Together We Rise: Inclusivity in Mental Health and Education

January 25, 2025 | 9 a.m. – 1:20 p.m.

About the Conference

Together We Rise, the Houston Christian University Mental Health Symposium, recognizes the unique challenges of today’s society and responds to those with modern continuing education for mental health and educational professionals. Life after the pandemic and an increase in the use of social media has changed how mental health and education are approached. As a result, there is a greater need to create environments where individuals have access to inclusive mental health care where they are empowered to thrive.

Yet, we recognize that numerous challenges persist; inconsistencies in access to quality care, workforce shortages, and a constant shame that keeps people from seeking help. That’s why we believe that progress requires a united effort to reach all people needing support. Together We Rise will bring together professionals from various disciplines to share expertise, engage in meaningful discussions, and explore actionable solutions to advance inclusivity and effectiveness in mental health and education.

Join us as we explore strategies to break down barriers, address inequities, and build a brighter future for everyone. Through innovative presentations, interactive breakout sessions, and opportunities to connect with fellow leaders in the field, attendees will gain valuable insights and practical tools to promote inclusive practices in their own organizations and communities.

Together We Rise aims to provide tools and resources for those passionate about creating inclusive spaces and effective support systems for diverse populations. CEU’s will be available for mental health professionals including CEU’s for ethics and CPE’s for educators.

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Keynote Presentation

Keynote Topic

Healing Through Relationship: Embracing The Shadow and Inclusion in Mental Health

Speaker Bio

John W. Price is a depth-psychotherapist, educator, perpetual student, and former professional musician who co-founded The Center for Healing Arts and Sciences. His unique journey began in the world of music, touring nationally and navigating the exhilarating highs and chaotic lows of life as an artist. This path took a significant turn with the birth of his son, a transformative event that steered him toward the academic study of psychology, where he found a way to merge his profound interests in human nature, philosophy, art, and spirituality. John’s academic pursuits culminated in a Doctorate in Jungian Psychology, where he blended his personal experiences as a musician with his expertise in depth psychology. His dissertation explored fame as a symbol for understanding the process of individuation, a psychological principle that Carl Jung described as the ultimate goal of human life.

John currently contributes his expertise to the Esalen Institute in Big Sur, a renowned center for humanistic studies, where he teaches courses such as “The Psychology of Shadow and Fame” and “Ecstatic Experience, Music, & Jung’s Red Book.” He also serves as President of the Board at the Jung Center of Houston, a non-profit institution dedicated to studying psychology, spirituality, arts, and humanities, where he facilitates classes on topics ranging from “The Psychology of Projection” and “Explorations of Consciousness” to “The Mystic William Blake” and “The Origin of Satan.”

John’s work emphasizes exploring the unconscious mind through depth psychology, ecstatic experiences, ancient religions, and the arts as tools for accessing the uncharted territories of the human psyche. His teachings seek to bridge ancient wisdom with modern contexts, drawing deeply on esoteric traditions such as Hermeticism, an integrative approach to healing attributed to Hermes Trismegistus that John incorporates into his psychotherapeutic practice. Through his popular podcast, “The Sacred Speaks,” John continues to explore themes of antiquity, depth psychology, and the emergent field of psychedelics, engaging thought-leaders and practitioners in enlightening conversations about the transformative power of personal narratives. His belief in the power of storytelling underpins both his podcast and clinical work, reflecting his conviction that unraveling one’s story can lead to profound personal growth.

Together with his wife, Leila-Scott Price, John co-founded The Center for Healing Arts and Sciences, an integrative wellness clinic offering a variety of therapies and educational resources that embody his belief in the importance of community and interpersonal connection for growth and healing. Despite his many roles, John holds his family close to his heart, cherishing his most important identities as a father, husband, and seeker. His current projects, which include the ongoing work at The Center, the development of his podcast, and authoring a forthcoming book, aim to deepen individuals’ understanding of spiritually and healing. John aspires to guide people in recognizing and reinterpreting their personal pillars, fostering a more conscious, authentic, and integrated existence.

Breakout Sessions

Breakout sessions will cover a range of topics, including inclusivity, neurodiversity, mental health stigma, resource acquisition, effective advocacy, leadership, empirical interventions, and the development of resiliency. Our overall themes will be “Rise Up,” focusing on resiliency; “Reach Out” focusing on community advocacy, and “Respond and Restore,” focusing on interventions for today’s pressing problems in mental health and education.