Mapping Change: Systems, Complexity, and the Architecture of Transformation

Learn to see what others miss — and map the invisible architecture of change

Course Description

Mapping Change invites clinicians to step beyond linear models of causality and explore the elegant, often unpredictable architecture of transformation through a systems and complexity science lens. Drawing from general systems theory, cybernetics, ecological psychology, and contemporary organizational and therapeutic frameworks, the course examines how human behavior and change processes unfold within interdependent networks - internal, relational, and societal.

Students will learn to think like systems theorists: tracing feedback loops, identifying attractor states, and observing how patterns stabilize or shift under pressure. From the family system to the nervous system, from therapeutic dyads to organizational teams, the course illuminates how coherence and disruption coexist within every living system.

Through lecture, applied casework, and experiential simulation, learners develop fluency in mapping complex change processes and working skillfully with paradox, emergence, and uncertainty. Clinical, supervisory, and organizational applications are emphasized throughout.

Key areas of focus include:

The evolution of systems thinking in psychotherapy, from Bateson to complexity science.
Understanding feedback, adaptation, and self-organization across contexts.
Systemic stuckness and change: how patterns resist and reorganize.
Integrating nervous system regulation into systemic understanding.
Using mapping, metaphor, and reflection to identify leverage points in therapeutic and organizational change.
By the conclusion of the course, participants will have developed a dynamic, non-linear framework for understanding human transformation — one that honors both structure and fluidity, and supports deep, sustainable change within individuals, families, and communities.

The Nitty Gritty

DATES: The next course dates are not yet set. Want to be notified when registration opens? Fill out the contact sheet at the bottom of the page!

TIME: TBD

Classroom Hours: 60

Why you should take this class

This course is designed for clinicians, supervisors, and organizational leaders who sense that human change is rarely linear - and want tools for understanding the elegant, messy, interdependent systems that shape it.

If you’ve ever wondered why certain therapeutic interventions ripple far beyond the session, or why well-designed solutions sometimes stall or backfire, Mapping Change will give you the conceptual frameworks and practical skills to make sense of it.

You should consider this class if you want to:

Expand from individual-level thinking into systemic, ecological, and network perspectives.
Translate systems theory into real-world application: from therapy to teams, supervision, and community systems.
Learn to identify “leverage points” - the small shifts that catalyze large-scale transformation.
Deepen your capacity to tolerate uncertainty, paradox, and complexity in your work.
Build a flexible, dynamic lens that connects neuroscience, feedback theory, and human relationships.

The course combines theory, simulation, and reflection. Participants will leave with both a sharper intellectual framework, and a more grounded sense of how to work with complexity in daily practice. - whether in clinical, supervisory, or organizational roles.

Next Steps for Signing Up or Learning More

Enrollment in Mapping Change begins with a brief connection process designed to ensure the course is the right fit for your professional goals and stage of development.

Complete the Contact
Fill out the inquiry form below with your professional background and learning goals
Schedule a Call
After submitting your form, you’ll be invited to schedule a short call with a member of our faculty. This conversation helps us get to know your background, answer questions, and ensure that the course’s depth and focus align with your intentions for learning.
Confirm Enrollment
Once accepted, you’ll receive a registration link, course calendar, course plan, and information about payment options and preparatory readings.

Note: Because of the reflective and experiential nature of this course, enrollment is intentionally limited to maintain a small-group learning environment. Early application is encouraged.

FAQs

Who is this Class For?

This course is designed for licensed and pre-licensed clinicians (including therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, counselors, and allied professionals) who are ready to engage deeply with their own internal process and the relational dimensions of clinical work.
It’s particularly well suited to those who are:

Seeking to strengthen their reflective capacity and emotional attunement.
Interested in countertransference and the therapist’s use of self.
Feeling professionally stagnant or disconnected and wanting to reengage meaningfully with the heart of the work.
Drawn to integrative, experiential learning rather than passive instruction.

How much of a time commitment is this?

The course includes 60 classroom hours. You can expect to spend two hours of outside-of-class time for each classroom our. We understand the realities of busy clinical life, and if you’re unable to complete the full workload, you’re welcome to audit the course - attending class sessions and participating in discussions without submitting papers or graded work. However, we still recommend keeping up with class readings. If you have questions about whether this works for you - reach out! We’re happy to talk through it with you!

Will this course count toward supervision or consultation hours?

This program focuses on theoretical, reflective, and experiential learning - it is not supervision in the regulatory sense.
While we often discuss case material as examples, and will talk about your personal process, these discussions are designed for conceptual exploration rather than formal case oversight. Please check with your licensing body if you are hoping to apply the hours toward supervision requirements.

How much does this course cost?

The full tuition for Mapping Change is $800 USD.

We recognize that clinicians come from a wide range of financial and professional contexts, and we want this training to remain accessible to those who are committed to the work. To that end, we offer a sliding-scale structure and a limited number of scholarships each year.

Our goal is simple: to make this program sustainable for our faculty while keeping it reachable for clinicians at different life and career stages. Some participants pay the full rate; others pay less based on income, professional setting, or life circumstances. If cost is a barrier, we encourage you to reach out — we’ll do our best to find a way to make it work.

Payment plans are also available. Most participants spread tuition across the program’s duration.

We believe that deep professional learning should never be out of reach due to financial constraints. If you’re drawn to the course, please fill out the contact form and we’ll be happy to talk through options, including scholarships and flexible payment schedules.

What is the class size?

Enrollment is intentionally limited to maintain intimacy and depth of learning.
We typically accept 12–15 participants per cohort to allow for meaningful dialogue, personal feedback, and individualized attention.

What happens after the course?

Graduates of Mapping Change often describe the experience as career-changing - not just in their skillset, but in their relationship to the work itself.
You’ll receive a certificate of completion, CEU documentation, and (more importantly), a deepened capacity for presence, reflection, and attunement that will continue to shape your clinical practice for years to come.

Do I need prior experience with systems theory or complexity science?

No prior training is required. The course begins with accessible frameworks before moving into applied complexity theory and systems mapping. Curiosity, openness, and comfort with exploring ambiguity are far more important than prior exposure to these concepts.