The Synthesis Northeast Team

AMY SPALDING-FECHER, m.Arch, BCC, PLC

Director and Lead Instructor, Synthesis Northeast

Amy is a passionate advocate for Psychosynthesis and conscious evolution. Her love for Psychosynthesis stems from a deep belief that addressing the challenges we face in the world, including climate change and our relationship to the Earth’s resources, begins with our inner relationship to ourselves and to others.

Amy is a board certified coach and trainer. She has worked with individuals and groups in the process of personal and spiritual growth both locally and in South Africa, where she lived for 16 years. She weaves decades of meditation practice, dharma study, mindful self-compassion, and transformative art practices into her Psychosynthesis offerings. Originally trained as an architect, Amy continues to create supportive and inspiring space for her clients and students to grow closer to their own truth and authentic expression.

In addition to Psychosynthesis life coaching and training, Amy facilitates processes for intuitive expression through art as a means of deep insight and connection to our essential Self.

When not teaching or coaching, Amy loves hiking, yoga, kayaking and being in nature. She has traveled extensively with her husband of 29 years and their two daughters, including seven months driving overland in an outfitted Land Cruiser from Cape Town to London.

Dorothy (Didi) Firman, Ed.D., LMHC, BCC, PLC

Founder of The Synthesis Center, Lead Instructor

Didi Firman has worked in the field of counseling, education and coaching for more than forty years. She is the founder of The Synthesis Center in Amherst, MA, and the creator of its Psychosynthesis Life Coach Training program, from which other centers have grown to carry this work forward. Didi has traveled and taught nationally and internationally, is a retired professor of graduate psychology, and a NYTimes best-selling author. She is the editor of our program’s text: Call of Self, Psychosynthesis Life Coaching.  Didi teaches joyfully in the Synthesis Northeast Training Program and also offers advanced training and continuing education in psychosynthesis.

Celia O. Hilson, M.A., LMFT, M.Ed, PLC

Guest Teacher, Synthesis Northeast

Celia O. Hilson is a therapist whose work in somatic and ancestral healing is being integrated into Psychosynthesis. She holds a Master’s Degree in Individual, Couple and Family Therapy. Her professional experiences include 30 years as a teacher and group facilitator. She has advanced training in Social Justice Education and the Intergroup Dialogue Process and has presented at various psychosynthesis centers throughout the U.S.

JON SCHOTTLAND, MA, BCC

Founder and Guest Teacher, Synthesis Northeast

Jon leads psychosynthesis and professional coach trainings across the U.S. and internationally, both in person and through distance learning programs. He has been a presenter at North American conferences of the Association for the Advancement of Psychosynthesis and also the International Congress of Psychosynthesis in Taormina, Sicily.

Jon is currently a senior trainer at both Synthesis Northeast and the Psychospiritual Institute based in Del Ray, FL. He has served as adjunct faculty in the Global Masters in Transpersonal Psychology program at Sofia University and as guest lecturer at American International College in the masters and doctoral level graduate programs. Jon is a nationally Board Certified Coach (BCC) and a psychosynthesis counselor in private practice based in Brattleboro, VT.

Erika Trice, PLC

Guest Teacher, Synthesis Northeast

Erika Trice is a E-RYT 500 certified yoga teacher, yoga teacher trainer, a certified mindfulness meditation teacher and a certified psychosynthesis life coach.  Erika has been teaching yoga and meditation for over 30 years leading workshops, retreats and teacher trainings both in the US and internationally.  

Erika is a long time student of Kay Taylor , intuitive counselor and astrologer. Kay was a student of John Firman, a leading psychosynthesis psychotherapist and the co-author of 2 books on psychosynthesis; A Psychology of Love and A Psychology of Spirit.  

Erika’s personal life coaching practice is a combination of many healing tools and techniques from intuitive insights to guided meditation processes to a deep exploration of soul purpose.   

To learn more out about Erika’s work and practice:  www.erikatrice.com