Catherine Penn Williams, MA, LPC

04/25/2026

Some periods of our growth are so confusing that we don’t even recognize that growth is what is happening. We may feel hostile or angry or weepy and hysterical, or we may feel depressed. It would never occur to us, unless we stumbled on a book or person who explained it to us, that we were in fact in the process of change, of actually becoming larger, spiritually, than we were before. Whenever we grow, we tend to feel it, as a young seed must feel the weight and inertia of the earth as it seeks to break out of its shell on its way to becoming a plant. Often the feeling is anything but pleasant. But what is most unpleasant is the not knowing what is happening . . . Those long periods when something inside ourselves seems to be waiting, holding its breath, unsure about what the next step should be, eventually become the periods we wait for, for it is in those periods that we realize that we are being prepared for the next phase of our life and that, in all probability, a new level of the personality is about to be revealed.

Alice Walker, Living by the Word: Essays

03/13/2026

Coping with the Black Dog (depression).

At its worst, depression can be a frightening, debilitating condition. Millions of people around the world live with depression. Many of these individuals an...

03/03/2026

Coming up next SATURDAY, March 7th at the Stevens Gallery in association with the Visionary Arts Exhibit sponsored by Southern AZ Friends of Jung - a wonderful Presentation and Workshop by Charles Gillespie!:

VISION QUEST:
Healing with Jungian Depth psychology & the Sacred Image
March 7, 2026, 1 - 3 pm at Stevens Gallery 1545 E Copper St, Tucson, AZ (Gallery opens at 12:00)

In this two-hour presentation, Jungian depth psychology comes into dialogue with the sacred imagery of local artists. Together, we will explore how images of the transcendent open a path to healing, creativity, and meaning. Drawing on Jung’s concepts of archetypes, the collective unconscious, and active imagination, we will consider how art mirrors the soul’s inner life and supports the work of mental health counseling. This training invites artists, therapists, and seekers alike into reflection and discussion about how the psyche expresses itself through symbol, image,
and the transformative powers of the creative process.

​Charles Gillispie, MFA, LIAC, is a licensed independent addiction counselor and expressive arts therapist with over 25 years of clinical experience. He holds a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Arizona and specializes in integrating Jungian depth psychology, sacred imagery, and creative process in mental health counseling. His work explores how archetypal image, symbol, and active imagination support healing, meaning-making, and individuation.

Charles has published widely on the expressive arts in counseling in Psychological Perspectives, Journal of Poetry Therapy, Addiction Professional, Presence, and related journals. He is the author of two poetry collections, The Way We Go On (University of Nebraska Press) and Ever Loyal to the Story (League of Minnesota Poets, John Rezmerski Memorial Book Award). A graduate of the Tacheria School of Spiritual Direction, he brings a contemplative, image-centered approach to clinical and educational settings.

02/18/2026

Pico Iyer is one of my favorite writers. His books are deep and profound meditations on the heart and our relationship with the world.

02/18/2026

"Love is something we have to learn and we can make progress with, and that it's not just an enthusiasm, it's a skill. And it requires forbearance, generosity, imagination, and a million things besides. The course of true love is rocky and bumpy at the best of times, and the more generous we can be towards that flawed humanity, the better chance we'll have of doing the true hard work of love!"
Alain de Botton

Joseph Lorusso - lovers and Lautrec.

02/17/2026

What to do next when you spot a potential friend in the wild.

Friendship expert Kat Vellos shares tips on how to make a new friendship stick, including what to do together, how often to hang out — and what to do if the vibes just aren't there.

02/12/2026