Our Story

Founded in 1974, the idea for People House was originally inspired by the Human Potential Movement; the movement grew out of the work of Michael Murphy and Dick Price at the Esalen Institute, beginning in 1962, and had a large following for much of the 1960s and 1970s. The movement was primarily concerned with honoring “human potentialities,” a term used to describe the exploration and practice of “holistic approaches to wellness and personal transformation.” The core philosophy of the Human Potential Movement was awareness of the innate connection of mind, body, and spirit, and the acknowledgement that these aspects of the human condition have a systemic, synergistic, and consequential relationship with each other.

What is important now about the advocates of the Human Potential Movement is that they were pioneers of holistic lifestyles and practices before such ideas had entered into mainstream consciousness in the U.S. It is in part due to their contributions that mind/body practices are now a part of daily life, with acceptance and backing from much of science, medicine, and academia. The inquiry into the mind/body/spirit connection has had major impacts on research and practice in diverse fields, including medicine, psychology, philosophy, ecology, and even physics. What started as a fringe movement in American culture has, over 40 years later, in some way impacted most individuals and industries. It is now mostly thought of as common sense that people need to be whole to be happy and healthy and that such wholeness is what allows us to both experience life meaningfully and contribute meaningfully to our communities and world.

The original purpose of People House was simple: give people a place to connect meaningfully to themselves and others. From its earliest days, People House was intended to build and foster strong, loving communities that supported individuals in achieving their highest potential. The idea was that “. . .truth lies within,” and each individual is capable of becoming aware of truth through a natural unfolding of creative abilities, abilities that could be discovered and explored (an idea similar to the strengths-based approach in mental health counseling). People House was founded to support that journey of unfolding by offering opportunities for holistic education and providing the space and support to make personal choices for learning, healing, and growth.

As espoused by its first official mission statement, People House is, “a center for personal and spiritual growth,” and each program supported through People House is aimed at supporting the human ability to find healing, truth, transformation, and peace through the practices of self-compassion, self-acceptance, and personal responsibility. It is our conviction that it is through these practices that we are able to find love and peace in our own lives and create love and peace in the world around us.

In the decades since its founding, People House has seen great change. Everything from the location, to key leadership, to primary services has changed. What has remained constant is a dedication to providing opportunities for healing and growth through person-centered care. The current aim of the organization is to provide appropriate resources, offered in a safe, supportive community, for those exploring their unique life paths. The services offered and/or sponsored by the organization and its programs are evidence-based and practiced and/or overseen by trained, experienced professionals.