Philosophy

Southwestern College's purpose is to transform consciousness through education. The focus of our programs is on training helping professionals to be leaders in their fields. Cutting-edge approaches such as transpersonal, somatic, biopsychology, eco-psychology and energy medicine form a holistic perspective. These are supported by cognitive-behavioral, humanistic, person-centered, psychodynamic and systems approaches to form a solid foundational basis for practice and licensure. Southwestern College is a progressive training institution in touch with ancient world wisdom and modern social science traditions as well as current developments in the ever more complex fields of conscious leadership, counseling, psychology and art therapy.

A corollary tenet of our philosophy is that true agents of transformation must themselves understand, experience and develop the capacity to hold this commitment to consciousness in order to help others. To that end, our first year curriculum is a deep journey into, and engagement of, the student's authentic self and life path. The two-quarter sequence "Psychology of Consciousness" builds the experiential base and paradigm for engaging deeply the content of the core curriculum classes in a unique and profound way that develops transformational leaders.

The student becomes their own first "depth" client and so, when they encounter the traditional and mainstream tools, theoretical orientations and paradigms of psychology, they imbue them with a consciousness that brings those models alive. This enables the student/therapist to use their authentic selves as bridges, as points of connection and understanding with the other, the client, rather than using "clinical tools and techniques" to disconnect, protect a threatened sense of professional self or feed a need to be the expert, the savior, the diagnostician, the fixer.

Southwestern seeks out faculty who personally engage in "spiritual practices" and who are reflective practitioners. We differ from our sister schools in that we are not identified with a single lineage or spiritual discipline. We honor all traditions as connections to Source. The diversity of paths students encounter among peers and faculty allows them to practice holding their truth while becoming authentically curious and respectfully informed about their colleagues' and clients' paths. This fosters the ability to be with others in a way that is truly not threatened by different-ness.

Mainstream counseling programs tend to focus only on "evidence-based practice." In addition to that, we value "practice-based evidence." In other words, we value how healers who are conscious and aware can and do learn through experiencing both sides of the therapeutic relationship as well as from the findings of researchers. We have seen that being open to the cosmologies and healing paradigms of different eras, lineages, cultures and worldviews is at the heart of understanding how different reality systems inform individuals and the collective. Honoring one's own experience, awareness and consciousness is essential to becoming an authentic agent of transformation.

Our view is that we are all part of a unified consciousness, a unified energy field. The ancient spiritual/wisdom traditions and cutting edge quantum and energy scientists are coming to the same realization?that at the obvious level we inhabit these bodies and experience ourselves as separate entities while on the level of the Oversoul (as per Ralph Waldo Emerson), Psyche, Transpersonal realms or Spirit, we are all connected, all One. When we have the courage and vision to experience that connection, then it is clear that "Helping" or "Counseling" or "Art Therapy" benefit from a cutting edge training program, which includes the dimensions of consciousness in education.

We continually receive feedback from numerous sources that the depth of professional and personal character our approach engenders in students allows them to graduate and operate at an advanced evolutionary and professional level. This leads to greater career opportunities, accelerated growth in the field and more leadership positions in the mental health, healing, energy and coaching communities, both within agencies and in the private practice sector.

Southwestern College is fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and the American Art Therapy Association, and our students have been licensed as Counselors or Art Therapists across the nation. Our graduates, interns and practicum students provide a significant percentage of the mental health services offered here in New Mexico.

If when you read this, something awakens within you - if your curiosity is stirred, please make a connection with us. We'd love to meet you. This form of education could be what you are looking for.....

Mission

The mission of Southwestern College is to:

• promote lifelong learning through innovative educational programs that incorporate academic and experiential learning;
• provide graduate-level degree programs that prepare students to become helping professionals; and
• provide professional development and personal growth opportunities through non-degree programs and community services.

Southwestern strongly promotes a holistic approach to counselor training and development. By guiding student through profound intentional, transformational experiences, we prepare them to be conscious, effective, professional agents of change. Our belief is that more global movement toward peace and understanding begins at these very personal levels and ripples outward through our therapeutic efforts.

Read more about our master's degree programs and our certificate programs.

History

The roots of Southwestern College can be traced to 1945 when a group of forward-thinking individuals began a collection of religious and metaphysical books to establish the Quimby Memorial Library. In 1963, the library was dedicated in Alamogordo, New Mexico. The collection included copies of the manuscripts of Phineas Parkhurst Quimby, an American Transcendentalist.

By 1976, Southwestern College, then called Quimby College, was ready for dedication. Dr. Neva Del Hunter and Dr. Robert Waterman, the College's founders, put forth its original mission. The education at the College was to be innovative and holistic. The charge was as follows: the College would teach that the power within a person is greater than in the world; that humankind has a sincerity to learn and a willingness to serve and that education must encompass the knowledge of the universe. They expressed high expectations for the students of the College. They firmly believed that education enabled individuals to manifest the destiny of their souls in the world.

Today, Southwestern College continues to teach in a holistic and experiential way. Students are challenged to acquire knowledge and skills in the context of a rigorous applied curriculum. They learn to cultivate the qualities of transformational leadership so they can assist others to realize their full potential. They graduate from the College with the skills necessary to foster transformation in themselves and in others.