Carol Parker

Carol Parker, Ph.D., is a Clinical Professor at Southwestern College in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where she co-founded the Transformational Ecotherapy certificate program. She serves as Clinical Director at Solutions Treatment Center and specializes in Wilderness Fasts, ceremonial healing, and rites of passage. Her work integrates Indigenous practices from the Lakota tradition, Peruvian Andean initiations, and Vedic philosophies. Parker facilitates annual Wilderness Fasts in Death Valley and Canyon de Chelly, blending modern and ancestral approaches to personal transformation. She has led over 35 such ceremonies since 2003, emphasizing perceptual shifts and Earth-based spiritual practices. Her book A Pilgrim in the Andes (2016) details her explorations of Andean shamanic traditions.

• Education: Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology

Research interests include ecotherapy, cultural ceremonies, and the therapeutic power of nature. She has pioneered experiential programs merging clinical psychology with spiritual practices, focusing on holistic human development. Parker’s work highlights the importance of ritual in modern life for navigating life stages and personal growth.