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Siegell, Michael

Dr. Michael Siegell
Senior Faculty
Professor Emeritus
Ph.D.
Union Graduate School
School of Undergraduate Studies
School Affiliation

School of Undergraduate Studies

Academic Focus

Psychology, psychotherapy, cross-cultural studies, psychology and the arts, expressive art therapies, religion and mysticism

Community Involvement

Across the U.S. and abroad, Dr. Siegell has worked as an educator, teacher, clinician, consultant and performer in a wide variety of different educational, cultural and organizational settings and institutions.  He combines scholarly, clinical and artistic interests in a broad range of interdisciplinary topics especially connected to: human development, the cross-cultural experience, the psychological and therapeutic dimensions of the arts and the spiritual impulse.

Courses Taught
  • Cross-Cultural Perspectives in Psychology
  • Groups and Social Psychology
  • Psychological and Therapeutic Dimensions of the Arts
  • The Spiritual Dimension: Psychological and Therapeutic Issues
  • Theories of Personality
  • Religions of the World
  • Religions of the East
Education

Ph.D. in Psychology, Union Graduate School

C.A.G.S. in Expressive Therapies, Lesley University

M.A. in Education, SUNY Albany

B.A. in Asian Studies, SUNY New Paltz

Insight

 “Things that are real are given and received in Silence"--Meher Baba

Professional Experience
  • Professor, Lesley University
  • Professor, Wheelock College
  • Clinical Staff, Intergenerational Arts Program, Erik Erikson Center, Cambridge
  • Artist-In- Residence, South Carolina Arts Commission
  • Psychotherapist and Consultant
  • Music Performer
Awards & Recognitions
  •  Visiting Academic Fellow, European Graduate School, Saas-Fee, Switzerland
  •  Smithsonian Institution/American Institute of Indian Studies Senior Fellowship
  • Clinical Fellow, Erik Erikson Center, Dept. of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
  • Visiting Research Scholar, National Center for the Performing Arts, Mumbai, India
  • Distinguished Alumni, SUNY New Paltz
Research & Publications

“Meeting the Maestro: Notes on Ravi Shankar’s Passing, ”Glow International, Spring 2013

“Paolo: A Tribute to Paolo Knill,” in EGS/Blogspot, European Graduate School Website, February 2012

Erik Erikson: A Gift of Vision,” The Journal for Psychological and Spiritual Integration, Vol.5, No.1, 1991.

“Working with the Music,” The Journal for Psychological and Spiritual Integration, Vol. III, Nol1, Fall 1987

Book Review: Rouget, Gilbert. Music and Trance: A Theory of the Relations between Music and Possession. In The Arts in Psychotherapy, Vol. 14, 1987.

Selected Presentations

As sitarist and performer of North Indian Classical Music, numerous concert venues in the U.S. and India.

“Notes on Creativity, Freedom and Identity: Some Cross-Cultural Perspectives.” Humanities and Freedom Seminar, Cambridge,

“The Arts and Human Development: Psycho-Historical Reflections, Pune Peforming Arts Center, Pune, India

“Erik Erikson: Personal Reflection on his Life and Work,” Thinking Outloud Seminar, Cambridge

“Psycho-Spiritual Dimensions of Sound,” Boston, MA

Professional Memberships & Affiliations
  • American Association of Artist-Therapists
  • American Association for Music Therapy
  • Massachusetts Coalition of Creative Art Therapists
  • Director, Meher Fund Free Medical Dispensary
  • Director, Indian Academy of Performing Arts