Back To School | Innovative Programs

PERSONALIZED LEARNING; NO 'COOKIE-CUTTER' CLASSES

By Bart Brodsky & Janet Geis

Most OPEN EXCHANGE classes emphasize personal development, but several also have a practical component. While many programs make you healthy and wise, some of them could make you wealthy, too.

Bloomberg News reports that 86 percent of college graduates said that school had been a good investment for them personally. College graduates said they earned an average $20,000 a year more because of their degrees, and this is confirmed by U.S. Census Bureau data.

And yet, traditional schools don't always deliver on their promises. "Higher education fails to provide students 'good value' for the money," said more than half of U.S. adults in a recent Pew Research Center survey.

So, what is a "good value"? Recruiters should be honest, but students need to have realistic expectations and ask the right questions, too. Here are our guidelines: Find a school that acknowledges your individuality and personal learning style. Look for exciting classes, the kind you'll enjoy attending. Many of the best teachers are working professionals with real world experience. Seek out instructors who love to teach and really care about students, too. A great school also nurtures a community of like-minded learners.

We think the following OPEN EXCHANGE programs ace these requirements. We have worked with their directors for many years and know that them to be sincere and dedicated. Here you'll find personalized learning, no "cookie-cutter" education. Unless, of course, you literally want to learn dessert making at Bauman College of Holistic Nutrition and Culinary Arts. (Find this longtime OPEN EXCHANGE lister under Schools.)

Watch for next issue's follow-up feature, "Back-2-School-2."

See you in class!

Aftab Omer,
Meridian University
(See Schools & Certifications.)

Meridian University offers advanced degrees in psychology, education, and the arts, as well as symposiums for the general public. Aftab Omer, PhD, is President of Meridian and also a core faculty member. Despite his administrative responsibilities, Omer says that teaching remains the most interesting part of his work, reflecting Meridian's philosophy of putting students first.

Omer's research has focused on the "emergence of human capacities within transformative learning," as opposed to "informational learning." Omer explains: "Any program has to include informational knowledge, but our emphasis is how that informational knowledge is integrated personally, and integrated in the working world. Transformative learning makes a person a much better learner. It's not field specific."

Meridian supports transformative learning for working and mid-career students with convenient weekend scheduling, and supplemental online work. Building community remains a top priority. "Students go through [our program] with the same people." Classes also minimize the rote lecture format. Omer explains, "Class time is used to engage students personally in complex issues, the real challenges or goals of the profession. In that sense, it's much more project-based, much more alive and engaged."

Meridian graduates work both in a clinical context as well as in educational and community settings. One graduate found work in communications for a California legislator. Another became a diversity consultant. A third was hired as the community director of a clinic. "Being aware and sensitive of cultural differences is important," notes Omer. "But we live in times where culture itself is transforming. So it's not just being aware of cultural difference. But the rules of culture are changing."

Meridian seeks to provide inner-directed higher education with real world benefits. Omer explains, "We are truly entering a 'shakedown phase' in terms of what employers are looking for. More and more, employers are clear that they cannot just hire on the basis of the right credentials. The employer needs to establish that there is substantial competency. Ours is a competency-driven curriculum, as distinct from a credential driven or an information-driven curriculum. Applied knowledge, after school, is what matters."

Omer warns about the societal costs of generic education. "Like a housing bubble, there is an education bubble, brought about by very large for-profit educations and other institutions which are completely online, where students often don't finish, there aren't jobs for graduates, and students acquire unsustainable debt. The jig is up, but the cost of the bubble will be passed on. We are suffering the impact of sub-prime education."

What questions should a student  ask when considering Meridian, or any other school? Practically role-playing the part of the student, Omer asks, "What will I be capable of when I graduate? Who will I be able to serve? What kinds of experiences do I need or should I expect to develop the competencies? Who will be my teachers and who will be my peers?" Omer encourages critical assessment. "People do a lot of self-selection, to the good of the students and the program."

Susan McCollom,
Voice Media
(See Schools & Certifications.)

Are you pursuing a career in acting or public speaking? Have you considered commercials or audio books? Your voice could be your ticket to success, says Susan McCollom. She and other top voiceover industry professionals offer a series of classes at Voice Media.

"This isn't a textbook class," explains Susan. "It's more akin to acting. Students expecting job placement are barking up the wrong tree. It's freelance—we teach THEM how to bark!"

For some students voiceover really is a serious career venture, but for many it's an adventure. "I have many people looking for a new line of work, but they're looking for something fun and enjoyable, not being tied to their desk. So they're exploring!"

To find out if voiceover is right for you takes just a three-hour commitment to an introductory class. Some people can be ready to work in as few as six weeks, while others may attend classes for a year or more. Enrollment is somewhat open-ended since Voice Media isn't a certification program. But that doesn't make it impractical. "Because I've been in the business for over 30 years and am aware of the trends in voiceover, I can put people on the right track for what fits their voice. People need to become their own marketing professional, and we go into that, too."

We asked Susan what students liked best about her program, and she was quick to reply. "My classes are small enough that I'm accessible. It's more intimate. The one thing that makes me different is that unlike some of the expensive weekend programs you might see advertised elsewhere, I'm going to be available to graduates for ongoing support and guidance."

Susan is very proud of one high-profile graduate in particular. "Two years before he became famous, he was taking voiceover narration classes to prepare for narrating safety videos for aviation. His name is Sully Sullenberger."

Yes, Captain Sullenberger who rose to fame when he successfully ditched a commercial airliner in the Hudson River, saving the lives of all 155 passengers and crew. "Nice man, unassuming and nerves of steel!"

As Susan is fond of saying, "Tough times never last; tough people do."

Holly Holmes-Meredith,
HCH Hypnotherapy Training
(See Schools & Certifications.)

HCH Hypnotherapy Training is one of the oldest and most progressive programs for hypnotherapy and psycho-spiritual training in California. Program director Holly Holmes-Meredith, DMin, MFT, emphasizes how students can integrate intuitive awareness into their professional work.

Holly's approach "is very process oriented, very much about experiencing clients in the practicum, taking time in class to process what it is to be in a therapeutic relationship. We model how to work with clients by working with the students in class." About a third of class time is spent talking about experiences, context, and relationships, playing to Holly's particular strengths as a transpersonal psychotherapist.

Holly's approach emphasizes transformational learning, where the student learns "from the inside out, not outside in. It's more organic, more empowering, honoring their accumulated wisdom and experience." Classes include video feedback and are hands-on, rather than academic. Holly jokes, "You can't just snooze in class. If you sleep in class you're going to get the information despite yourself." Hypnotic learning!

HCH students are people wanting to shift careers, or to have more independence in their careers. There's an MD commuting from Stockton, a commuter from Hawaii, and everything in-between. Most people are self-employed and in mid-career, but HCH offers mentoring and an internship program with on-site supervised training. Holly says that the internship program is a major confidence builder. "In six months students have the equivalence of two years on their own, 100 hours of supervised practicum. I launch them into their own practice by allowing them to take their own clients with them. HCH also has 'externship' for people who already have a practice."

The transpersonal model of psychology recognizes the divinity in each of us. And the client-centered approach "activates the inner healer." Unlike traditional psychological models, Holly's approach gives power back to the client. "I can't think of anything more rewarding in these times! It's an absolute honor and delight to support people on this basis."

Carl Johns,
McKinnon Body Therapy Center
(See listing in Schools & Certifications.)

Carl Johns is a graduate of McKinnon Body Therapy Center, originally founded by pioneering therapist Judith McKinnon, and he now serves as co-director. Several years ago Johns made the transition from financial district work to a successful career as a massage therapist and teacher. He is very passionate about working with the chronically ill and disabled, sharing the benefits that touch can provide.

As Johns explains, students who come to McKinnon often express a passion for healing. "Massage therapy is such a uniquely human thing to do. People have thought about it for a long time 'ten years and I'm finally here.' As a learning process, it's about being here, working on each other. So the classroom environment is completely different from most other classes. People look forward to it. It's a joyful thing to do as a profession. 'My job is to make people feel better and I get paid for it.'"

Being a small school also has its advantages, explains Johns. "There are corporate career schools that teach massage. Some of the bigger, cookie-cutter schools are known for making promises they can't keep, for students having trouble repaying loans. At McKinnon it's not just students taking out a loan and going to class. We're passionate about what we do! From a professional perspective, we're all about the qualities that make massage really great. It's not just about doing a proficient massage but connecting with people. Ultimately, the connection between client and therapist tends to produce better results for everybody."

Johns is up-front about reminding students that becoming a massage therapist puts you on a unique career path. "When you go into doing massage, it's not the same kind of 9 to 5 profession. In private practice there's a leap to be taken in terms of stability or comfort around having a regular paycheck or healthcare plan. You really have to take a kind of jump, figure out how to survive, learn to be self-employed. So we really try to help people understand how to make that switch. We run advanced business classes and offer counseling that deals with that issue."

But people like to think in terms of permanent, full-time jobs, don't they? Johns points out ultimately people make their own job security. "I once did admin work in the financial district. Everyone became expendable. I remember hearing an interview with an SF State professor, he said, 'be careful about putting all your eggs in one basket. Because if you lose it, you're sunk.'" Instead, Johns recommends having a number of different income sources, including private clients, clinic work, hospitals, and vacation spas, "four or five different streams of income."

McKinnon teachers practice what they preach. As Johns explains, "Our teachers are part-time, have diverse full-time practices. In fact, one of our requirements for hiring teachers is that you have your own practice."

The U.S. Department of Labor recently put out statistics for 2008 – 2018, predicting 19% growth in bodywork. From its humble beginnings as an "alternative" therapy, bodywork has finally gone mainstream, with lots of space to carve out your own professional niche. Johns adds, "We do our part in turning out a couple hundred great new people a year. Our teachers will mentor people, help them get out there. That kind of relationship is rarer in most schools than it should be."

Rebecca Maxfield,
California School of Herbal Studies
(See the listing in Schools & Certifications.)

Rebecca Maxfield, herbalist, BA, has lived and worked at California School of Herbal Studies (CSHS) for over 16 years and is now co-director. As a former student herself, she knows firsthand that CSHS is a wonderful place to learn and enjoys meeting and working with new students every year.

CSHS is a special place to be, according to Rebecca. "It's an incredible location on 80 acres, and a garden with over 400 species of plants. It's quiet and peaceful here and people can connect with nature."

How has the economy affected the kinds of students showing up?

CSHS attracts its share of career herbalists, but people come for more personal reasons, too. As Maxfield explains, "The healthcare crisis is pushing people toward us. There are so many people without healthcare or health insurance who want to learn about ways to help take care of themselves. If they can take care of their child's earache by taking a couple classes here, they come. People get very excited about realizing they can have some control over some of their health issues." Many people in mid-career attend convenient weekend classes, too.

Unlike massage, there is no such thing as a license for herbalists in the United States, as there is in Europe or Australia. On the other hand, Maxfield muses, "There are people who believe that this is a blessing." CSHS does offer a prestigious certificate of completion, however, and this carries weight in the herbal community.

Graduates use their CSHS certification in "every conceivable way possible," explains Maxfield. "We get doctors, nurses who want to incorporate this information into their careers. The retail market of herbals and whole foods supplements is growing by leaps and bounds. Then there are people who want do growing, educating. We have students in all of those categories."

Carl Buchheit,
NLP Marin
(See the listing Schools & Certifications.)

Since its origination by two academics in the 1970s, Neuro-linguistic Programming (NLP) has become a widely recognized approach to personal development and organizational change. Psychotherapists and hypnotherapists add NLP as an adjunct to other formal training, citing its effectiveness in producing rapid recovery from phobias, addictions, depression, and more. Professional managers and life coaches embrace NLP as a communication tool and for its "modeling" of excellence.

Where NLP has occasionally been diluted by overly aggressive marketing, Carl Buchheit and NLP Marin staff have worked diligently to renew the brand's credibility. Buchheit explains that NLP Marin-style is a serious communication discipline. "We don't want to make it too simple and call it 'coaching.' It's not 'lets do this' or 'here's some new quantum stuff.' Our NLP is based, our foundation is based on the original NLP, paying attention to how people are and how they learn and communicate."

Attending a free introductory NLP Marin seminar gives you a sample of the potential. Carl explains, "With the basic stuff you can pay attention while you're chatting with someone, use some of this very basic 'tool box' to notice what they're doing internally."

Who is attracted to NLP? "About one-third of our students come in for business skills and improvement, one-third for coaching and therapeutic improvement, and one-third just curious."

Interestingly enough, everyone uses it for personal growth. Carl notes, "It's an incredibly strong and personal experience, combining skills training with very strong personal, direct and respectful, and non-preachy personal change. The experience moves people in the direction they want to go. Everyone winds up having a personal growth experience. Universally people are quite stunned at what they get! We're still trying to find a way to explain the process succinctly." Meanwhile, Carl recommends that you come in to experience it directly.

We asked Carl how a student would decide between NLP Marin versus a more conventional training. "In the NLP communication toolbox there are two directives: change and communication. What we do with our training is not just showing parlor tricks from the front of the room. It involves practice, practice, practice, so [the techniques] seep way, way down, and you don't actually have to think about it. With the assistance of our staff and the other students in the class, you develop confidence and gain respect.

"Very easily, you become attractive to other people, operating with integrity and respect for self and others. You don't have to bring everything conscious."

Carl is an enabler in the best sense of the word. He has an easy manner that both exudes confidence and also builds confidence in others. And he credits NLP with giving him the ability to be a positive "attractor," to "activate all the best resources."

The purpose of NLP trainings, says Carl, is nothing less than "to revise our relationship with ourselves and with life itself, to prepare for the experience of enduring happiness."

John Bilorusky,
Western Institute for Social Research
(See the listing in Schools & Certifications.)

Western Institute for Social Research (WISR) is a multi-ethnic academic institution for people concerned with community service and social change. WISR offers an MA in Education and an individualized and interdisciplinary PhD in Higher Education and Social Change.

"This really is personalized education, very one-on-one," explains director John Bilorusky. "Each person really has the opportunity to do their own thing, but also to work with others. For example, seven or eight students meet once a month to work collaboratively on youth projects. When two or more students want to write a paper collaboratively, we consider it working together rather than cheating. Recently a man in Nebraska, a recognized historian for the Omaha tribe, and his friend, a European American involved with the Omaha people, did their PhD collaboratively. This was not done as an 'easy way to get a cheap degree,' but [in order to] enhance each other's knowledge and skills."

Students have almost unprecedented latitude in terms of subject inquiry at WISR. But unlike the Antioch College's "contract" model, WISR's academic advisors are more involved with students. "Structure emerges in dialog between students and faculty. Out of this dialog, the students take the lead role while the faculty asks questions, critiquing things for the student to think about. Presumably, in the course of working on your project you're going to learn more and make changes. We call our model 'improvisational learning' or 'script improvisation.' We also talk about 'collaborative learning.' It's a dominant type of interaction among scientists and other professionals."

Students like WISR because their opinions are respected and sought out. Bilorusky is very up front about WISR's mission as an agent of social change. "We don't have an ideological party line but we tend to be politically progressive, and this appeals to African American, Asian, Latino, gay and lesbian students with backgrounds not as well respected by the dominant society. WISR is a place they can go without being patronized. People are people, and all are welcome here."

Students come to WISR who want to get a degree for professional purposes, often in conjunction with working in private nonprofit community agencies. WISR is California state approved but not regionally accredited, so it won't help with civil service jobs. However, therapists in training find WISR's program extremely useful. "Even though we don't teach the MFT state licensing exam, we have one of the highest success rates with this, so you're well prepared. We also have had alumni do college teaching at community colleges. It depends on the specific hiring committee, rather than the institution."

Next issue: Read Back-2-School-2.
Contact us about featuring your school here.

Six Reasons It's Good to Become A Hypnotherapist

By Marilyn Gordon

Marilyn Gordon is a transformation expert, hypnotherapy school founder and director, board certified hypnotherapist, and author. Extraordinary Healing is a book of healing wisdom and a guidebook for healing any area of your life. Find Marilyn Gordon, longtime OPEN EXCHANGE lister, featured in Schools & Certifications.

 

Before I became a hypnotherapist, I knew I wanted to do work that could help people transform their deepest difficulties and become more free. I had a number of skills that I learned along the way, but I had no way to put them together into a viable profession and hang a shingle on my door. I prayed for it for quite a while, and finally I met a woman who told me she'd been certified, and I asked her what she did. She told me, and I said to her, "You're kidding! I do that!" That was when I knew that I could get my certificate too. What I wanted to do was to make my contribution to the world and have a grounded profession so I could do the work I loved. Once I knew how to do it, I became a Certified Hypnotherapist. So here are 6 reasons why you might want to do it, too.

Most people want to assist people to grow and move beyond the troubles of their lives. How great to have a certificate you can put in a frame and put on your wall that gives you the green light to help people with just about anything they're dealing with. It's fulfilling to know that you have tools to help people with their fears, habits, aspirations or spiritual development.

It's really exciting to have the tools to assist people to stop smoking or overeating. It's great to help people overcome their fears of public speaking or taking tests. It's wonderful to help people lift themselves out of their sadness or creative blocks and to help them reach new levels of spiritual awareness in their lives.

You go deeper than the ordinary everyday conscious mind as you move into the subconscious mind and higher into the superconscious mind. You can find out what might be going on deeply inside of people, and you can also make powerful suggestions to people when the conscious mind is finally quiet enough that the suggestions can be heard.

Some people have had labor-intensive work to do, such as massage therapy or some retail work. Hypnotherapy is primarily verbal (and energy) work, so you can get more rest for your body as you dive into the depths of the profound inner mind.

Some jobs can be alienating, if you work primarily with machines or scholarly research. But when you work with hypnosis, you work with people, and you connect with them on profound levels. This is highly nourishing to your life as well as to theirs. Many professionals in other modalities barely have time to hear their clients or patients, but you can have a listening ear, and you can also bring your own wisdom into your work with people as well.

So not only is there gratification from working deeply with people, but you also add to your bank account. And that's gratifying too. And there are also "multiple streams of income" that you can find to express your work with people through a number of media: writing, speaking, product creation, teaching, and so many more income streams.

You can become certified if it's in your mind and heart to do so. It can offer you bounteous rewards as you expand the way you make your contribution to people's lives and to the world.

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