Scholarship & Presentations

The Purusha Center brings together scholarship and professional work exploring psychology, embodiment, consciousness, clinical training, and the systems that shape psychological practice. This collection includes selected research, conference presentations, publications, trainings, and public conversations that reflect and extend these areas of inquiry.

Research, Presentations, & Publications

Rethinking Professionalism, Clinical Readiness & Self-Regulation in Clinical Psychology Training

Collaborative Research Project with Margaret Boucher, PsyD; David Cushman, PsyD; Stephanie Chen, PhD

California Institute of Integral Studies | Ongoing Current Research

A qualitative institutional inquiry examining how constructs such as professionalism, clinical readiness, and self-regulation function within clinical psychology education. The project explores how ethical and gatekeeping responsibilities intersect with culture, power, identity, embodiment, institutional authority, and anti-oppressive approaches to clinical training.

Professionalism, Subversion, and the Unconscious Life of Clinical Training

International Forum for Psychoanalytic Education, 36th Annual Interdisciplinary

Conference | Chicago | 2026

An ongoing institutional self-study examining professionalism, clinical readiness, and self-regulation within doctoral clinical psychology training. Presented in dialogue with psychoanalytic perspectives on subversion, authority, containment, subjectivity, and the unconscious processes through which professional competence is recognized and evaluated.

The Body as Transpersonal

United States Association for Body Psychotherapy

Conference | San Francisco | 2023

An exploration of the body as a site of transpersonal experience, examining the relationship between embodiment, altered states of consciousness, psychological experience, and spiritual meaning.

Riding the Bliss Wave: The Intersections of Psychedelics and the Body

Association for Transpersonal Psychology

Conference | Monterey Bay | 2019

A presentation exploring the embodied dimensions of psychedelic experience and the ways movement, altered states of consciousness, and somatic experience may contribute to psychological and transpersonal understanding.

Riding the Bliss Wave: The Intersections of Psychedelics and the Body

International Transpersonal Conference

Prague | 2017

Presentation of qualitative doctoral research examining women's lived experiences of spontaneous or intuitive movement during entheogenic states, with particular attention to embodiment, psyche, spirituality, and meaning-making.

Riding the Bliss Wave: A Thematic Analysis of Intuitive Entheogen Dance Experiences in Women

Doctoral Dissertation

California Institute of Integral Studies | 2017

A qualitative study of intuitive entheogen dance experiences in women exploring how altered states, spontaneous movement, embodiment, and psychological and spiritual experience intersect. The research examined the body not simply as the site of psychedelic experience, but as an active dimension of meaning-making and psychological integration.

Trainings & Workshops

Psychoanalysis & Psychopharmacology

Psychological Services Center

Clinical Training | 2026

An introduction to relational psychodynamic thought centered on the interpersonal field between clinician and client and the ways psychological meaning emerges through relationship.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging in Course and Instructor Evaluation

Faculty Workshop

California Institute of Integral Studies | 2024

A faculty workshop introducing a DEIB-focused course and instructor evaluation framework developed to support reflective, inclusive teaching practices and program-level evaluation.

Relational Psychodynamics: The Space Between

Psychological Services Center

Lecture & Workshop | 2019

An introduction to relational psychodynamic thought centered on the interpersonal field between clinician and client and the ways psychological meaning emerges through relationship.

Talks, Podcasts, & Conversations

Psychedelics & the Body

Invited Lecture | 2024

An exploration of psychedelic experience through an embodied and psychological lens, drawing connections among altered states of consciousness, somatic experience, movement, and psychological integration.

The Psychedologist

Leia Friedwoman | 2017

This podcast explores the interplay between psyche and soma and the psychospiritual effects of being in an altered state while using movement as a catalyst for healing.

Professional Psychology & Policy

PSYPACT Exploration & Interstate Psychology Practice

California Psychological Association
Committee Member | 2025–Present | Jonalyn Blaha, PsyD
Contributing to the California Psychological Association’s examination of the regulatory, clinical, workforce, and public-policy implications of PSYPACT adoption in California. This work includes research into implementation across participating jurisdictions and consideration of how interstate practice may affect licensure mobility, telepsychology access, continuity of care, regulatory oversight, and the professional practice of psychology.

Pluralism in Doctoral Psychology Education & Professional Pathways

Independent Research & Field Mapping | Jonalyn Blaha, PsyD
Ongoing
Research examining the landscape of doctoral psychology education outside dominant accreditation and training models, with particular attention to psychoanalytic, depth-oriented, humanistic, transpersonal, and socially engaged approaches to psychological training. This work considers how accreditation, licensure, clinical training networks, and professional regulation shape which models of psychology education remain viable and professionally recognized.

Psychology Licensure, Education & Regulatory Alignment

California Institute of Integral Studies | Jonalyn Blaha, PsyD
Ongoing
Work at the intersection of graduate psychology education, professional licensure, and regulatory policy, including analysis of state educational requirements for licensure, curriculum and training alignment, interstate differences in psychology regulation, and the implications of changing professional standards for students and training programs.

Licensure Examination, Governance & Alternative Pathways

Independent Research & Policy Inquiry | Jonalyn Blaha, PsyD
Ongoing
An ongoing examination of the role of licensure examinations and professional regulatory organizations in shaping entry into the psychology profession. Areas of inquiry include EPPP governance and economics, examination and retake burden, the relationship among professional associations and regulatory bodies, and the possibility of competency-based or supervised pathways to psychologist licensure.