ABOUT US

Ellen Fogel, M.S.W., is the founder of the National Center for Integrative Therapies and co-founder of the Center for Integrative Healing. The National Center for Integrative Therapies assists organizations in setting up their own hospital based Integrative Therapies programs based upon their specific models and prototypes. Ellen also founded and directs the Integrative Therapies Program at the Breast Cancer Resource Center in Santa Barbara, California. She served on the board of directors for the American Cancer Society in Santa Barbara for over 20 years and is an advisory board member for the Breast Cancer Resource Center of Santa Barbara. Ellen also serves on the board of directors for the Santa Barbara Summit for Tibet. She is currently completing her studies towards her medical degree (M.D.).

Ellen has dedicated herself to researching unique healing modalities around the world. She studied aspects of Tibetan medicine in the Himalayas while traveling throughout Bhutan, Nepal and Tibet. In Sweden she studied Nordic Seidr and ethnobotany and learned indigenous healing practices in Lapland and Fiji. She trained extensively in natural medicine in Peru and Brazil. Ellen has focused on anthropological medicine, bio-energetic therapies and Himalayan healing modalities and has traveled to many international sacred sites studying cultural rituals deeply rooted in ancient wisdom. She has integrated this breadth of experience in her clinical practice and in her teaching.

In addition to her extensive training, Ellen has a unique multidisciplinary background having studied nursing and medicine, obtaining a master’s degree in clinical social work, and receiving certification in all modalities included in the NCFIT model. Ellen utilizes her diversity of experience to enrich the lives of her students, clients, patients and colleagues.

Venerable Thepo Tulku Rinpoche was born in Lhasa , Tibet in 1954 and was recognized as the 8th Thepo Tulku when he was three years old. He trained in Ganden Shartse Monastery and grew up with his tutor Great Lati Rinpoche. Thepo Tulku escaped into the Himalayas as a young child and was carried on the shoulders of monks with the group that followed His Holiness the Dalai Lama to India. In 1959, he was exiled to India as the Communist Chinese Government illegally occupied Tibet. Thepo Tulku continued his studies at Namgyal Monastery (his Holiness the Dalai Lama’s personal monastery) and at Ganden Monastic University in India. From 1975-1980, he worked at the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives in Dharamsala , India. He also served as a special Tibetan cultural advisor for the Smithsonian Institution, Tibetan library. In 1983, Thepo Tulku moved to Northern California. He served the Vajrapani Tibetan Buddhist Centers and has worked actively as an activist for the Tibetan cause and human rights. He is a founding board member of the Bay Area Friends of Tibet and co- founder of the Tibetan Association of Southern California. In 1994, he served as President and a board director for the Tibetan Association of Northern California for three terms. He was also the coordinator for the Resettlement Project. He is currently the co- founder of the Santa Barbara Summit For Tibet and lives in Santa Barbara, California. Thepo Tulku has been instrumental in arranging all of the Tibetan events and teachings in which we have been involved. He currently teaches classes and lectures on mindfulness. He organizes Spiritual events and Interfaith Services sharing all with the global community.