Guest Speaker: Dr. Brian Sackett, PhD

For Chicago IANDS attendees:

This month, things are a little different. In our monthly email, you will be requested to register for the SAI conference (see previous event). There is no charge. Chicago IANDS still appreciates a donation (DONATE HERE), but the registration to the conference is free. Click on this link you need to attend any or all of the conference (REGISTER FREE FOR CONFERENCE HERE).  See you there!

Brian Sackett PhD is a clinical psychologist in private practice in San Jose, California, who has recently moved Toronto, Canada.  He specializes in working with clients dealing with trauma and abuse, spiritual emergence, anxiety, and depression and also offers online spiritual guidance sessions and group meditations.

Dr. Sackett will describe a childhood Near-Death Experience and a Shared-Death Experience with his wife of 25 years, and then more fully discuss a Spiritual Emergency experience from 1970 which has taken many years for him to process and integrate into his personal and spiritual life.

There were many things about the 1970 STE that he didn’t understand at the time, including why he lost touch with the meaning of his human life, the nature of the transcendent part of the experience, and whether he had lost his sanity.  The picture started clarifying in 1990, when he learned about Spiritual Emergence.  During this time, he has also explored several different spiritual paths, including meditation and Advaita (nonduality).

Prior to becoming a therapist, Brian worked for 25 years in high tech in a variety of positions, including director of sales, national accounts sales manager, product marketing manager, business development manager, and engineering program manager.  He received a Phd in Transpersonal Psychology and a MA in Counseling Psychology from Sophia University and a BS in mathematics from Stanford University.

After a number of strong spiritual experiences motivated him, Brian became immersed in meditation when he was 21 years old.  Some of the teachers who have influenced him are Baba Ram Dass, Swami Muktananda, Mother Meera, Adyashanti and Mukti, Sat Shree and Pia Ma (from Australia).  His study and practice of psychology has taught him that what helps people deal with intense sufferings is also useful in exploring spirituality.

For more info, please see:   www.connectingself.com