ABOUT US
We seek to partner with others in the development of a nonprofit organization, with the goal of applying for 501(c)(3) status, where we may take tax-deductible donations to develop community projects. We may also apply for grants for projects, and provide salaries for project leaders. Most of our events at this time will not involve any fees.
Founder and President:
Gerald David Zirin (aka Dahvid)
This organization is separate from Dahvid's business practice as a psychologist, and a way to share with others information for at a low cost or free or for that some may find valuable.
Professional Journey
In 1980, Dr. Zirin earned an MA in Transpersonal Psychology from the California Institute of Asian Studies (now the California Institute of Integral Studies - CIIS) in San Francisco. This was the first nationally accredited program in transpersonal psychology, a field that integrates modern psychological science with spiritual and religious perspectives. Designed to be inclusive of all cultures and belief systems, transpersonal psychology addresses how spiritual practices, and non-sectarian insights can aid individuals facing life’s challenges.
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After completing his MA, Dr. Zirin became a certified mental health counselor, working in crisis intervention and providing individual and group therapy. For eight years, he served at a community mental health center that was also a teaching hospital for Harvard University, where he gained experience in state-of-the-art treatments for major mental illnesses like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
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Dr. Zirin went on to earn a Psy.D. in 1990 from the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology, now William James College (WJC), where he focused on integrating trans-personal and mainstream psychology. His dissertation research led him to specialize in narrative psychology, particularly in the context of communication. This interest in transformative dialogue brought him to study with leading practitioners such as Laura and Dick Chasin of the Public Conversations Project (now Essential Partners at https://whatisessential.org/ ) and to the Dialogos Program through MIT's Sloan School of Management with Bill Isaacs (now a free-standing program at https://www.dialogos.com ). Here, he honed skills in facilitating constructive conversations among groups with deeply rooted conflicts, such as those in political, cultural, and labor disputes.
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In 1997, he became a licensed psychologist. After a year working in prisons, he got a job with the Indian Health Service and spent the next 20 working with Native Peoples in various locations, including my living on an Indian Reservation in Montana, and working at a hospital run by the IHS in Arizona. This experience deepened his appreciation for the profound teachings of Native American spirituality, and for multiculturalism in general, and has influenced both his personal life and professional practice.
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In June 2020, Dr. Zirin retired from his hospital role to establish a private practice offering telehealth services across the United States.
Personal Background and Spiritual Path
I was raised in Marblehead, MA, a coastal town north of Boston, within the Reform Jewish tradition. My engagement with Judaism deepened in adulthood when I encountered Jewish mysticism, enriching a journey that had already led me through the study of diverse spiritual traditions, including Sufism, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, and indigenous spirituality.
Mentors and Influences
Among those who have shaped my path are:
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Murshid Abraham Sussman - a clinical psychologist, and a senior mentor in the Sufi Ruhaniat and Dances of Universal Peace lineages, an inspired musician, and an experienced guide in the path of the awakening heart. (https://northeastsufis.org)
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Salvador Roquet – A psychiatrist and pioneer in psychedelic research, who studied with Oaxaca Shaman Maria Sabina. (https://chacruna.net/salvador-roquet-remembered)
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One of my earliest spiritual memories came from a distant relative at a family reunion, when I was 10 years old, who pointed to the night sky and asked, “Who made those stars?” I later recognized this quote from Isaiah 40:26. Although I didn’t fully understand it at the time, this question planted in me a sense of wonder that continues to shape my spiritual path.
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Over the past several decades, the clients I have worked with have been some of my greatest teachers. Spending half of my waking hours at work as a psychologist, I have had the privilege of listening to their experiences and learning from the wisdom they have gained. Through their insights, I have discovered profound lessons about living a meaningful and enriching life, which continue to inspire and guide me both personally and professionally." I am deeply grateful to all who have shared wisdom and insight, helping me discover how to live with meaning, love, and kindness.
I am deeply grateful to all who have shared wisdom and insight, helping me discover how to live with meaning, love, and kindness.