Dynamic Emotional Integration® is based on the work of award-winning author and pioneering researcher, Karla McLaren, M.Ed., whose grand unified theory of emotions revalues even the most “negative” emotions and opens startling new pathways to self-awareness, effective communication, and healthy empathy.
Dynamic Emotional Integration also incorporates Karla’s Six Essential Aspects of Empathy model, which makes empathy clearly understandable, accessible, and manageable for everyone.
Note: Dynamic Emotional Integration® is a proprietary process that is only taught in this 14-month licensing program here at EmpathyAcademy.org.
All of the materials and concepts are copyrighted by Karla McLaren, M.Ed. and Emotion Dynamics Inc.
Only licensed Dynamic Emotional Integration Trainers and Consultants are permitted to use this work professionally (this includes the copyrighted work in Karla McLaren’s books, audio learning programs, and online courses).
You can view the course curriculum, schedule, tuition, and reading list for our upcoming Cohort 9 here:
DEI Course Schedule and Reading List for Cohort 9
Course 1: Learning the Language of Emotions: 4 weeks
Course 2: Deeper Inquiry: 4 weeks
Course 3: Exploring the Art of Empathy: 4 weeks
Course 4: DEI Practicum & Online Retreat Intensive: 6 weeks
Course 5: Deeper Empathy: 4 weeks
DEI Retreat Intensive 2: Online 3 days
Course 6: Peer Training & Consulting: 6 weeks
Course 7: Trainer Track: Specific Focus & Populations: 10 weeks
DEI Retreat Intensive 3: Online 3 days
Course 8: Licensing: Testing and Completion: 4 weeks
Time Requirements: The Dynamic Emotional Integration curriculum is built on an adult learning model, which relies upon your ability to manage your own time and your own reading schedule. Each Dynamic Emotional Integration course involves 10 hours (per course week) of study, forum assignments, and exercises that you can complete on your own schedule. These 10 hours also include one (1) required 60-minute live weekly webinar per course week that will be offered at different times and days so that people with heavy work schedules or people in far-flung time zones can attend.
Prerequisites: Students need to have read The Language of Emotions and The Art of Empathy before the first course (LoE100: Learning the Language of Emotions) begins. Prospective students should have a working understanding of the emotional skills and the Empathic Mindfulness practices, with at least 1 year of practice and application. This is not a read-along program; it is a deepening and interactive inquiry into the grand unified theory of emotions model, the Six Essential Aspects of Empathy model, and the Empathic Mindfulness practices that Karla McLaren has developed over the past five decades.
What each course entails: Each online course includes online text and video curriculum, assigned readings, and regular live weekly webinar sessions (one hour per course week) with licensed Dynamic Emotional Integration professionals Sherry Olander, Jen Asdorian, Sandi Davis, and other DEI professionals. Karla McLaren, M.Ed. is a guest instructor in the first four courses, and a lead instructor for the rest. There are also regular written forum interactions, Q&As, and opportunities for deeper inquiry. This is a live and responsive program focused on your well-being, your empathic awareness and skill, and our learning community.
Online learning awareness: The courses in the Dynamic Emotional Integration curriculum deepen and expand your understanding of the material in The Language of Emotions and The Art of Empathy and the other course texts. The reading and response requirements are not difficult, but they require comfort with (or the willingness to learn) online navigation and communication. You need to be comfortable online, able to read and write for content, willing to engage with your learning community, and willing and able to put new skills and ideas into practice in your own life.
Course Intensive Retreats: There are 3 scheduled online intensive retreats in the Dynamic Emotional Integration program. All intensives begin on Friday evening (in each person’s time zone) and end after lunch on each person’s Sunday afternoon.
Duration: The Trainer’s Licensing track is a 14-month program, and the Consultant License is a special 3-month post-Trainer’s course.
Assessing your progress: This program is a combination of learning, self-awareness, exploration, and displaying your comprehension and mastery of the material (and your ability to teach and/or consult). There is no guarantee, however, that you’ll be ready to be licensed at the end of this process. Some people take these courses a few times before they become licensed, and some get to the end of the program without entering fully into licensure (due to situations such as a lack of readiness, family or work changes, or other issues that may require them to step away from the licensing process).
Business preparation: These courses include information and support for building your own business as a Dynamic Emotional Integration licensee. As you may know, any new business takes between 1 to 2 years to become financially viable. This is normal; a business is like a baby, and until it grows up, it needs a lot of feeding, care, and attention. This licensing process is just the beginning of developing your own Dynamic Emotional Integration Training and/or Consulting practice, and we support our licensees throughout their careers.
Prerequisites: You need to have read The Language of Emotions and The Art of Empathy before the first course (LoE100: Learning the Language of Emotions) begins.
You should have a working understanding of the emotional skills and the Empathic Mindfulness practices, with at least 1 year of practice and application.
This is not a read-along program; it is a deepening and interactive inquiry into the grand unified theory of emotions model, the Six Essential Aspects of Empathy model, and the unique Empathic Mindfulness practices that Karla McLaren, M.Ed. has developed over the past five decades.
We are currently licensing our 8th Dynamic Emotional Integration Cohort. If you would like to apply for Cohort 9, which will commence in August of 2026, please fill out this Statement of Interest and we’ll be in touch:
Note: In 2003, Karla McLaren made a sea change in her work, and left her previous spiritual and metaphysical beliefs behind. Her current work (and Dynamic Emotional Integration) is focused on emotions, empathy, sociology, anthropology, neurology, and the neurodiversity paradigm. If you would like to learn more, Missing the Solstice chronicles her transition, while KarlaMcLaren.com focuses on her current approach.
For DEI online curriculum and Forum interactions
EmpathyAcademy.org will adapt to almost any display size, however extremely small screens might experience some display issues.
For the Zoom live webinars
If your computer can’t manage Zoom on its own, you can also visit the Zoom website for a live session that includes audio and video of the participants (but not video of you), or you can call in for an audio-only session.
If, for any reason, we cancel a Dynamic Emotional Integration course you’ve already paid for, you will receive a full refund of your course tuition, or you’ll have the option of transferring your tuition amount to another course.
If you cannot attend a Dynamic Emotional Integration course you’ve already paid for, and you notify us at least two weeks before the course start date, you’ll receive a refund minus a $100 processing fee. There will be no refunds after this date, as we plan our staffing budget based upon the attendance numbers for each course.
