Paris Williams

In the midst of a successful career as a hang gliding instructor and competition pilot (winning a World Champion title and multiple U.S. National Champion titles), Paris Williams suddenly found himself plunged into a profound struggle with experiences that would have likely resulted in the diagnosis of a psychotic disorder. Fortunately, he managed to avoid becoming entangled within the psychiatric system, and he instead embarked upon a journey of healing and self discovery, attempting to resolve his own personal crisis while aspiring to support others going through similar crises. He has since spent over a decade deeply exploring both Eastern and Western under-standings of mind and consciousness, studying intensive meditation from a number of different meditation masters around the world, becoming licensed as a Clinical Psychologist, working in a number of different settings supporting people struggling with challenging and extreme experiences, and conducting a series of pioneering research studies at Saybrook University on recovery from schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. He has recently published a book based upon his work, titled Rethinking Madness, which has received wide acclaim.He currently lives in New Zealand with his wife, Toni, continuing to work as a psychologist, and still occasionally taking to the sky.