“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 an integrative facilitator with a passion that empowers age-diverse people to inquire into—who they are in relation to all that’s here. Currently pursuing a Ph.D. in East-West Psychology (ciis.edu) my research interest and question has unfolded as: What changes, if any, do research participants report when becoming aware of the movement of their thinking and in what ways, if any, does this natural awareness of thought influence their understanding of thinking and/or self-identity? It is based on American-born British theoretical physicist, David Bohm’s (1917-1992) work, who stood for the assertion that “thought runs you.” And that, “until thought is understood—better yet, more than understood, perceived—it will actually control us; but it will create the impression that it is our servant, that it is just doing what we want it to do” [emphasis in original] (1992/1994, p. 5).  I look forward to moving to Ph.D. candidacy and beginning research this spring toward discovering what people actually experience when becoming aware of the movement of their thinking.

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?”

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’s integrative facilitation includes a spectrum of East-West sciences and wisdom traditions. She is a member of the New Jersey Psychological Association (NJPA; psychologynj.org), the New Jersey Association of Professional Mediators (NJAPM; njapm.org), and is also a member of the Steering and Art Acquisition Committees for the Journal, Collaboration (collaboration.org).