A lifelong apprentice to nature and psyche, Hilary Leighton is Professor, Psychotherapist and Registered Clinical Counsellor in private practice. Drawing upon the wisdom of ecopsychology, depth psychology, general systems theory, and embodied, nature-and arts-based practices, her scholarly research and teaching seek ways to: extend the notion of the individual psyche to a world ensouled; inspire a whole-human, ecologically intelligent epistemology; and cultivate reconnection with a sentient Earth. She examines and reflects the ethical dilemma, suffering and loss of our relationships with wildness and contemplates learning as an initiatory journey toward maturation, regeneration and a more soulful way of belonging.
Experience
Founding Director of Continuing Studies at RRU, Leighton curated leading-edge courses, certificates and public events for over a decade. As Director of Individualized Study in the College of Interdisciplinary Studies, she assisted graduate students in creating meaningful personalized pathways of study. Now, as faculty in the School of Environment and Sustainability, and program head for the MA in Environmental Education and Communication, she teaches ecopsychology, supervises graduate students, and presents nature-responsive research at environmental conferences.
Education
2014
Interdisciplinary PhD
University of Victoria
2004
Master of Education: Curriculum and Instruction
Simon Fraser University
2012
Integrative Body Psychotherapy Practitioner Certification
IBP Institute, Venice, CA
2014
Registered Clinical Counsellor in BC
-
2005
Myers Briggs Type Indicator Qualifying Certification
Psychometrics Canada
1999
ACEC Counselling Certificate
Open Learning Agency
Publications
Bird, G., Leighton, H, and McLean, A, (2019). Chapter 9. A matter of life and death: Tourism as sensual remembrance. In C. Palmer & H. Andrews, (Eds.) Tourism and embodiment. (pp. 121-139). UK: Routledge.
Dale, A. & Leighton, H. (2020). Chapter 1. (Edge)ucation by design. In D. Wright, (Ed.), S. Hill, (Ed.). Social ecology and education. London, UK: Routledge. doi.org/10.4324/9781003033462
Dale, A., Clifton-Ross, J., Jost, F., Leighton, H., Hodson, J., and Bernard, M. (2019). Biodiversity and Communicating Climate Change Research: Harnessing the Power of Art, Science and Social Media. Journal of Community Engagement and Scholarship, Special Edition.
Leighton, H. (2004). Winged seeds: A sensual inquiry, grounds for learning. (Thesis). Simon Fraser University, BC.
Leighton, H. (2014). Wild (re)turns: Tracking the epistemological and ecological implications of learning as an initiatory journey toward true vocation and soul. (Doctoral dissertation). University of Victoria, BC. https://dspace.library.uvic.ca:8443/handle/1828/5674.
Leighton, H. (2019). Windfall. In A walk in nature: Poetic encounters that nourish the soul. M. Moats, D. Sebree, V. Belton, L. Hoffman, (Eds.) (p.54). CO: University Professors Press.
Leighton, H. (2020). Chapter 18. Mindscapes and landscapes: Rendering (of) self through a ‘body’ of work. In E. Lyle, (Ed.), Identity landscapes: Contemplating place and the construction of self. (pp. 197-209). Leiden, NL: Brill/Sense Publication.
Leighton, H. (2020). Research Fit for an (Edge)ucator. Learn. (pp 12-13). BCTF magazine May issue. https://www.bctf.ca/publications/TeacherNewsmag.aspx?id=56815
Leighton, H. (2020, April, 1). Complicated Gifts: Remembering How to Live and Love Well Through Crisis. Medium. Retrieved online from: https://medium.com/@hilaryleighton/complicated-gifts-remembering-how-to-live-and-love-well-through-crisis-637a5e5b726f
Leighton, H. & Dale, A. (2019). Chapter 4: Where living and learning meet: Bringing the classroom into the city. In K. Kremers, A. Liepins, & A. York, (Eds.) Developing change agents: Innovative practices for sustainability leadership. Montreal, QC: McGill Publication. Retrieved from https://open.lib.umn.edu/changeagents/chapter/where-living-and-learning-meet/
Noble, M-A., Leighton, H., & Dale, A. (2020 in press). Stepping toward a sense of place: A choreography between natural and social science. In W. Leal Filho, A. Lange Salvia, & F. Frankenberger (Eds.). Teaching sustainable development. UK: Edward Elgar Publishing Inc.
