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Maren Tonder Hansen Edit Profile

psychotherapist writer

Maren Tonder Hansen is an ordained Unitarian Universalist minister, a licensed psychotherapist, a founding member of the Pacifica Graduate Institute in Carpinteria, California, a board member of the Joseph Campbell and Marija Gimbutas Libraries, and the mother of three children. She is the author of "Teachers of Myth" and "Mother Mysteries", a tender and funny exploration of the sacred dimension of motherhood.

Background

Maren Hansen was born on September 13, 1952 in Montclair, New Jersey, United States, into the family of Alan and Lois S. Hansen.

Education

Maren received a Bachelor of Science degree at Cornell College. Then she became a Master of Divinity at Starr King School for the Ministry. Finally, she earned Ph.D. in Psychology in Saybrook Graduate School.

Career

Maren is the founder, and Ex-Officio Board of Trustees member. She is also a founding faculty member of the first hybrid learning program at Pacifica. Her research interests include the psychological dimension of myth, female psychology and spirituality, ritual, and depth psychological models of leadership. Dr. Hansen is a founding board member of the Joseph Campbell Library and Archives. She studied with Joseph Campbell for years and teaches a course on Joseph Campbell.

She is author of the books "Mother Mysteries" and "Teachers of Myth." Hansen researched, designed, and tested a myth curriculum for adolescents, designed to stimulate psychological development. Her creative pursuits include improvisational singing in an ensemble, and songwriting.

Achievements

  • Maren Hansen is mostly famous as the author of books "Increasing Organic Agriculture at the Local Level: A Manual for Consumers, Grocers, Farmers, and Policy Makers" and "Mother-Mysteries."

Interests

  • singing

Connections

Maren married a clinical psychologist and educational administrator Stephen F. Aizenstat on March 31, 1984, and they have three common children: Jesse, Alia, and Elijah.

Father:
J. Alan Hansen

Mother:
Lois S. Hansen

Spouse:
Stephen F. Aizenstat

Son:
Jesse Aizenstat

Daughter:
Alia Aizenstat

Son:
Elijah Aizenstat