Research
AgeSong Institute has a fundamental mission of furthering research in the field of existential, humanistic, and transpersonal psychology. In fulfilling its endeavors, the Institute focuses on philosophical aspects as well as on practical applications of its approach on the fields of mental health, non-ordinary states of consciousness, and gero-psychology.
Founded in 1992, the Institute began as a groundbreaking center of integrative, whole-person services, learning, and training. Today, AgeSong Institute is a leader in applied gero-psychology and education of clinicians, care partners, and consultants who apply humanistic principles and values in a variety of settings.
The Institute’s transformative educational paradigm, valuing the non-mainstream approaches to learning and doing research attracts students from all over the world to our wellness and learning programs.
Some of our ongoing research projects are:
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From Crone to Mentor (pdf)
A study about the meaning of life for feminist baby-boomers in later years by Doris Bersing, Ph.D. |
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The Courage To Forget: An Interpretive Study of Exisential Concerns Revealed In Group Processes by Individuals Living With Dementia (pdf)
by Suzan Bollich, Ph.D. |
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Reflections on the Existential-Humanistic Approach to Eldership
by Rochelle D’Silva-SuriPoster at the 2nd Annual Conference of The Society for Humanistic Psychology Sponsored by the Division 32 of APA Humanistic Psychology in Practice August 11-13, 2008 — Boston, Massachusetts |
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Through The Circle: Mandala Art and Dementia (pdf)
by Rev. Patti Goldstein, M.A. |
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The Meaning of Intimacy to Older Adults in Assisted Living: A Phenomenological Perspective (pdf)
by Liz Macera, PhD, RN, NP-C and Mats Christiansen, MNSc, RN |
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The Delicate Ecology of Delusion (pdf)
A Cross-Cultural Case Study on the Inner Landscape of Elderly with Dementia A Research Proposal by Elizabeth Shaver and Kalyani Metha |
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Life Journey into Alzheimer’s Disease Study (pdf)
Exploring the Inner Landscape of an Elderly with Dementia utilizing Existential Approaches by Nader Shabahangi, Ph.D — Pacific Institute and Patrick Fox, Ph.D — UCSF |
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Feminism Through Time: Age, Difference, and Ideology (pdf)
by Tamar ShirinianThis project explores the “schism” within feminist thought through space so that global issues, which are pertinent in a postmodern and globalized world can be seen within various scales rather than as a teleological process of “women’s rights” and Western “feminist” issues. Within this work, I hope to discuss age, difference and ideology not just within a temporal platform, but within scales of time, space and self. |
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Open To Not Knowing: Existential and Process–Oriented Approaches to Therapy with Elders with Dementia (pdf)
A research study conducted and sponsored by The Pacific Institute’s Assisted Living Facilities: Hayes Valley Care and Laguna Grove Care by Puran Khalsa, PsyD, and Matt Spalding, EdM, PsyDThe purpose of this study is to discern and assess the unique and effective components of the phenomenological–existential and process–work approach to the clinical treatment of elders with dementia in the Pacific Institute Senior Communities in San Francisco, CA. |