Phyllis Lynn Clay

Track: Holotropic Art as an Expression of Inner Process

Understanding the Experience of Individuals Who are Mentored by Someone Who is No Longer Living

Stunned by a declaration from a photograph high on a wall in an Italian home ("I want to be your mentor"), this trained researcher set about to discover what that might mean in the only way she knew how: by going back to school for a second Ph.D. so that she could study transpersonal mentoring interactions. Her professors were interested, but wondered if she would be able to find participants for this unusual topic. She wasn't worried...they emerged in conversational ways, so that when she was ready to conduct her interviews she had over 50 individuals had identified themselves as having this experience. This presentation describes and shows visually some of the techniques she used to assist her in understanding her participants' experiences.

Phyllis Clay is a transformational coach and teacher who creates safe spaces for people to grow into their full potential. Her helps clients identify and focus on their central purpose, assisting them in their unique expression of that purpose.

Phyllis works with people to foster deep personal, professional, and spiritual growth. In addition to her individual coaching and workshops, she guide clients on Journeys to Self, psycho-spiritual workshops and classes using expressive arts and other healing modalities to help them gain clarity and open to the many possibilities life holds.

Phyllis is also a researcher, utilizing both qualitative and quantitative research modalities in her work.