About the University of Healing Arts and the
Brain Optimization Institute, LLC

What We Are NOT

Due to the strong spiritual nature of our courses, certifications and masters degree programs, we are often asked whether we are connected to a church, sect or cult.  The answer is the following:

The University of Healing Arts and the Brain Optimization Institute are not connected in anyway with a church, sect or cult. Both institutions are strictly academic.

We, the founders, believe that Spiritual Psychology and the Psychology of Consciousness are spiritual and healing disciplines that can be presented to the student in an atmosphere absent of paraphernalia -- churches, cults, sects, initiations, rituals, gurus, vows, white robes, yellow robes, ochre robes, turbans, "isms," disciples, aspirants, devotees, followers, spiritual titles that build up ego instead of dissolving it like swami, brother, monk, nun, priest, minister, mata, bramachari, master, father, paramhansa, and many, many others.

The above paraphernalia is a collection of very manipulative marketing devices with the purpose of attracting and holding people; often procuring from them money, free labor and support. We do not believe that this marketing approach is beneficial for the student, or seeker of the Truth.

In Relation to Yoga

Yoga is a collection of disciplines and sciences that lead to Union with the Divine. We believe that Yoga can and should be researched scientifically using biofeedback equipment and other scientific instruments. A scientific approach to Yoga, as well as teaching yoga without strings attached, helps to advance yoga; creating churches, sects and cults around yoga, damages and betrays yoga.

Why We Are an LLC Instead of a Non-Profit Organization (NPO)

Many think that NPO's are a higher, more ethical way of doing business.  However, we believe that transparency in business is essential. As an LLC we offer a service in exchange for a price. If the price is fair and duly paid and the service is delivered ethically, then the transaction is transparent. 

I, Juan Pablo Girardi, worked with NPO's for many years, and observed how they operate. A non-profit organization requires performing amazing manipulations in order to survive; get donations in exchange for nothing, get (and often abuse) volunteers and interns to "serve" for free, and beg money from the government, or private philantropic organizations, putting up with endless nonsense red tape. This way of doing business is anything but transparent.

A One on One University

We have been serving our students, clients and friends since March 2004. This March was our 6th anniversary.

Statistics show that after 5 years, only 10% of the businesses are still in business. Thus our school already overcame the first  challenge. We thank our students for their trust and support, and look forward to become solidly established as a cutting edge school for the next decades to come.

UHA/BOI approach to graduate education is unique. Participating in our school guarantees you to have a personalized training like you will not find anywhere else.

Our school specializes in mentoring, or one on one education.  And this is what is really, really unique about UHA and BOI. But what are the advantages of a mentoring approach to graduate studies?

Mentoring offers unlimited possibilities of customized education to address the unique needs of the student.

For example, we have been able to serve students working in the film industry.  This industry demands -- at least for those with successful careers -- to work on erratic and strenuous schedules. UHA's unparalleled class schedule flexibility has allowed them to pursue graduate studies and certifications anyway.

Additionally, only a mentoring system allows for complete customization of the curriculum according to the unique needs of the student. We have young students with great potential as counselors, teachers and coaches, but with no previous training in psychology. We have other students, enrolled in the same program, that are in their sixties and have been working for a lifetime in the counseling and teaching professions.  It is the mentoring system what allows us to serve them with equal effectiveness, customizing the curriculum, even class by class, to their different levels of training and life experience.

Only the mentoring system allows us to address effectively during the class, psychological, spiritual, vocational or professional challenges affecting our student throughout the course. All our teachers have training in counseling. We can support and counsel our student until the issues are resolved.

We have found through the years that these challenges are extremely valuable, not only for the personal development, but also for the professional development of our students.

For example, in our courses in Nutrition with emphasis in Brain Nutrition Counseling, we have had students suffering from severe depression and painful dependency on pharmaceuticals. Throughout the certification course, and with the right support and counseling provided by the teacher, they were able to free themselves from the depression and also from the dependency on pharmaceuticals.  A student that has a powerful personal experience like this, is bound to become a better Brain Nutrition Counselor.

Another example: we have had students going through difficult relationship issues.  The courses in Life Coaching or Spiritual Psychology provided them with the support and counseling to resolve their issues and establish healthier relationships.  Such healing experience allows the student to be more effective when, in the future, their own client faces relationship difficulties.

We have had students experiencing multiple, challenging life situations throughout the whole Masters program in Spiritual Psychology. The mentoring system allowed us to support and counsel our students until the situations were resolved. Each one of those situations offered invaluable educational material to help our students become more effective counselors.

 

Where Are We Located?  What Are Our legal Credentials?

We are an internet school. We do not need to be located in any particular geographic position. Some of our teachers are located in Spain, Chile, Los Angeles California, and so on. We expect soon to have teachers from places as distant as India. We love this universality, and only internet can offer such freedom. The owners and founders of the University live in Los Angeles County, California. The school is an LLC (Limited Liability Corporation) operating according to the regulations of the State of California in the United States.

 

Does UHA and BOI Offer Courses in Person?

Yes, if you live in the Los Angeles area you can take our courses in person. Many think this is the ideal situation, however, even students living in the Los Angeles area, when beginning to experiment with classes through skype, discover that a two-way video-phone interaction -- instead of regular webinar technology -- can be extremely effective, conveying almost the same quality of in person communication. And of course, the savings in commuting time, gasoline and car expenses can be significant. 

Nevertheless, there is no doubt that, in person, one on one classes is the optimum. If you live in Los Angeles and you are interested in this option please contact us for more details.

 

Does Mentoring Education Cost More?

The answer is no. As you may have already found out in this web-site, our prices are extremely reasonable. We owe this to our very low overhead, which is only possible when you function as an internet school. We gladly pass this incredible savings to our students, without compromising one iota the quality of the education we provide.

 

Who Are the Founders?

The founders of the University of Healing Arts and the Brain Optimization Institute are Juan Pablo Girardi, MS, MA and Viviana Girardi, B.A. CYT.

Juan Pablo was born into an Italian/Spanish family in South America. From early childhood he felt a great interest in science and later for the humanities, especially for Spiritual Psychology. At 24, he graduated in engineering from the most prestigious University in Chile at that time. After marrying Viviana, at 30, their spiritual interests brought them to the US. Here, Juan Pablo completed a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology and obtained a State License to practice psychotherapy. Juan Pablo has accumulated extensive clinical and coaching experience, gained through more than sixteen years of working with clients.

Eventually Juan renounced his license as a statement of personal independence from the mainstream, with its adherent traps and regulations. He is presently devoting most of his time to education and to his vision for UHA and BOI. Still he practices counseling but as a life coach, nutritional counselor or spiritual counselor. For over thirty years, he has been deeply involved in studying nutrition and also spiritual teachings. Juan's greatest passion is non-duality.

Viviana Girardi was born in one of the most beautiful places on the planet in the southern part of Chile. From early childhood she felt a natural inclination towards sports and physical education. She graduated from the University of Chile with a Bachelor's in physical education. In her early twenties she felt a deep interest in the spiritual life and Yoga. She has practiced Yoga for over thirty years. She was certified as a Yoga teacher by Erich Shiffman and she has been teaching Yoga for six years at the University of Healing Arts. Viviana is also an accomplished cook and teaches culinary arts at UHA.

For more information about UHA and BOI, or to schedule a personal student interview with the founder -- in person, on the telephone or through skype -- please call us at 818-508-1720

 

UHA and BOI Faculty