OUR STORY

Into the depths of being: deep roots, bold vision

Founded during a significant social and health crisis nearly 45 years ago, The Helix Training Program emerged from a deep commitment to compassionate care and holistic wellness, blending ancient wisdom with innovative practices. Our foundational vision to foster integrated collective well-being remains steadfast as we navigate the ongoing challenges of today's world.

FOUNDATIONS

The Helix Institute & Healing Collective emerged from grassroots volunteer efforts in New York City with the goal to create a holistic healing approach that would profoundly impact those in need.

Helix Founders, Trustees & Teachers with Helix 8 graduates in 2007

Helix was born out of New York City’s troubled late 1970s, notably during the AIDS epidemic. Five pioneering women, skilled in mind-body-spirit practices, recognized the limitations of traditional care. They identified a pressing need for compassionate, knowledgeable care for both those affected by the epidemic and their caregivers. Driven by a deep calling, they envisioned a more comprehensive method to address the whole human being. 

In response, they established Healing Works, a non-profit, donation-based clinic, and launched The Helix Training Program to equip volunteers with essential skills. For over 30 years, this four-year in-person program transformed lives through its integrative model of healing and wellness.

After a brief hiatus, Helix was revitalized by alumni who had been serving as psychospiritual counselors since 2005. They updated the training with a revised curriculum that blends online and in-person learning, honoring Helix’s core principles while adapting to contemporary needs. The new three-year hybrid program now reaches a global audience, addressing the renewed imperative for this vital work.

OUR PURPOSE

At Helix, we empower individuals to create meaningful change in the world through transformative training that blends psychological insight, spiritual practices, and holistic healing.

OUR PRINCIPLES

We build lasting connections through our commitment to community, culture, ethics, and values. Our approach is grounded in compassion, inclusivity, and responsiveness to the unique needs of each individual.

OUR CULTURE

Our interconnectedness with nature and each other is at the heart of Helix. We promote a holistic approach that harmonizes modern science with ancient wisdom across physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual dimensions. We challenge fragmented views of health to advocate for a unified understanding of wellness. Rooted in respect for each individual's sacred journey, we honor diversity and support personal paths to healing and joy.

UNDERSTANDING HELIX

Helix is a seminary with over 40 years of experience. We fully embrace our identity as an outlier in the field, standing apart from mainstream programs. As practitioners and as humans, we embody sovereign and grounded authority in our areas of expertise.

Helix Institute & Healing Collective is a non-traditional seminary and community rooted in spiritual teachings that honor a personal, direct connection to the Universe, Spirit, Goddess, Creator—whatever resonates with you. Our approach is distinct from mainstream education, embracing a curriculum that bridges Western Therapy with esoteric healing practices. This unique blend equips our graduates to navigate the shifting landscapes of our beautiful world with balance, clarity, and a profound ability to support others in their transformative journeys. Helix is not just about learning—it's about experiencing personal and collective transformation through direct, lived experience.

Spirituality is a calling of responsibility to each other and to our world. It is a calling to act and not just reflect, to engage and not just contemplate.

— DAVID SPANGLER

STEWARDS OF LIFE

When we deepen personal connection we enhance community connection

Helix honors the sacredness of every individual, creating a space of radical acceptance where differences and similarities are celebrated.

ENHANCING THERAPY

Online and in-person, Helix Institute & Healing Collective isn’t just a training program and community; it’s the embodiment of a philosophy dedicated to serving and supporting.

Helix prepares practitioners to hold impeccable space for their clients, themselves, and their communities, going beyond traditional therapy education with The Helix Training Program. We enhance practitioners’ skills by integrating decolonized ancestral healing, deep listening, and community practices over three years. Our students embody their training through a deeply experiential process, graduating as highly skilled, proficient Helix Institute Practitioners ready to make a profound healing impact in their worlds.

A NEW CYCLE BEGINS ON JANUARY 11, 2025

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A NEW CYCLE BEGINS ON JANUARY 11, 2025

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A NEW CYCLE BEGINS ON JANUARY 11, 2025 — A NEW CYCLE BEGINS ON JANUARY 11, 2025 —

OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM

Meet the leaders who guide Helix Institute & Healing Collective with both administrative acumen and spiritual insight. Our leadership team is composed of experienced professionals who are committed to maintaining the integrity of the Helix mission while adapting it to meet the needs of a changing world.

  • Corina Barbu

    ADMINISTRATIVE PARTNER, HELIX GRADUATE

  • Dhyana Kluth

    BOARD MEMBER, MANAGING DIRECTOR

  • Fred Kluth

    BOARD MEMBER, PROJECT DIRECTOR

  • Hugo Lilienfeld

    BOARD MEMBER, FORMER TEACHER & HELIX GRADUATE

  • Jana Johnson

    BOARD MEMBER, PROGRAM DIRECTOR

  • Jon Child

    WISDOM KEEPER, FORMER TEACHER AND HELIX GRADUATE

  • Julie Winter

    FOUNDER, WISDOM KEEPER