Stephen Trichter, Psy. D.

Executive Director

Stephen is a Clinical Psychologist specializing in spiritual growth, chemical dependency and end of life care, working with adolescents, adults and couples in his private practice in San Francisco. Amongst many other things, he is investigating and developing ways to help others integrate their spirituality with psychotherapy to holistically and effectively face life’s challenges and connect more meaningfully with themselves and others.

His intention in founding ExploreSpirit came from his belief that extensive exploration of literature in the fields of consciousness and spirituality can only get one so far. It takes developing relationships with teachers, mentors and those in the helping profession to make healthy, sustainable and lasting positive changes in one’s life. Too often, opportunities to connect with the pioneering authors and researchers behind the meaningful texts requires taking time off of work to travel and paying high attendance fees for events. Stephen sees ExploreSpirit breaking new ground through the creation of educational environments that deconstruct barriers between like-minded individuals, connecting them as a community through thought-provoking, spiritually-uplifting discussion and ritual.

Stephen has been conducting research and writing papers on spirituality and psychotherapy since 2004. His collaborative paper, based on a dissertation study conducted with Jon Kilmo and Stanley Krippner, examining the changes in spirituality among novice ayahuasca ceremony participants, was published in the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs in Summer 2009 issue (pdf). The full text of the dissertation is available upon request.

Stephen holds a M.A. and Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from Argosy University and a B.A. in Psychology and Biology from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Ben Chun

Director

Ben is committed to creating systems wherein people exchange value and create meaning without the use of capital as an intermediary. A native of the Bay Area, he has lived in the city of San Francisco since 2000, and co-founded False Profit in 2001.

Ben holds a B.S. in Computer Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Nevada Merriman

Director

Nevada handles fundraising and sponsorship for the Altered States and the Spiritual Awakening conference. With support from our sponsors and members of our spiritual community, she hopes to develop the financial resources for both ExploreSpirit and ASSA. She believes this work will ensure the existence of the organization and its long-term importance in the community.

Nevada holds a B.A. in both Comparative Literature and Spanish from Cornell University.

Stuart Sovatsky, Ph.D.

Director

Stuart was first choice to co-direct Ram Dass’s “Prison Ashram,” convened the first Prison Yoga Conference, co-convened (with Robert Thurman) an Infinity Foundation Roundtable on Eastern Religion and a 2008 World Congress on Spirituality in India keynoted by BKS Iyengar. A “marriage saving” and “spiritual emergence” therapist for 30 years, he has presented on Tantra Yoga, worldwide. His books include Words From the Soul, Eros, Consciousness & Kundalini and Your Perfect Lips: A Spiritual-Erotic Memoir. An “anahata-nad” master-chanter, he has three CDs with Axis Mundi, Mystery School, Eternal Trance Dance, and Trance-fixed.

Stuart holds a Ph.D. in Psychology from CIIS and an AB in Religion from Princeton.