Pacifica Graduate Institute

05/28/2026

The Power in Your Hands: An Interview with Shannon Algeo

Shannon Algeo MA, AMFT, APCC, is a psychotherapist, public speaker, meditation teacher, author of Trust Your Truth, and an alum of Pacifica’s Masters in Counseling Psychology program. Shannon’s recent book, The Power in Your Hands: Liberate Yourself From Attachment to Technology is “both an urgent wake-up call and a compassionate roadmap” about society’s attachment to technology and how to reclaim one’s life.

“I learned that if I want to become a steward of my attention, I must see—with fierce sobriety and gentle compassion—the ways in which devices seek to exploit my attentional agency and the ways in which my own daily habits are complicit in such exploitation.”

Read the full interview here: https://loom.ly/Iisr_vI

05/23/2026

Pacifica Graduate Institute Commencement 2026

05/22/2026

The faculty and administrative staff of Pacifica send their very best wishes and congratulations to our 2026 graduates.

May the heart and soul of Pacifica carry through to the next chapter of your life and into the work that you will be doing out in the world.

05/22/2026

Dr. Stephen Aizenstat is the founding President of Pacifica Graduate Institute and a seminal figure in the development of depth psychology education in the United States. A professor of depth psychology with a Ph.D. in clinical psychology, he is also a licensed marriage and family therapist and a credentialed public‑school teacher and counselor. Over more than four decades, Dr. Aizenstat has explored the transformative potential of dreams and imagination through scholarship, teaching, and global organizational consulting, shaping a body of work that bridges psychology, culture, and lived experience.

As the visionary architect of Pacifica, Dr. Aizenstat established an institution grounded in the motto animae mundi colendae gratia—for the sake of tending soul in and of the world—and lived that in his guidance of Pacifica through his retirement as President and beyond. His innovative dream tending methodologies, articulated in his books Dream Tending and The Imagination Matrix, extend traditional dreamwork to envision an animated world where living dream images are experienced as embodied, originating in both the psyche of nature and the psyche of persons. This foundational idea is the tap root of Pacifica’s mission and continues to inform its values, curriculum, and community.

As is appropriate with the Institute celebrating the milestone of our 50th year, Pacifica honors Dr. Aizenstat’s enduring legacy to the school and as a scholar, leader, and steward of depth psychological thought by welcoming him as the 2026 Commencement speaker.

Commencement info: https://loom.ly/58zk-8A

05/20/2026

Dr. Vanja Bokun Popović, co-teacher for Pacifica Extension's Advanced Graduate Certificate, Black Moon Lilith: The Astrological Portal of Refusal and Liminal Intelligence gives an overview of her introduction to Black Moon Lilith, how her understanding of refusal and autonomy has changed, and how this work can change the way therapists, coaches, or consultants engage with clients.

Learn more about the course here: https://loom.ly/dO8hahQ

Vanja Bokun Popović, PhD

05/19/2026

The Counseling Psychology Department looks forward to hosting its annual Thesis Presentation Day on Friday, May 22nd. This meaningful event provides an opportunity for graduating students of the MA Counseling Psychology program present their thesis research work to fellow classmates, loved ones, faculty, staff, and the larger Pacifica community. Through this work, students have the opportunity to showcase their research findings and experiences throughout the multi-year thesis process. This event is always an important ritual experience, and it is our honor to witness our graduates as they present their research work.

Thesis Presentation Day will take place on Pacifica’s Ladera Lane campus throughout the day, from approximately 9 am – 5 pm PT. A livestream option via Zoom will be available for guests who are unable to attend in person or prefer to join remotely.

More info: https://loom.ly/qb3wjek

Congratulations to all of the presenters!

05/18/2026

Congratulations to our 2026 graduates! The 2026 Commencement will be this Saturday, May 23rd in Santa Barbara, California.

For those who cannot attend in person, the ceremony will be livestreamed. Please visit our commencement info page for more details on lodging, logistics, and ceremony details: https://loom.ly/58zk-8A

Rooted in the traditions of depth psychology and the humanities, Pacifica’s programs challenge students to think critically, live authentically, and engage the world with heart and purpose. This year’s graduates leave prepared not only with advanced degrees, but with a mission to tend soul, in themselves, in others, and in the world.

05/12/2026

Navigating the world of financial aid can be overwhelming, but we’re here to help! Join us for an informative and interactive webinar on financial aid for Pacifica.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), signed into law on July 4th, 2025, includes legislation that transforms federal financial aid policies for higher education, which are proposed to take effect on July 1, 2026. Pacifica has been closely monitoring the details of the bill and its effects on our students, whether you are currently enrolled or a prospective new student.

We invite you to learn more at our upcoming FREE Financial Aid Webinar.
Date: Wednesday, May 27, 2026
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 PM PT
Register: https://loom.ly/cWKF4II

05/11/2026

Explore the upcoming lineup of Extension programs. These deeply transformative offerings are rooted in depth psychology, creativity, and soul-work.

Highlights include:

* Applied Mythology Certificate - Calling all myth lovers!
* Writing Down the Soul - So popular we've added a second cohort
* Black Moon Lilith - Learn about Lilith in a new way

Seek a new pathway: https://loom.ly/ROa-O5Q

05/08/2026

Dr. Laurence Hillman, co-teacher for the Advanced Graduate Certificate, Black Moon Lilith: The Astrological Portal of Refusal and Liminal Intelligence gives a brief overview of the course and answers what is most often misunderstood about Black Moon Lilith.

"It's a threshold experience in the psyche. We can use this information from astrological Black Moon Lilith as a portal idea, to actually connect with this part of us that is in deep longing to be heard and needs to be acknowledged if we are to do Jung’s idea of individuation. It’s the truest part of us that will not be reigned in."

Certificate Starts June 20
Course info: https://extension.pacifica.edu/black-moon-lilith-the-astrological-portal-of-refusal-and-liminal-intelligence-advanced-training-certificate/

Dr. Laurence Hillman, co-teacher for Pacifica Extension's Advanced Graduate Certificate, Black Moon Lilith: The Astrological Portal of Refusal and Liminal In...

05/06/2026

Pacifica Graduate Institute Announces Appointment of Loralee M. Scott as Interim Provost

Loralee Scott has been a vital member of the Pacifica community, most recently in her role as VP of Institutional Advancement and Lifelong Learning, and has played a significant role in strengthening the Institute’s intellectual life and public engagement. As provost, she will provide integrative leadership across the Institute’s academic enterprise, advancing coordination across graduate programs, student experience, accreditation, and strategic academic initiatives.

Please join us in congratulating Loralee M. Scott on her appointment as Interim Provost.

Read full announcement: https://loom.ly/Upd1uO8