Harner Shamanic Counseling™

Developed by Michael Harner

This five-day course provides intensive preparation in a highly effective system of personal problem-solving and guidance for those who wish to use the methods for themselves or professionally for others. Harner Shamanic Counseling (HSC) was originated in the early 1980s by Michael Harner based on his earlier devised core shamanism.

In essence, the clients become practitioners of divinatory shamanism for themselves, with the help and guidance in ordinary reality of the shamanic counselor. One of the features of HSC is that the real shamanic counselors are in nonordinary reality. These are wise teachers that the clients encounter in their shamanic journeys and who provide answers to the client's questions. The ordinary reality HSC counselors, in contrast, provide instruction, orientation, and methodological advice based upon core shamanism and shamanic journeying.

HSC uses electronically provided sonic-driving to alter the state of consciousness of the client in order to go "outside of time" to utilize ancient shamanic problem-solving methods. The client is trained in the method of simultaneous narration and recording of the shamanic journey in order to amplify the quality of experience and to have an ongoing record of the journeys. Through their experiences in the shamanic journey, clients have the opportunity to discover their own abilities to obtain extraordinary, practical and wise answers to important personal questions, overcome inhibitory fears, and to acquire self-confidence and incredible heartfelt wisdom. With this, the client commonly experiences a sense of personal empowerment and a new-found joy in existence.

All five days of this course are devoted to experiential practice in question framing, journeying, and shamanic interpretation in an intimate setting. Each participant will have practice in both roles, client and counselor. The work is intense and exciting. As one participant observed, "The deepest journey I ever had occurred in this course."

Since HSC is a spiritual rather than a psychological system, it is not necessary for an HSC counselor to be a professional psychotherapist or other counselor. What does seem to be essential is that the counselor be well-versed in the concepts and practices of shamanism, and be a stable individual of sensitivity, intelligence, character, and compassion.

About HSC: Q&A with April Tuck (MP3 audio, 28:50 min)

Prerequisites

Additional Info

  • Before enrolling in this training course, please make sure that you have been having success in contacting your power animals and/or teachers on your own and that you feel confident about your journey skills.
  • For more about this highly effective method, in Sandra Harner's book Ema's Odyssey: Shamanism for Healing and Spiritual Knowledge, follow the journeys of Ema as she explores the spiritual realms under Sandra's guidance using Harner Shamanic Counseling. Ema enters into a life-changing personally transformative odyssey over a ten-year period. (Released January 2014.)
  • Teacher bio: April Tuck.
  • 35 FSS Continuing Education (CE) Credits available. (Link for information on how to verify acceptance of FSS CE credits with your approval board.)
  • Those who complete this five-day training may request a Certificate of Completion, which states that the recipient has completed the Five Day Harner Shamanic Counseling Training course. Additionally, completion of this workshop is one of the prerequisites to receive the Gold Certificate of Completion, issued by the Foundation for Shamanic Studies.
  • Persons who complete this course successfully may publicly state that they have been trained in Harner Shamanic Counseling. FSS members may list the completion of this five-day training on their Members Directory listings. Certification in HSC is no longer offered.
  • As of 2008, the Foundation for Shamanic Studies ceased offering certification in Harner Shamanic Counseling. This cessation does not affect those who already are Certified Shamanic Counselors (C.S.C.).® Note: Certified Shamanic Counselor and CSC are registered trademarks of the Foundation for Shamanic Studies.
  • To preserve the integrity and standards of the Harner Shamanic Counseling system, and of its teaching, unauthorized use of the Harner name is prohibited by law. Permission to employ the Harner name in this context is allowed for those who have successfully completed the Harner Shamanic Counseling training course. However, the teaching of Harner Shamanic Counseling to two or more persons at one time, in any form whatsoever, whether under this name or any other, in part or in whole, including oral transmission, and written, audio, or visual media, is prohibited without advance written approval by Sandra Harner and is subject to conditions set forth by her. This applies to Certified Shamanic Counselors as well as to all others.
What Participants Say

"April Tuck was amazing in how she presented the info, guided us in the practice, held the space for deep learning, kept us motivated, and taught by affirming and uplifting us with her joyful energy. She made the course extraordinary!"

—Deborah Ram

"This course was excellent. Well thought out methodology and good pacing over the five days. Packed with both shamanic counseling info and real world practical application. Because of this course, I am clear I want to practice shamanic counseling. This is a progression from my years as an attorney. To hold the space for others to gain their answers from the spirit world is the obvious next step for me."

—Deborah Ram

"The HSC training I received has been invaluable both for myself and my clients. While I have not been called upon to offer this service as of yet, I feel it has made me more sensitive to the concerns of my clients, and better capable of addressing them."

—Ben Jezirski

"The HSC work is among the most powerful I have encountered, not only for myself at the training, but in use with clients afterwards. With regard to the training itself, I really loved it. I came away, not only with insights and new practices for myself, but a method I can use to help clients develop their own disciplined work and connection to helping spirits."

—Susan Rossi

"It was a truly amazing week. I really can't tell you how much this training impacted my life, in part because I can only sense it at this point. It was an amazing experience!"

Workshop calendar

Harner Shamanic Counseling (HSC)™

 
DateLocation / TimeInstructorContact

Aug 4—Aug 8, 2025

Boston, Massachusetts

April Tuck

REQUEST INFORMATION
35 FSS CE credits

Journeywork Institute
Debbie Oliver

gro.m1728481204sinam1728481204ahs@r1728481204etsig1728481204er1728481204
Tel: 707-857-2522
Fax: 707-639-1221

Our workshops are widely recognized as unparalleled in the world.

Originated, researched and developed over nearly 50 years by anthropologist Michael Harner, the pioneer of contemporary shamanism.

Our training offers students the opportunity to learn and practice authentic, powerful, and effective shamanic healing methods to high ethical standards.

For Educational Purposes

All Foundation workshops and training programs are offered for teaching purposes only and not for healing or treating any student or participant for any physical or mental condition or illness.

Copyright

All Foundation workshops and training courses are copyrighted and were originated, researched, and developed by Michael Harner (except as may be otherwise noted).

Electronic recording of audio, video or images is not permitted.