MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Welcome to our website.  It is our intent to provide you with information that will explain the programs we offer and the many benefits of a CGI education.

California Graduate Institute is the first independent graduate school of psychology in the nation, established in 1968 in response to the overwhelming cultural and social need for mental health services.  In the midst of the transitions of the 1960s, and wanting to be involved in changes that were meaningful, we became a pioneer in the psychotherapy movement and developed cutting-edge programs to educate professionals.  We emphasized the clinical practice of psychodynamic psychotherapy and concurrently the multidimensional viewpoints of innovative treatment modalities.  This was a revolutionary departure from the established university model that emphasized psychological research and testing.

The programs evolved, expanded, and made accessible approaches to treatment heretofore unavailable at the universities.  We attracted leaders from all over the world: from Viktor Frankl in Vienna and Medard Boss in Scandinavia, to British, Italian, and of course, many American innovators from the humanistic and psychoanalytic movements.  All of these leaders, in turn, supported the philosophy and vision of our school -- the only graduate school of psychology operating independently of any formal professional organization, prevailing system, or religious group.  In fact, noted author and CGI faculty member Ira Progoff wrote in the Journal for Humanistic Psychology (1971) that CGI represents the promise for a prototype that will set the standard for new, independent graduate education in psychology.

Now in our 38th year, we continue to offer meaningful courses of study that include several masters and doctoral degrees.  We also provide extensive clinical training for interns from CGI and several Southern California schools and, at the same time, provide a full range of psychotherapy services at our counseling centers.

CGI’s unique approach provides both an academic and emotional education, giving our students a comprehensive knowledge of psychology and deeper insight into themselves and others.  This combination is intricately woven into the fabric of all our programs.
We invite you to visit our school and meet with a senior advisor.  We look forward to discussing your choices in a most rewarding profession.  Finding the right path for you allows us to share the joy of your journey.