The Imaginal Institute

Anthony Guarnieri, Ph.D.
Founding Fellow

I once got into all sorts of trouble for my merry foolery growing up. Being in school was a difficult matter for me, boring, inside, rote, trapped in a seat, held hostage by the curriculum etc.

Looking back I can see what I felt back then and am much more deeply in touch with the obvious problems with education and the ways that it was imposed, namely, the sheer and utter foolishness of the whole approach. I rebelled against it as a child and adolescent and now as an "adult". I see the humor in all, the wisdom of the fool the generativity in seeking fools gold, the deep healing powers of comedy, clowning, being silly, laughter and being off beat. I love to play, mess with words, see the fun and funny, laugh at myself and the world. The profound nature of foolery which is archetypally informed in the biggest of ways fuels me and sustains me and I look forward to the ambiance, comradery and intimacy of our gathering in a respectful and ever deepening dialogue (and with playfulness).

Anthony Guarnieri, Ph.D., also known as, Il Matto (in Italiano), teaches Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy at the California Institute of Integral Studies and is on the supervisory faculty. In addition, he is the Director of Clinical Studies for The Program for Counseling in Schools. He lectures and teaches in numerous other places on topics related to child and adolescent development and guidance.

He is currently writing a collection of passionate essays and reflections on child, adolescent psychotherapy and family matters. He maintains a full time psychotherapy practice in Berkeley and he loves wild, natural, and cultural adventure of all kinds, mystery books and relationships. He is often on fire.

Dr. Guarnieri's philosophy illuminates what he believes to be the necessary alchemy of working with children, drawing upon 30 years of psychotherapeutic work with children who carry extremely troubling forces that can no longer be contained.  Extreme behaviors including violence, autistic retreat, hate, difficulties in school, opposition, suicide, disruption in family life, archaic states of mind, massive confusion are explored and re-imagined in a complex way.  The disturbing and complicated psychological phenomena of a child's life are examined through a kaleidoscopic, imaginal, archetypal, cultural, and pro-active lens with an eye toward discovering new directions in working with children.  Each child is viewed in a unique way eschewing rigid ideas and traditional psychological criteria. He practices with the guideline of "Possibility not Pathology".

Lastly, Dr. Guarnieri attempts to communicate a passionate approach toward embracing an empathic imagination, teaching how to see with greater vision looking through to the deepest child behind the symptoms and problematic behaviors toward new possibilities, callings and stories.