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Alice Kennedy Wagstaff, PhD.
known also as Alice Wagstaff Verostko
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Alice receives flowers from Chinese Children, Hangzhou, 1985.Menu
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Alice Wagstaff Verostko, PhD
5535 Clinton Avenue South
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55419 USAEmail: akw@verostko.com
Tel: 612 822-3800
Born in Louisville, Kentucky (1919), Alice, a clinical Psychotherapist and educator has also been Director of her husband's studio since 1968 . During her graduate studies at the University of Chicago she served as a teaching assistant, intern, counselor, and research associate under Carl Rogers (1902 - 1987). Those years, 1953-60, under the influence of Rogers, marked a phenomenal growth in client centered therapy. By 1960 her experience as a therapist and Research Associate earned her an invitation to Duquesne University to establish a counseling center. There, as Chairman of the Department of Psychology (1962-1967) she participated in establishing a unique program in existential psychology. She participated in leading workshops nationally with the Institute of Man and laid the foundation for a counseling center at Duquesne University that served as a model for others.
Minneapolis. After her marriage to Roman Verostko in 1968 she came to Minneapolis where she taught at the University of Minnesota before taking a position as a senior clinical psychologist at the Ramsey County Mental Health Clinic where she served for for 18 years (1971-1989). She also conducted graduate seminars for five years at the Minnesota School for Professional Psychology. Following her retirement from Ramsey she continued a private practice at her home office until 2003. In addition she was active with the Minnesota Sandplay Therapy Group, and served on its board of directors. Her interest in educating women led her to serve in various roles with the Minneapolis branch of the American Association of University Women.
Pathway Studio. Since 1968 Alice has played an active role in Roman's work as Director of his Pathway Studio. During the 1970's their shared interest in collaborative creative work led to several projects as "Life Design Associates". This included an original installation, "Spring Ritual", for Steve Joy's Trajectory Gallery in London, Ontario (Canada). Alice, who, with Roman, had followed a course in Fortran at the Control Data Institute, took an active interest in his algorist work. She helped create and build the word dictionaries that Roman used for the "Sayings of Omphalos" in the "Magic Hand of Chance" (1982-84). Her knowledge of language and structure as well as her natural bent for word-play and alliteration contributed immensely to the quality of the "Sayings of Omphalos". In 1989-90 she assisted in executing the 125 original front and end-pieces for the limited edition of the excerpt from George Boole's Derivation of the Laws...". As Program Coordinator, Alice made important contributions to the organization and implementation of the Fourth International Symposium on Electronic Art (1993). For on-going projects she participates in research and planning.
WIM: The Upsidedown Book. In 2008 Roman resurrected drawings for WIM: the Upsidedown Book, an unpublished book created in the eartly 1970's. The Upsidedown Book was a joint project created in the 1970's with Alice as "wordsmith". She forged the imaginary words for this book that can be read in either direction. By improvising the scale and composition of the drawings for the book Roman created a large two storey installation, WIM: the Upsidedown Mural for the Fred Rogers Center in Latrobe, PA.
For both Roman and Alice this 2008 project brought them full circle to a place where they began, forty years earlier. Both the book and the mural stand as a tribute to her profound influence, not only on the life and work of Roman, but also on the life of so many others. See WIM: The Upsidedown Book.
Below: Cabinet of figures used in sandplay therapy.
(click image for larger views).Sandplay Therapy became a part of her therapy approach in her home practice around the time of her retirement. This approach grew out of the Jungian tradition through Dora Kallf, its founder. Although Jungian in its roots this practice is compatible with Alice's early training in client-centered therapy with Carl Rogers.
This procedure may be used within a therapeutic session when the context and circumstance are judged appropriate. In this method clients, using a waist high sandtray that measures approximately 22 x 30 inches, choose miniatures from a cabinet full of tiny objects and figures to compose a picture, or show a hope, a fear, a nightmare, a dream, that is anything that they choose. In this non-verbal modality, the clients bring forth material, which they can discuss, elaborate, or take away via a picture for their own quiet thought.
Alice's Haiku speaks of gentle meetings with nature as the seasons change. Here we post occasional Haiku as the spirit moves. Image and graphic assistance by Roman.
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