Mary Alice Long, PhD
biography
Originally from the Northwest, Mary Alice Long has maintained a private practice in depth psychotherapy and arts-based treatment, research, consultation, supervision, and performance since 1994. Before that, she worked as a childbirth and parent educator and as a registered nurse in maternal-child nursing. Her education and background are in Jungian analytical psychology and expressive arts therapies, which emphasizes the creative principle in healing and growth.
In 1986, Mary Alice began a masters program in social work at Cal State, Long Beach. While working as an RN, raising her children as a single mother, and attending school, Mary Alice signed a contract in 1987 to be a surrogate mother for a childless couple. Following the birth of her newborn and his relinquishment, she began analysis with Al Ross, PhD in Los Angeles in 1988. Mary Alice's analysis with Al Ross was followed by another analytical relationship with Rose-Emily Rothenberg, PhD in Pacific Palisades. Mary Alice was in analysis with Kurt Goerwitz, PhD in Santa Barbara while attending Pacifica Graduate Institute and working towards completion of a her dissertation, Surrogate Mother: A Phenomenological Naming of Who She Is: Personal Story, Mythology and Dance and a self-motivated arts-based dance video entitled, Love's Way: The Joy and Pain of Surrogacy. Both Joan Chodorow and Marion Woodman are important mentors, particularly to Mary Alice's work with dance therapy.
The call to integrate the arts and psychology led Mary Alice to the work-play of Interplay, Sandplay Therapy, Voice-Movement Therapy, Authentic Movement, and 5 Rhythms. Mary Alice began traveling to lead workshops informed through improvisational forms, play, and performance. Mary Alice received her license as a clinical social worker in 1993 and completed her doctoral studies in clinical psychology at Pacifica Graduate Institute in 1997.
Mary Alice moved back to the Northwest in 2002. She spends a significant amount of her time writing from her home on Whidbey Island, leading workshops, and working with her clients, both individually and in groups. Mary Alice is working towards sandplay practitioner certification in consultation with Janet Tatum. Mary Alice is currently writing a memoir, I Would Have Named Him Peter.
education
Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Seattle University
Masters in Social Work, California State University, Long Beach
PhD in Clinical Psychology, Pacifica Graduate Institute, emphasis in Analytical Psychology/Jungian-Orientation
