Marina Smirnova

Marina Smirnova is a Full Professor and Director of the Consciousness, Spirituality, and Integrative Health (CSIH) Specialization at Saybrook University's Department of Humanistic Psychology within the College of Social Sciences. She holds a PhD in Transpersonal Psychology from Sofia University and has over 20 years of academic and clinical experience. Her work focuses on Exceptional Human Experiences (EHEs), UFO/ET encounters, and spiritual integration through practices like Holotropic Breathwork.

Education:

• Bachelor in Music Education (Minsk State Pedagogical University, 1996)
• Master of Arts in Counseling (Central Michigan University, 2003)
• PhD in Psychology with Transpersonal Concentration (Sofia University, 2013)

Research Interests: Consciousness studies, transpersonal psychology, mystical traditions, and the integration of non-ordinary experiences. She explores how EHEs like UFO encounters contribute to spiritual growth and longevity through frameworks like Stan Grof’s holotropic states and John E. Mack’s research.

Key Contributions:

• Recipient of Saybrook’s 2021 Presidential Award and 2024 Exemplary Humanistic Educator Award
• Peer reviewer for journals like International Journal of Transpersonal Studies
• Co-facilitator of GROF® Breathwork workshops and presenter at global conferences (e.g., Esalen Institute, International Conference on Religion and Spirituality)

Media & Outreach: Appears on podcasts like Cosmic Convergence and Jung and the World, discussing transpersonal psychology and alien encounters. Active in public forums on spiritual sovereignty and ascension.