What We Mean By Transforming Consciousness

Light Figure

Our Mission Statement is “Transforming Consciousness Through Education.” Consciousness, as understood at Southwestern College, is the capacity and willingness to cultivate the highest possible level of awareness regarding our personal, social and spiritual purpose for being here, and to live with intentionality and in accordance with that awareness. The development of higher Consciousness or awareness creates a capacity for enhanced decision-making and resourcing in our lives, which in turn supports the aim of all helping profession activity—empowerment. So to us, Consciousness is very practical as well as profound. The art of “being” with a client in the deepest way, aware of your own connectedness and aware that you are not there to “fix” or “save” anybody is an act of Consciousness. Knowing when a client’s issues are mirroring or activating something in your own life, is a matter of Consciousness.

Consciousness becomes your most powerful clinical tool, and allows you to stay present with your client’s full personhood, rather than seeing them as a representative of a diagnostic category or as somehow “less than”. You hold a space within which the other person can begin to experience themselves in their own whole-ness and divinity.

Katherine Ninos on Light Figures

Students and alumni reflect on their light figures

Watch Video of Light Figure presentations