Who Are We?
Clearmind Founders
Duane and Catherine
O’Kane
We offer a number of weekend workshops with a variety of themes. The Awakening is our introductory workshop, which offers the philosophical and experiential foundation on which all the others build. Our subsequent workshops focus on themes of relationship, men’s/women’s issues, addictions and attachments, all using the same experiential approach with different templates. There are also longer international leadership training programs which offer an exciting opportunity to discover yourself in the company of others from around the world.
Our therapeutic model is cohesive, powerful and unique. At the request of those who have taken our workshops, we created a three year practitioner/counsellor training program, registered in British Columbia (Canada) with the Private Career Training Institutions Agency (PCTIA). The mandate for this practitioner training program is ‘physician heal thyself’, and thus we focus on your life as the curriculum, applying principles to self before applying them to others. The program is open to those wanting to take it for personal growth, or for professional counsellor training. In Canada, graduating students are eligible to apply for registration as a practicing counsellor to the Canadian Professional Counsellors Association (CPCA). It is our belief that the qualities and skills that make effective, responsible counsellors also are the same qualities that make effective, responsible human beings.
Clearmind International is made up of people from all walks of life who have chosen to aspire to lives of honesty and integrity. As such, it is also a social and supportive network of different but like minded individuals working towards positive change in their lives and in the world.
Transpersonal Philosophy
Einstein was once asked what the most important question to answer was, and his response was “Is the Universe a friendly place, or not?” We operate from the assumption that the universe is fundamentally a friendly place, that the essence of life and of humanity is good. Our spiritual framework is based on the philosophy of A Course in Miracles. We take a very grounded, practical approach to what some consider a very esoteric work, and focus on application of the principles.
Spirituality is an important component in psychological well being in our view, because how
you answer the question “is the universe a friendly place, or not” will largely determine
your approach to and experience of life. Equally we believe in respecting individual choice about
spiritual beliefs. Ours is one way, one path, in a world of many different ways and paths.
The concept of spirituality as a part of human experience has gained credibility within mainstream psychological practice. A PracticeNet survey taken by the American Psychological Association online in 2003 found that more than half of 203 psychologists said they asked about spirituality in their last treatment session, and approximately 70% of the respondents said their most recent clients expressed a belief in a divine being. In addition, statistics on the North American population seem to indicate that 80% or more have spiritual beliefs of some form.
Therapeutic Standards
We pride ourselves in taking a therapeutically responsible and professional approach to the delivery of our programs. In Canada, our facilitators are educated and registered with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC) or the Canadian Professional Counsellors Association (CPCA). International Facilitators are similarly educated and trained in their respective jurisdictions. Workshop assistants, who work under the direction of facilitators, receive in house training in responsible, ethical delivery of service. We adhere to our own Code of Ethics, as well as those of our associations.
