversation into a larger global commitment to youth participation, wellbeing, and leadership. It reminds us that advancing mental health cannot be accomplished for the next generation without also working with the next generation. Youth must be participants, partners, and co-creators in imagining the systems and societies in which they will live. In this sense, the conference itself reflects a human developmental journey—from our earliest embodied beginnings, through childhood and youth, into adulthood and leadership, and toward conscious aging, wisdom, and legacy. This developmental perspective asks an especially important question for our time: Can our human capacity for awareness, wisdom, compassion, and responsibility develop alongside the extraordinary technological capabilities we are creating? Perhaps flourishing is not a destination. Perhaps it is an unfolding capacity—to remain present amid uncertainty, to hold greater complexity without losing our grounding, to recognize our interdependence, and to translate awareness into meaningful action. That possibility sits at the heart of this year’s conference. As always, our gathering reflects Sofia University’s commitment to whole-person and transpersonal education and to creating bridges: between science and lived experience; East and West; Global North and Global South; youth and elders; ancient wisdom and emerging research; individual wellbeing and societal transformation; and the local and the global. These bridges matter. They remind us that no single discipline, culture, generation, or worldview holds the complete answer to the challenges before us. Human flourishing emerges through dialogue, relationship, curiosity, and our willingness to learn from one another. Thank you to our speakers, researchers, practitioners, partners, students, youth participants, and global community for bringing your work—and yourselves—into this conversation. Our invitation this year is not simply to talk about mental health. It is to experience, question, connect, participate, and embody what human flourishing might become. Welcome to the 2026 Global Conference on Advancing Mental Health. With deep appreciation, Dr. Dorote Lucci & Yali Wang 2
Since 1975, Sofia University has been dedicated to providing transforma- tive and transparent education to students worldwide. Building on more than 50 years of whole-person education, we reflect on our journey and our continued commitment to being a global leader in education. Our vision emphasizes the holistic development of students—intellectual, emotional, spiritual, physical, social, and creative—guiding them toward becoming compassionate and skilled professionals. Our core values of authenticity, inclusivity, cultural humility, ecological stewardship, and service to others have shaped our educational approach over the years. We are proud to be fully accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), the nation’s premier regional accreditation body for higher education, since 1998. With campuses in Silicon Valley and Orange County, California, along with instruction in China through our Global College, we continue to offer Transpersonal Psychology and Applied & Professional Programs, remain- ing steadfast in our mission to inspire growth and positive change for the next 50 years and beyond.
The Master of Arts in Transpersonal Psychology (MATP) is an innovative, multidimensional program integrating theory and practice to explore the psychological, spiritual, and trans- formative dimensions of human experience. Originally established as the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology (ITP), Sofia University is the birthplace of the MATP program. Primarily offered online, the two-year program includes two five-day residency seminars. Students may choose from four concentrations: Transformative Life Coaching, Creativity and Innovation, Spiritual Psychology, or Veteran Leadership, with an optional secondary concentration in Transpersonal Ecopsychology. Master of Arts in Transpersonal Psychology The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Transpersonal Psychology builds upon your prior master’s degree through exploration and consideration of both classic and modern studies of transpersonal psychology. You will strengthen your research and analytic skills while simultaneously carving out a deep understanding of the multiple dimensions of our human experience. Doctor of Philosophy in Transpersonal Psychology The Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology (MACP) degree program provides formal training in the science and practice of family systems therapy and clinical counseling. In addition to a broad and rigorous preparation in counseling psychology, the program provides training in theory and treatment inspired by both secular and spiritual concepts and interventions. Mindfulness, movement, and expressive arts, in both clinician self-care and treatment interventions, are integrated throughout the curriculum. Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology The Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (BAP) is a degree-completion program, available to students who have completed a minimum of 75 quarter units (50 semester units) of prior college-level work. Rooted in the field of transpersonal psychology, the program provides students with broad exposure to the humanistic and scientific approaches to the study of human cognition, emotions, and behavior. Students tailor the program to their interests and goals to focus their studies and prepare for graduate school or their transition to a profes- sional career. Courses are offered online, with faculty serving as facilitators and tutors. Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
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Sofia University’s Certificate in Dream Studies, offered by the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, is one of the few programs of its kind at an accredited U.S. university. This 13-credit program explores dreams from psychological, spiritual, cultural, and scientific perspectives. Students examine topics such as sleep and consciousness, health and creativity, and learn practical dreamwork skills. The certificate can be completed on its own or as part of a master’s or doctoral program in Transpersonal Psychology. Sofia University's Certificate in Dream Studies Sofia University’s Certificate in Transpersonal Ecopsychology, offered through the School of Transpersonal Psychology, is one of the few ecopsychology programs avail- able at an accredited U.S. university. This 13-credit, 5-course program explores the human–Nature relationship through the lenses of spirituality, psychology, sustainability, and culture. Taught by Sofia faculty, it includes both theory and practicum-based learning. The certificate can be completed on its own or as part of the Transpersonal Psychology master’s or doctoral program, and is ideal for those pursuing careers or personal growth in areas related to healing, ecology, and human transformation. Sofia University's Certificate in Transpersonal Ecopsychology Sofia University’s Certificate in Leadership and Transformative Life Coaching (99 hours) is awarded upon completion of the designated concentration and practicum courses. Rooted in ontological coaching, the program explores how individuals shape reality and awareness through both action and perception. Recognized as a Level 1 program by the International Coaching Federation (ICF), it prepares students to become professional coaches or apply coaching skills in fields such as leadership, spirituality, wellness, creativity, and psychedelic integration. Sofia University’s Certificate in Leadership and Transformative Life Coaching
To speak with our admissions team, email our Admissions Office at admissions@sofia.edu or request more information and a counselor will contact you shortly. Admissions contact
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4TH GLOBAL MENTAL HEALTH CONFERENCE
We are pleased to present the 2026 Sofia University Global Conference—an immersive, one-day virtual gathering focused on holistic responses to today’s most pressing societal and personal challenges. Hosted by Sofia University, this global event brings together voices from across disciplines and continents to explore the intersection of intercultural dialogue, mental well-being, and systems change. Centered on the theme “ Embodiment, Integration, and Whole Person’s Mental Health in the VUCA Era ,” the conference invites a global community of changemakers, practitioners, and scholars to co-create innovative, culturally responsive solutions for a rapidly transforming world. Through shared learning and collaboration, participants will explore how individual well-being and collective systems can evolve in harmony—shaping a more connected, conscious, and compassionate future.
September 27, 2026, 8:30 AM PDT Conference Date & Time *Please note that the event times are based in Pacific Daylight Time (PDT)
Virtual via Zoom Location
The Zoom link will be sent via email at a date closer to the event.
Key Theme: Embodiment, Integration, and Whole Person’s Mental Health in the VUCA Era At the heart of the 2026 conference is a commitment to exploring embodiment as a foundation for mental health, resilience, leadership, education, and human flourishing. We bring together interdisciplinary and cross-cultural perspectives to examine how embodied and integrative approaches can help individuals, communities, and systems navigate an increasingly complex and rapidly changing world. Embodiment, Coherence, and Whole-Person Well-Being This focus area explores embodiment as an integrative approach to mental health and whole-person well-being, connecting mind, body, emotion, relationships, meaning, and consciousness.
Key topics: Embodied approaches to mental health and psychological well-being Nervous system regulation, resilience, and trauma-informed practices Mind–body integration and contemplative practices Meaning, belonging, and relational intelligence
Embodied Leadership and Flourishing in a Changing World This focus area explores how embodied and whole-person approaches can support adaptive leadership, education, organizations, and communities in a rapidly changing world.
Key topics: Embodied and ethical leadership in complex environments Whole-person approaches to education and organizational well-being AI, technology, digital well-being, and human connection Sustainable systems, social resilience, and human flourishing
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TOPIC Opening Remarks and Conference Overview Dr. Dorote Lucci, Dr. Carol Humphreys
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Session : Featured Fireside Chat: Flourishing, Legacy, and the Developmental Journey Dr. Susanne Cook-Greuter What does it mean to flourish—not only at one moment in life, but across the full arc of human development? In this intimate fireside conversation, Dr. Susanne Cook-Greuter will explore how our understanding of identity, purpose, leadership, and wellbeing evolves as we move along the developmental curve. Drawing upon her pioneering research in adult and ego development, and in dialogue with the integral vision associated with Ken Wilber, the conversation will examine how human beings expand their capacity to hold complexity, embrace paradox, integrate multiple perspectives, and act with greater wisdom and compassion. Rather than viewing flourishing as a fixed destination, the session will explore it as an unfolding developmental process. What supports us at one stage of life may no longer be sufficient at another. As our awareness develops, our definitions of success, belonging, responsibility, and meaning may also evolve. Flourishing, in this sense, involves not only feeling well, but becoming increasingly capable of responding to life with depth, flexibility, discernment, and presence. The conversation will also consider embodiment: how development becomes meaning- ful when insight is lived through our relationships, choices, leadership, and ability to remain grounded amid uncertainty. Embodiment is where consciousness becomes visible. A central focus will be legacy. What do we leave behind as leaders, educators, healers, parents, and members of communities? Is legacy defined primarily by achievement and influence, or by the developmental conditions we create for others? Dr. Cook-Greuter will invite participants to consider legacy as the transmission of greater awareness, freedom, responsibility, and possibility to future generations. Positioned within the broader conference journey, this conversation will illuminate the developmental thread connecting consciousness, resilience, leadership, community, and human flourishing—and ask how individuals and societies can develop the inner capacity required to meet the outer complexity of our time. Session : Fear, Resilience, and Flourishing in an Uncertain World Dr. Mary Poffenroth Our human fear response was never built for today’s volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous world. Fear, once a rare and life-saving signal, now hums in the background of ordinary life, shaping how we think, relate, and care. For those advancing mental health, it is both what we meet in the people we serve and what we carry in our own bodies. Biopsychologist and fear and courage researcher Dr. Mary Poffenroth reframes fear not as a weakness or pathology to erase, but as biology: an ancient, embodied system that, under chronic modern pressure, can quietly hijack our clearest thinking and capacity to connect. This keynote explores what fear does in the body and brain, why insight and willpower alone rarely hold in difficult moments, and how we can use the body to return to steadiness. Resilience, she shows, is not a fixed trait but a buildable skill—and flourishing becomes possible when fear no longer runs the show. Grounded in science and offered with warmth and humor, the session brings together biology, psychology, and whole-person wellbeing, giving participants a humane framework and simple embodied practices they can use themselves and adapt for the people and communities they serve. Together, we will explore how an uncertain world can become fertile ground for courage, connection, and genuine flourishing.
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Session : Dreams as Living Images: Meaning-Making and Mental Health Dr. Bonnie Buckner, Dr. Jerri Lynn Hogg, Ruby Hwang, and Dr. Dorote Lucci Dreams have occupied a central place within contemplative, spiritual, and psychological traditions for millennia. Across cultures, they have served as encounters with deeper dimensions of the psyche, offering insight, guidance, healing, and transformation. Contemporary neuroscience increasingly suggests that dreaming contributes to emotional regulation, memory consolidation, creativity, adaptive functioning, and the integration of lived experience. This interdisciplinary panel explores dreams as a contemplative practice capable of cultivating awareness, meaning-making, creativity, relationality, and human flourishing. Rather than treating dreams solely as symbolic objects to be interpreted, the panel considers how embodied engagement with dream imagery can become a transforma- tive dialogue—deepening self-awareness, strengthening psychological flexibility, and bringing unconscious material into waking life. Drawing from an ongoing mixed-methods contemplative dream study, the symposium bridges contemplative science, neurophenomenology, dream research, transpersonal and Buddhist psychology, Kabbalistic and Talmudic perspectives, embodied cognition, narrative inquiry, and relational dreamwork. The research combines first-person phenomenological reporting, contemplative observation, embodied reflection, image-based elicitation, and qualitative thematic analysis, incorporating the Four Levels Dream Framework and an embodied image-dialogue methodology. Preliminary findings suggest that embodied dream inquiry may support greater meaning-making, creative problem-solving, psychological flexibility, and connection between dream experiences and everyday life. Participants frequently described the process as transformative and eye-opening, while also reporting a shift from purely mystical interpretations toward more personally meaningful, embodied, and actionable understandings. At the same time, some participants experienced temporary increases in worry, fatigue, or reduced sense of purpose, suggesting that bringing unconscious material into awareness may precede deeper psychological integration. Aligned with the conference theme, this panel asks a timely question: How might dreams—our most intimate contemplative experiences—help restore imagination, relational wisdom, and human meaning in an increasingly algorithmic world? By bringing together science, contemplative traditions, psychology, and lived experi- ence, the panel invites participants to reconsider dreams not as isolated nighttime phenomena, but as living experiences that can illuminate pathways toward resilience, creativity, self-understanding, and human flourishing.
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Session : Female Socialization Scale Dr. Dawn Celeste McGregor
This session explores how recognizing civilized oppression can become a pathway toward greater agency, authenticity, and belonging. It examines the subtle ways people may suppress their voices and adapt to dominant expectations in order to belong, and how bringing these patterns into awareness can support reclaiming personal agency and authenticity. From a transpersonal perspective, the session considers how this awareness can help create more inclusive, authentic, and holistic communities where people can belong without diminishing themselves.
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Session : Special Plenary: Embodiment Across the Lifespan Hugo Bordalo Machado, Ilja van de Griend, Dr. Regina Hess, AlmaSoma team, and Dr. Pier Luigi Lattuada The earliest foundations of human development are formed through relationship, embodiment, and care. Among these, the experience of motherhood plays a profound role in shaping attachment, resilience, mental health, and the conditions through which human beings learn to flourish. This session brings together pioneering perspectives on motherhood as a vital dimension of human development and global mental health. It also marks the launch of the Motherhood Research Prize, introduced by President Carol Humphreys to encourage innovative scholarship exploring motherhood across psychology, neurosci- ence, healthcare, education, public policy, leadership, and related fields. The prize recognizes that motherhood is not only a personal or clinical experience, but a critical area of inquiry into embodied development, intergenerational health, community wellbeing, and the future of humanity. By supporting interdisciplinary research, it seeks to elevate motherhood as an essential dimension of understanding human flourishing. The session will open a broader question: if the earliest foundations of mental health are shaped through the embodied relationship between mother and child, what responsibil- ities do families, organizations, technologies, and societies have in creating environ- ments where human beings can continue to flourish throughout life? The conversation will conclude with a call for a Global Research Agenda on Motherhood and Human Flourishing, inviting speakers to identify emerging research priorities across prenatal development, maternal stress and co-regulation, workplace and organizational support, culture and technology, AI, and policies that promote maternal, infant, and community wellbeing. Positioned within the conference theme, Embodiment, Integration, and Whole Person’s Mental Health in the VUCA Era, the session expands the conversation from the earliest moments of life to the systems and environments that shape human flourishing across generations.
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Lunch Break
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Session : From Toilets to Thriving: Infrastructure, Dignity, and Mental Health Jolie Gutentag, Shawn Shafner It’s time to reimagine how we manage human waste. According to the World Health Organization, 33.4 billion people lacking safely managed sanitation services, leaving them vulnerable to disease, poverty, social exclusion, and mental distress. At the same time, centralized “flush and forget” systems face growing challenges from aging infrastructure, resource scarcity, climate vulnerability, and environmental degradation. A growing field of researchers, policymakers, NGOs, and private enterprises is exploring alternative approaches to sanitation that minimize resource use, expand accessibility, increase climate resilience, and transform human waste from a discarded burden into a valuable resource. These innovations have the potential to advance multiple United Nations Sustainable Development Goals while contributing to human health, dignity, and wellbeing. Yet alternative sanitation remains a nascent field, with limited public awareness and little consensus around how these systems should evolve. Transforming the way we manage human waste requires more than technological innovation—it calls for new infrastruc- ture, policy, investment, cultural openness, and public engagement. This presentation brings the conversation into the transpersonal community, exploring how reimagining sanitation can expand our understanding of health, embodiment, sustainability, and collective wellbeing, and inviting participants to consider how we might advance a more resilient and regenerative relationship with one of the most fundamental aspects of human life. Session : Introduction of online gallery, and a conversa- tion with Haiping Guo Haiping Guo, Dr. Dorote Lucci, Dr. Caifang Zhu This presentation explores Outsider Art as an expression of natural human creativity and wisdom, examining differences between Eastern and Western perspectives on language, art, and consciousness. It considers how Outsider Art may reveal forms of wisdom inherent in human nature and explores its significance in contemporary society. Through these perspectives, the session invites us to reconsider the connections between creativity, mental health, consciousness, and human nature in an increasingly complex modern world.
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Research Presentation: Paradise Lost: Meaning-Making, Embodied Transcendence, and Stewardship Amid Ecological Grief Stephanie Witechowsky, Cassandra Gaddis The primary research question guiding this study was: In what way is ecological grief related to embodied transcendence and ecological stewardship? Secondary question: In what way does embodied transcendence facilitate meaning-making around ecological grief? For Study 1, measures of solastalgia, ecological grief, embodied transcendence, and pro-environmental behavior were administered to a wide demographic sample (N = 445). Bivariate correlational analysis showed strong positive correlations among the total scores of the four surveys. A series of one-way Welch ANOVAs revealed that those identifying as having a spiritual practice and a strong fear of death showed significantly higher scores on all measures. A regression model supported the same findings. Study 2 was an informed grounded theory study, conducting interviews with those identifying as experiencing a significant level of ecological grief (N = 47). Results derived from coding, memos, and thematic analysis showed the intensity of local events in triggering feelings of ecological grief and anxiety. A variety of coping mechanisms were employed, with some of those progressing toward high levels of embodied transcendence and pro-environmental behaviors. Three dominant themes emerged from the interviews: activating response, coping engagement, and grief resilience. A theoretical model of ecological grief is presented. Session : Embodied Leadership and Human Flourishing Dr. Kerri Husman As organizations, communities, and societies navigate increasing complexity, leaders are being called to move beyond traditional models of performance and management toward more integrated approaches that support both human wellbeing and organizational effectiveness. In this presentation, Dr. Kerri Husman brings a unique perspective that bridges psychiatry, functional medicine, integrative mental health, coaching, trauma-informed care, and whole-person development. Board-certified in Psychiatry, Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, and Functional Medicine, Dr. Husman has spent more than two decades working at the intersection of mental health, resilience, healing, and human transformation. Her work integrates evidence-based psychiatric practice with emerging approaches in functional medicine, energy psychology, neuroplasticity, breathwork, coaching, and conscious- ness-informed healing. Drawing on her extensive clinical, educational, and leadership experience, Dr. Husman will explore how leaders can cultivate resilience, coherence, and flourishing within themselves and the systems they serve. Participants will examine how emotional regulation, nervous system awareness, meaning-making, and psychological safety contribute to sustainable leadership in a rapidly changing world. This session aligns with the conference’s broader theme of embodiment by highlighting the importance of integrating mind, body, relationships, purpose, and community into leadership practice. Rather than viewing wellbeing and performance as competing priorities, Dr. Husman presents a model of leadership that recognizes human flourishing as a foundational condition for innovation, adaptability, and long-term success.
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Book Presentation: "Death: Let's Talk About It" Dr. Marilyn Schlitz
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Inspired by a book by the same title, this talk explores how facing mortality can deepen our appreciation for life. Drawing on research, personal stories, and wisdom traditions, we'll consider how changing our relationship with death helps us live with greater meaning, connection, and presence.
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Session : Mental Health, AI, Cybersecurity, and Human Trust Farrah N. Khan As artificial intelligence becomes deeply integrated into our personal, professional, and societal lives, mental health is increasingly shaped by the ways individuals interact with digital technologies. Beyond concerns of privacy and security, today’s leaders, clinicians, educators, and organizations must navigate the psychological implications of living in an always-connected world where trust, identity, resilience, and wellbeing are continually challenged. This session explores the intersection of mental health, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and human trust, examining how digital environments influence psychological wellbeing and how human-centered approaches can foster healthier relationships with technology. Participants will consider the emerging field of cyber psychology, the effects of digital ecosystems on stress, decision-making, and social connection, and the importance of designing technologies that strengthen rather than erode human flourishing. The discussion will address digital wellbeing, psychological resilience in the face of cyber threats and information overload, the development of trust in AI-enabled systems, and the ethical responsibilities of organizations creating and deploying intelligent technologies. Through a whole-person, whole-systems perspective, the session highlights how cybersecurity extends beyond technical infrastructure to include cognitive, emotional, and social dimensions of human experience. As AI continues to transform workplaces, healthcare, education, and global communica- tion, building resilient individuals and trustworthy technological ecosystems becomes essential for the future of mental health. Participants will leave with practical insights into creating secure, ethical, and psychologically supportive digital environments that place human wellbeing at the center of technological innovation.
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Session : Community Healing, Recovery, and Belonging Rima Nashashibi, Kamola Mir, Aloha Ley, Dr. Dawn Celeste McGregor Sustainable mental health requires more than access to treatment. It depends on the environments in which people live, work, relate, and belong—environments that foster safety, dignity, agency, connection, and meaningful participation. This interdisciplinary panel brings together perspectives from maternal and women’s health, psychology, gender-based violence prevention, organizational leadership, and community advocacy to explore the interconnected conditions that support healing, recovery, and human flourishing. The panel examines how women’s health, safety, agency, and belonging shape the wellbeing of families and communities, while considering how organizations and social systems can create stronger networks of trust and support. Moving beyond individual approaches to mental health, the discussion offers a whole-systems perspective on community flourishing, asking how we can create conditions in which women and communities can heal, thrive, and participate fully in their own lives.
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Conference Speakers
*The speaker list in the conference book is organized alphabetically by last name for ease of reference.
Hugo Bordalo Machado
Hugo Bordalo Machado holds a degree in Psychology from Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa and is a Master’s candidate in Clinical and Counseling Psychology. He is a Transpersonal Psychotherapist certified by AlmaSoma in accordance with FEPPSI and EUROTAS standards, and serves on FEPPSI’s Scientific and Organizing Committees. He also served as Executive Manager and Organizing Committee Coordinator for the 8th EUROTAS International Symposium in Portugal (2026). His integrative practice combines Psychology, Transpersonal Psychotherapy, Hypnotherapy, and Regression Therapy, supporting young people and adults through emotional, psychological, and existential challenges. His work integrates psychological, relational, embodied, symbolic, and spiritual dimensions of human experience. He is also a certified trainer in Transpersonal Hypnotherapy and Regression Therapy, based in Lisbon and working internationally both in person and online.
Bonnie Buckner, PhD
Bonnie Buckner, Ph.D., is the Founder and CEO of the International Institute for Dreaming and Imagery, and author of The Secret Mind: Unlock the Power of Dreams to Transform Your Life.
Buckner’s work is based on a method of using dreams and the spontaneous imagination for inner exploration, problem-solving, and enhancing creativity. She uses it as a tool in leadership and creativity coaching, bringing it to such diverse fields as leadership, government, the performing and creative arts, and academia. In addition, Buckner continues to serve as an Executive Coach and Senior Fellow at George Washington University’s Center for Excellence in Public Leadership, and Co-Faculty Director of their eCo Leadership Coaching certification program, bringing the dreaming work to coach development. Buckner earned her Ph.D. in psychology, with an emphasis in media, at Fielding Graduate University, where she served over 10 years as adjunct lecturer, teaching “The Power of Image: Persuasion, Place, and Identity,” “Cognitive Display of Information,” and “Media & Political Psychology.” Dr. Susanne Cook-Greuter is an internationally recognized developmental psychologist, educator, and leadership consultant best known for her pioneering work in adult development, leadership maturity, and meaning-making. She earned her Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Human Development and Psychology from Harvard University, where her dissertation, Postautonomous Ego Development, significantly advanced Jane Loevinger's Ego Development Theory. Over the past four decades, she has contributed to the development and application of the Leadership Maturity Framework and has analyzed more than 11,000 maturity assessments through the Maturity Assessment Profile (MAP). Her research explores adult development, consciousness, character, values, wisdom, and human flourishing, with a growing focus on sustainability and Indigenous perspectives. Dr. Cook-Greuter has advised organizations across business, healthcare, education, and government, and continues to write, teach, coach, and speak internationally on vertical development and transformative leadership. Susanne Cook-Greuter, EdD
Cassandra Gaddis
Cassandra “Caz” Gaddis is a PhD candidate in Transpersonal Psychology at Sofia University, where she researches how neurodivergent leaders cultivate purposeful impact through entrepreneurship and inner transformation. She is also pursuing certificates in Ecopsychology and Dream Studies and serves as an adjunct professor in Sofia University’s MBA program. She holds an M.A. in Mass Communications from the University of Florida. With over 15 years of experience in marketing, adult learning, transformational coaching, and consulting, Caz is an ICF-certified Professional Coach (PCC) and Advanced Certified Coach Graduate (ACCG). Her integrative practice combines psychology, energetics, and strategic insight to support neurodivergent leaders, creatives, and entrepreneurs in building sustainable, soul-aligned success through strengths-based self-leadership and authentic expression.
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Conference Speakers
Haiping Guo
Haiping GUO (b. 1962, Nanjing, China) is a contemporary artist and a leading figure in the development of “Outsider Art in China”. He is the founder of the Nanjing Outsider Art Center, a pioneering platform integrating artistic practice with mental health support and community-based rehabilitation. GUO’s work sits at the intersection of psychology, art, and social practice. For nearly two decades, he has explored creative expression as a channel for emotional processing, identity reconstruction, and social connection among individuals with mental health conditions. His practice draws on concepts including non-verbal expression, trauma-in- formed care, and strengths-based approaches to mental health. Central to his work is the concept of Outsider Art—art created by individuals without formal artistic training, including those with psychiatric or developmental conditions. GUO views these works not as clinical artifacts, but as authentic expressions of inner experience, emphasizing creativity, agency, and meaning-making beyond diagnosis. His methodology was shaped by his experience in 2006, when he spent extended periods living and creating alongside psychiatric patients in institutional settings. This experience led to a practice grounded in presence, co-creation, and the suspension of hierarchical roles between “therapist” and “patient,” offering a practice-based approach that resonates with expressive therapies and community psychology.
Jolie Gutentag, DBA
Dr. Gutentag is a former C suite executive and seasoned international business executive from various companies including Procter & Gamble in Europe. Her business career spanned over 25 years of experience in the areas of general management, product development, marketing, and consulting. She received her BA in Economics and International Relations at Tufts University and an MBA from Thunderbird School of Global Management. After completing a Doctor of Business Administration from Pepperdine Graziadio Business School in 2021, she became a Visiting Assistant Professor at Seaver College. She is currently a Professor at Sofia University in their DBA program. Dr. Gutentag’s research focuses on the circular economy including communication strategies to foster sustainable consumption. Her work has been recognized at top academic conferences and was published in the International Journal of Advertising in 2025. She is part of a team that received two National Science Foundation grants to identify strategies to change the public’s acceptance of circular sanitation, enabling the recovery and reuse of valuable resources from human waste. She advises companies and organizations active in circular sanitation in the US and Europe and is a board member at Phlush, a non-profit organization helping municipalities and citizens address the shortage of public restrooms and prepare for natural disasters that disrupt sanitation systems.
Regina U. Hess, PhD
Dr. Regina U. Hess holds a Ph.D. in Transpersonal Psychology and is a transpersonal psychotherapist, shamanic practitioner, clinical psychologist from Germany, and Professor at Alef Trust in the UK. For more than two decades, she has contributed to the international transpersonal field through leadership in organizations including EUROTAS, the International Transpersonal Association, and the European Transpersonal Psychology Association, where she has served in research and leadership roles. She is also a co-founder of the Transpersonal Research Network and the World Transpersonal Multidisciplinary Federation. Regina is the Founder and Director of Birthing an Ancient Future – Multidisciplinary Council of Peace-Builders, creating global learning spaces where Indigenous knowledge, body-centered transformation, alchemical ceremony, and psychedelic science converge. Guided by Indigenous principles of Respect, Reciprocity, and Responsibility, her work advances transpersonal education, planetary healing, and transcultural peace. An international speaker and author, she is committed to the evolution of sacred planetary consciousness and the wellbeing of all relations.
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Conference Speakers
Jerri Lynn Hogg, PhD
Dr. Jerri Lynn Hogg is a media psychologist, researcher, global speaker on artificial intelligence, award-winning educator, and published author. As the 2015 President of the American Psychological Association’s Society for Media Psychology and Technology, the past director of the Media Psychology program at Fielding Graduate University, co-creator of certificates in Brand Psychology, Audience Engagement, and Positive Media, and Sofia University’s Faculty and Innovation and Technology Lead, she works with organizations, leaders, educators, and parents to understand how media and technology influence their lives and how to develop best use strategies. She integrates her passion for artificial intelligence, technology, telehealth, and digital environments with research to advance the positive use of media and technologies. Jerri Lynn is a coveted industry speaker and, with over 100 scholarly presentations on media psychology, co-author of the Top Read Psychology Article for 2022, is a pioneer in Media Psychology. She recently spoke at the United Nations as part of a research team working on developing resilience in young children and their families and how to use media technology to support them. Jerri Lynn is a Women in Technology International Artificial Intelligence Think Tank member and chairs the American Psychological Association’s Artificial Intelligence Task Force. She regularly speaks to audiences on research-based strategies for using AI for good. Dr. Kerri Husman is an integrative psychiatrist licensed in Iowa and Colorado, specializing in trauma recovery, energy psychology, clinical hypnosis, functional psychiatry, neuroplastic pain, and psychedelic-assisted approaches. Through her practice, Vitality Psychiatry, P.C., she provides patient-centered, trauma-informed care both in person and virtually. Her holistic, individualized approach integrates evidence-based modalities—including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), exposure therapy, hypnosis, pain reprocessing, and mind-body interventions—to support healing from trauma, treatment-resistant conditions, chronic pain, and spiritual emergencies. Dr. Husman is dedicated to creating a safe, compassionate space that empowers individuals to achieve lasting mental wellness, resilience, and personal growth. Kerri Husman, MD
Ruby Hwang
Ruby Hwang is a queer Korean American therapist dedicated to supporting individual and collective healing through identity-affirming, culturally responsive, and body-centered care. Drawing from their personal experience as a Korean immigrant and years of inner healing, their work integrates nervous system regulation, somatic practices, ancestral wisdom, and healing justice. With a particular commitment to diasporic, multicultural, and migrant communities, Ruby helps clients reconnect with the wisdom of the body, cultivate resilience, and foster meaningful transformation. Guided by the belief that personal healing creates ripples of change within families and communities, they create compassionate spaces where people can rediscover their inherent worth, reconnect with themselves, and move toward greater wholeness.
Farrah N. Khan
Farrah N. Khan served as the 23rd Mayor of Irvine, making history as the first woman of color and the first Muslim woman to lead a large U.S. city. First elected to the Irvine City Council in 2018, she served two terms as Mayor from 2020 to 2024. During her tenure, she focused on innovation and technology, public health and mental wellbeing, climate action, economic development, housing, and community resilience, while advancing initiatives supporting Irvine’s diverse communities. Before entering public service, Mayor Khan worked in the biotechnology and innovation industry as a regulatory affairs manager, focusing on complex products and international research. She has served on numerous civic and regional boards and represented Irvine through organizations including the California Big City Mayors coalition, League of California Cities, and U.S. Conference of Mayors.
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Conference Speakers
Pier Luigi Lattuada, PhD
Dr. Pier Luigi Lattuada is the founder of Biotransenergetics, an integral transpersonal psychotherapeutic approach, and CEO of the Integral Transpersonal Institute of Milan. He is also Director of the Transpersonal Psychotherapy School in Milan, officially recognized by the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research since 2002.
He serves as President of EUROTAS (Global Transpersonal Network).
Aloha Ley
Aloha Ley the founder and CEO of eNoLux and creator of the Syntara Path Architecture and DACAS, a human centered system that guides individuals, organizations, and cities toward coherence, performance, resilience, and purpose. She is a nationally recognized leader in transportation safety, organizational culture, and human flourishing with decades of experience in public service and executive leadership. She served six U.S. Department of Transportation Secrtaries in senior leadership roles, including Chief of Staff, Senior Advisor, and Director of Transit Safety at the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Aloha played a pivotal role in developing and implement- ing the Safety Management System (SMS) rule for aviation and public transit. Today, she partners with organizations to strengthen trust, psychological safety, leadership, and decision-making through culture transformation, AI-enabled solutions, and datainformed strategies. Her work integrates embodiment, nervous system regulation, and human flourishing into leadership, safety, and organizational transformation, bridging federal policy, human behavior, and integrative mental health.
Dorote Lucci, PhD
Dr. Dawn Celeste McGregor is an educator, mystic, advocate for human rights and dignity, and author. She holds both a Master's and a PhD in Transpersonal Psychology from Sofia University and teaches in their MBA, MBAN, and MBAC programs. Her academic publications examine themes such as the lived experience of awe, the connection between grief and gratitude, and the development of sexual agency in middle-aged women. She is currently investigating the impacts of female social conditioning on personal agency, including an article in peer review and the development of the Female Socialized Agency Scale (FSAS). In addition to her academic work, Dr. McGregor has authored articles on LGBTQ+ and women's issues, conducted numerous workshops, and published a novel, The Alchemy of Wings, in both English and Spanish. With her background as a professional psychic and transformation leader committed to social justice, she is dedicated to incorporating holistic and embodied perspectives of authenticity into the mystical aspects of transpersonal psychology. Dawn Celeste McGregor, PhD At Sofia University, Dr. Weyers Lucci teaches and develops curricula across BA to PhD programs in global business, transpersonal psychology, health psychology, ecopsychology, innovation, and AI ethics. She has held visiting professor- ships in Europe and Asia and led global research initiatives at the intersection of technology, leadership, and human transformation. She is also an architect of Sofia University’s Global Whole Person Health AI Project, which integrates research, community engagement, and entrepreneurial innovation to address global challenges. Her work is grounded in a whole-person, whole-systems approach to leadership, with a focus on ethical innovation, systemic wellbeing, ecological integration, and human flourishing. Dr. Dorote Weyers Lucci is an international business strategist, whole-systems psychologist, and innovation-focused educator. She serves as Academic Chair of the Global Conference on Advancing Mental Health and Chair of the DBA and Leadership Program at Sofia University, where she is also Core Faculty. She holds a PhD in Psychology specializing in transpersonal psychology and neuroscience, as well as an MBA/MIM from the Thunderbird School of Global Manage- ment. Her early corporate career at BMW focused on global project management, sponsorship strategy, international marketing, cross-cultural communication, and innovation. Her work bridges leadership development, mental health, immersive technology, artificial intelligence, and whole-person systems thinking. As a scholar-practitioner, she has developed immersive VR tools addressing anxiety, grief, and death awareness, recognized by Oculus Launchpad, the Bial Foundation, and the Mind & Life Institute. Her research explores how emerging technologies can support psychological resilience, emotional intelligence, adaptive leadership, and organizational transformation.
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