All upcoming Personal Development programs

Music is one of humanity’s oldest medicines, reflected in cultures across the globe that have rich traditions in using sound and rhythm to ease suffering, promote healing, and calm the mind. Neuroscientist, author, and musician Daniel J. Levitin explores the critical role music has played in human biology; why he finds it one of the most potent therapies today; and how it can contribute to the treatment of ailments from neurodegenerative diseases to cognitive injury, depression, and pain.

Experience forest bathing as Melanie Choukas-Bradley, a certified nature and forest-therapy guide, leads a 2-hour morning walk in the Enid A. Haupt Garden at the Smithsonian Castle. This unique and restorative celebration of the beauty of autumn in in one of Washington’s garden gems is the perfect way to learn why forest bathing is popular all over the world.

Discover how visual art can inspire creative writing and how writing can offer a powerful way to experience art. Join Mary Hall Surface, the founding instructor of the National Gallery of Art’s popular Writing Salon, for five online workshops that explore essential elements of writing and styles through close looking, word-sketching, and imaginative response to prompts. This writing session is inspired by 20th-century Hungarian-American artist Lily Furedi’s Subway.

Experience forest bathing as Melanie Choukas-Bradley, a certified nature and forest-therapy guide, leads a 2-hour morning walk in the Enid A. Haupt Garden at the Smithsonian Castle. This unique and restorative celebration of the beauty of autumn in in one of Washington’s garden gems is the perfect way to learn why forest bathing is popular all over the world.

Discover how visual art can inspire creative writing and how writing can offer a powerful way to experience art. Join Mary Hall Surface, the founding instructor of the National Gallery of Art’s popular Writing Salon, for five online workshops that explore essential elements of writing and styles through close looking, word-sketching, and imaginative response to prompts. This writing session is inspired by two works by 20th-century French artist Henri Matisse, including Open Window, Collioure.

If you’ve always wanted to learn the language and elements of musical notation and composition this 8-session interactive online course led by music educator and conductor Ernest Johnson offers the perfect opportunity. He guides exercises and assignments geared to developing the foundation every musician needs: the aural and visual understanding of pitch, rhythm, harmony, and form.

Discover how visual art can inspire creative writing and how writing can offer a powerful way to experience art. Join Mary Hall Surface, the founding instructor of the National Gallery of Art’s popular Writing Salon, for five online workshops that explore essential elements of writing and styles through close looking, word-sketching, and imaginative response to prompts. This writing session is inspired by 20th-century Catalan artist Joan Miró’s painted visual memoir, The Farm.

Discover how visual art can inspire creative writing and how writing can offer a powerful way to experience art. Join Mary Hall Surface, the founding instructor of the National Gallery of Art’s popular Writing Salon, for five online workshops that explore essential elements of writing and styles through close looking, word-sketching, and imaginative response to prompts. This writing session is inspired by Welsh artist Gwen John’s A Corner of the Artist’s Room in Paris.

Discover how visual art can inspire creative writing and how writing can offer a powerful way to experience art. Join Mary Hall Surface, the founding instructor of the National Gallery of Art’s popular Writing Salon, for five online workshops that explore essential elements of writing and styles through close looking, word-sketching, and imaginative response to prompts. This writing session is inspired by the mixed media work, Winning, by 20th-century African American artist Emma Amos.

The word “psychotherapy” is derived from the Greek psyche, meaning soul, and therapiea, meaning healing. Thus, psychotherapy is “soul healing,” the term used by ancient philosophers to describe important functions of philosophical reflection: to help people live a good life, seek answers to vexing personal questions, and bring their souls into consonance with the nature of existence. Philosophical counselor Samir Chopra explores the history of philosophy understood as therapy and explains the methods of modern philosophical counseling.