Michael C. Irving, Ph.D., is dedicated to a career combining three areas: art, psychology and education. Dr. Irving is the Artistic Director of a community arts initiative The Child Abuse Survivor Monument Project and in partnership with his wife, they have a Private Psychotherapy Practice.

Education:

1995 Ph.D., Professional Psychology and Art as Healing, The Union Institute

 

1988 M.A., Counseling Psychology, Art and Pre and Perinatal Psychology, Vermont College of Norwich University

 

1986 B.A., Sculpture and Pre and Perinatal Psychology, Vermont College of Norwich University

Served as a psychotherapist with individuals and groups. For more than 25 years has led psychotherapy workshops on - healing emotional trauma through regressive therapies, mind/body integration, multiple personality, ego state therapy, primal therapy, art therapy, prenatal parenting and, working with pre and prenatal issues through art.

Lectured on such diverse subjects as psychotherapy techniques, childhood sexual abuse, community arts, art as healing, sculpting and carving, art history, mythology, serpent/dragon myth, art therapy, birth symbolism, dissociation and DDIS. Conducted local and national child abuse awareness campaigns.

 

Taught in college, adult education, elementary schools and nursery school settings.

Published journal articles and poetry. Has been written about and had his art featured in newspapers, films, medical magazines. A world leader in developing the theory of Natalism, which illustrates parallels between creative expression and the pre and perinatal experience as seen through cross-cultural images and artistic expressions in art.

 

Produced stone, bronze, resin, wood and steel sculptures.