Greetings, 

My name is Tarell Kyles. I am a first year student in the M.A./Ph.D Depth Psychology CLE program at Pacifica Graduate Institute.  Pacifica Graduate Institute is currently doing cutting edge work in the field of psychology, work that is concerned with healing modalities regarding trauma and other mental health issues, at a time when mental health issues are reaching critical levels in the United States. 

Unfortunately, due to financial battles, I have had to take a leave of absence, but I am thankful to remain in contact with my cohort who are fighting for me to return to my education. I reside in Atlanta, GA, and Pacifica Graduate Institute is in Santa Barbara, CA. I fought vigilantly to remain in the program, but the costs of travel, lodging, and the program tuition and fees proved to be more than my teaching assistant duties and an additional part time job could afford. Though I am in high academic standing, and I received a scholarship from the school, neither of these were enough to keep me in the program. I am at least $6,000 short of the total payments and fees necessary to continue my education. 

Since my leave of absence I have been pursuing various avenues to remedy the situation. Though none of the scholarships have panned out as of yet, I have recently come across a potential teaching opportunity. Details are pending but I am hopeful that this will help me to return to Pacifica. I know it will not be enoug to cover my entire education for the length of the doctoral process (5 years), but I am willing to fight all the way through in order to have access to Pacifica's resources and unique program of study. While expensive, Pacifica Graduate Institute's culturally sensitive and humanizing approach to mental health theory and practice is ideally suited to my theoretical work around the mental health of oppressed population, indigenous psychologies, and decoloniality, as well as my fieldwork around the healing modalities of the Gullan Geechee people. I am exploring every possible long-term option, I'm even willing to work for the school in some capacity to pay for my education.

Any and all contributions are meaningful, and I thank you in advance. I thank you for your time, and for lending your ear to my noble cohort. 

Tarell Kyles M.A. 

A note from the cohort:

Tarell is doing amazing work in this world and we all need him to continue on his trajectory. Not only does he bring a unique perspective to the classroom, but he has dedicated his fire to bring greater peace and justice to the planet. It is in his essence and we all need to support him.  It is part of our mission as a cohort to apply what we are learning in school, and act like a community, taking actions in solidarity with other students who are pursuing greater liberation for the world.  Please consider giving whatever you can. It takes a village!

CLE First year cohort