“When asked, what do I do? I sometimes reply… You know that old adage, “Give a person a fish and you feed them for a day, teach them to fish and you feed them for life”? Well no matter its uncertain origin, I am uplifted by it, and I’d like to believe my facilitation strengthens people to become keenly adept at fishing—for a lifetime.” — Dana B. Lichtstrahl

I consider myself a multifaceted, integrative, and artistically skilled facilitator with a unique approach that empowers age-diverse people to navigate life with clarity, insight and enthusiasm. Currently pursuing a Ph.D. in East-West Psychology at the California Institute of Integral Studies (ciis.edu) my research interest and question has unfolded as: How does becoming aware of the movement of one’s thoughts impact one’s understanding of thinking and self-identity? The title of the research became, Tracing Thought’s Movement: How Awareness Shapes An Understanding of Thinking and Self-Identity: A Qualitative Study. I look forward to moving to Ph.D. candidacy and beginning research this spring (2026).

Combining diverse techniques, I aim to foster personal and collective insight grounded in a foundational sense of self-identity. In addition to focusing on individuals and groups, in 2023, I expanded my practice to include supporting couples through divorce mediation and/or, discernment counseling which asks, “Is divorce the right next step?”

Through my own self-practice for growth, there is joy in facilitating others to become psychologically and spiritually adept at fishing—for a lifetime. As an author of published works of creative inquiry that are available on Amazon (links below), the material is both serious and whimsical, with a common theme: it seeks to understand human identity—individually, collectively, ecologically, and universally by examining the attributes of thinking (cognition) and awareness (consciousness). 

By clicking on the following titles you will be taken to the book’s Amazon page: The Fish Who Discovered Water (2024, fiction, ebook only); What Are We Thinking? It Matters (2019, non-fiction); A Case of Mistaken Identity (2019, fiction picture book); Jackson’s Love (2014, fiction); Are You Watching? It’s positively life-changing (2012, non-fiction); not-so-fable FABLES (2012, fiction); Will My Real Family Please Stand Up (2004, non-fiction, currently out-of-print. If interested inquire: dlichtstrahl@gmail.com).

In addition: Dana B. Lichtstrahl is a member of the New Jersey Psychological Association (NJPA; psychologynj.org), and the New Jersey Association of Professional Mediators (NJAPM; njapm.org). She is also a member of the Steering and Art Acquisition Committees for the Journal, Collaboration (collaboration.org), which is dedicated to the spiritual vision of Sri Aurobindo, the Mother, and the Integral Yoga community.