Anil Coumar
M.A. Psychology, 1994
 Anil Coumar was living in London, England, when he first heard about Antioch. He had completed his medical degree and a year of residency in psychiatry. He had studied psychoanalysis, transactional analysis and clinical hypnotherapy as well.
"My learning at Antioch helped me to put everything together into a meaningful, whole, practical approach to psychotherapy," he says. "While at Antioch, I also explored somatic psychology and Eastern psychological approaches. Lastly, I used the Antioch experience to focus on areas of learning that I had left out in my earlier training and education."
"Classroom learning from discussion is really unlike any other – very stimulating and insightful."
One of his best experiences at Antioch he describes as more of an intervention.
"For my individual counseling class," Coumar recalls, "we had to do counseling with a volunteer 'client.' I was working with a student who was completing her B.A. While presenting my session to the instructor, I remarked (with some embarrassment) about how I had some of the same issues the 'client' was bringing into therapy. The instructor leaned over and whispered in my ear, 'So what!?'
"This may seem like a simple comment now, but the delivery and timing of that intervention had a profound effect on me. It made me realize our shared human suffering."
Coumar says Antioch is not for everyone.
"It is better suited for mature learners who are self-motivated. Classroom learning from discussion is really unlike any other – very stimulating and insightful. Antioch is one place where the values of diversity, social justice and inclusiveness trickle down to the classroom, where they take on special meaning that is unique for each student."
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