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Bios of Suparna Partners
Eliana Baccas
Eliana Baccas is a graduate of the Gestalt Institute of Cleveland with a specialty in working with Physical Process. Her practice is informed by extensive background in Yoga and spiritual exploration, and by her desire to experience and share passion and playfulness in her life. Eliana uses Gestalt process to take her work to a deeper level of integration and to effect positive change. She believes that Gestalt practice supports vibrant aliveness; and that Gestalt psychology, like Yoga, enhances our ability to be fully present in each moment.
In addition to client sessions, Eliana offers ongoing groups and workshop trainings in “Body Wisdom” - living life to the fullest, opening creative channels, releasing anxiety and fears, and rising to the heights of which we are capable. Her Body Wisdom Course reflects her 30-plus years of experience and study, joining the spiritual wisdom of Yoga with the physical process work of Gestalt psychology. Eliana’s focus on emotional wellbeing together with spiritual and body awareness is what distinguishes her work.
The founder and former director of SpiralFlight Center for Yoga and the Arts in Washington, DC, Eliana has been a devoted daily practitioner of Yoga and meditation since 1976, and is a 500 hour Registered Yoga Alliance teacher. Her teaching focuses on awakening the intelligence of the inner body and offers students a deeper, more primal level of body/mind awareness.
Eliana’s life and work have been strongly influenced and guided by gifted energy healer Luisa Kolker of Santa Fe, by world renowned Yoga teachers Victor van Kooten and Angela Farmer, and by studies such as daily reading of the Bhagavad Gita, learning the Sanskrit language, and playing classical piano. These practices have supported Eliana’s commitment to her own spiritual growth and her ability to inspire others. She believes that we evolve by gently unfolding rather than by forcing, and by coming to trust and love our own wholeness.
Kay Phillips, Ph.D.
Kay has a PhD in Counseling and Guidance from the University of Wisconsin, Madison and is licensed by the State of Wisconsin as a professional counselor. Since 1985 Kay has been a psychotherapist in private practice working with children, adults, couples, families, and groups on a wide variety of life challenges and growth issues. In addition to her professional training, Kay brings more than thirty years of practice in meditation and T'ai Chi to her work. Kay has studied meditation with Sharon Salzberg, Ram Dass, Thich Nhat Hanh, Stephen and Ondrea Levine, and Jon Kabat-Zinn and T’ai Chi with Tricia Yu. Through these years of study and practice, Kay has developed a deep confidence in the happiness and well being that is possible for us all. In all facets of her work, she hopes to assist each person in growing toward this well being, each in his or her own unique, gifted way. Kay is currently offering the following services through Suparna, Partners in Transformation, LLC.
• Mindful Parenting Classes. Mindfulness meditation is the practice of bringing our attention to the present moment with a non-judgmental, open awareness. The on-going practice of mindfulness brings steadiness to the mind and unfolds an inner clarity and wisdom. In the midst of our busy lives, it is so easy to lose our focus and miss many joyful moments with our children. It is also possible to find ourselves overwhelmed or lost in frustration as parents. In this class Kay helps participants explore the ways in which mindfulness can help us reclaim our moments, develop greater clarity as parents, and foster a deep understanding of our children and ourselves. This class is open to all who care for children – parents, grandparents, stepparents, aunts and uncles. • Business Consulting. Working in partnership with her Suparna colleague, Dean Lesser, PhD, Kay offers consulting services to businesses and to non-profit, religious, and governmental organizations. Kay has years of personal experience working as a consultant to business owners and organizations with special expertise in working with family owned and operated businesses. In this consulting work, Kay helps business owners and organizations: To schedule an appointment with Kay to discuss consultation with your business or organization, please contact by phone at: (608) 288-8010 or by email at: kay@suparnapartners.com |
Dean Lesser, Ph.D.
Dean has a PhD in psychology from the University of WI Madison. As a clinical psychologist Dean has worked with adults, couples, families, adolescents and children. Dean brings 30 years of spiritual practice to his work. He has studied Yoga with many world renowned yoga teachers. Among these is Yogacharya BKS Iyengar. Dean maintains a tireless commitment to his daily Yoga and meditation practice and other ancient Vedic practices. He maintains daily studies of the Sanskrit language under the guidance of the Sanskrit scholar Gautam Vajracharya. These Vedic studies inspire Dean's work with his clients in the clinical setting. This spiritual foundation distinguishes Dean's work as a clinical psychologist. He has helped many of his clients reconnect with the spiritual dimension in their lives as a way to support their own healing into the joy of being alive and well. Dean integrates a solid foundation in clinical psychology with a deep commitment to spiritual practice. Dean's doctoral dissertation was on the integration of Yoga and traditional practices in clinical psychology.
Healing the Community and Corporate Spirit. Dean Lesser is a psychologist who is involved in organizational and business management. He brings to his consulting a precise understanding of how human and cultural dynamics affect organizational performance and success. Whether working with small or large organizations, Dean enjoys helping business owners and their staff build a community of commitment to the organization and its vision. One of Dean's projects was an organizational analysis and culture intervention with the Philadelphia Police Department. He has also worked with family business and religious organizations. Dean has received postgraduate training in corporate consulting and counseling.
