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The ARC Institute Board of DirectorsPietro AbelaARC Visionary, Founder and Teacher
Following careers as a professional musician and school teacher, Pietro began an intensive two year training in nutrition in 1986. During his internship he discovered an aptitude for hands-on healing work. This led him to study with teachers throughout North America, particularly Barbara Brennan, Rosalyn Bruyere and Ron Kurtz. During this time, Pietro also studied complimentary modalities such as acupressure, NLP, kinesiology and bodymind counseling. Pietro’s studies and research on stress, emotional issues and their connections to physical well-being led him to development of ARC’s powerful self-healing methods. Many of his clients approached him to learn his healing techniques which led to the creation of the first ARC class in 1994. The classes grew and developed into a 2 year program and became The ARC Institute in 2000, as a school of consciousness. In addition to maintaining private practices in Canada and the United States, Pietro travels internationally with his wife Melanie, teaching for The ARC Institute. Pietro is currently writing his book titled: “A Return to Consciousness.” Pietro enjoys a hobby of transforming leisure travel videos into mini-movies under the name “ARC Entertainment Productions.” Click here to read an interview with Pietro Abela. Melanie AbelaFounder, President and Spiritual Director
Melanie currently has practices in Spiritual Mentoring for children and adults in Qualicum Beach, BC and Seattle, Washington. Melanie co-teaches with her husband, Pietro for The ARC Institute. When not teaching, Melanie’s passion involves creating assemblage and collage art with recycled materials, sacred mementos and mixed media. Jo-Ann SvenssonDirector of Community and Media Communication
For more information check out her websites and blog at: Kristen McHenryEditor of The ARC Newsletter
Kristen graduated from Evergreen State College in 1994 with a BA in Performing Arts and Filmmaking. Kristen studied Laban Movement Theory, and eventually went on to attend the Brenekke School of Massage. Kristen also pursued a two-year Mind-Body therapy certification at the ARC Institute. From there she worked as a mind/body counselor and massage therapist. In 2001, Kristen joined the Depression Wellness Network. As Program Director, she developed programs for adults with depression, led support groups and taught workshops. She also implemented a volunteer program which trained clients of the Network to provide peer support to others with depression while actively working on their own healing. In her “spare” time, Kristen writes fiction and poetry, and creates fine art for her side business Roaring Rose Designs. thegoodtypist.blogspot.com Heather FarisDirector
Heather is passionate about working in circle and uses it as a creative vessel to offer workshops. She developed and facilitated Corporate Circle Workshops for lululemon athletica (Calgary) and is creator of the ARC Circle workshops. She believes we all have rich inner worlds and recognizes the value in being acknowledged or witnessed in a deep respectful way. Heather has been meeting in and calling ceremonial circles for over 16 years and has been in private practice as an ARC Bodywork Therapist since 2003. Heather has a degree in Visual Arts from the University of Victoria and is a graduate of ARC’s Spiritual Deepening and Self Care Program. She has a love of animals and the natural world and practices animal communication. When Heather is not working she creates sculpture and 3D collage using stones, branches, bones, fabric and varied materials. Jim ClaussDirectorJames J. Clauss, Ph.D, is a Director and graduate of the ARC Institute. Jim came to us with experience in Chi Kung and Reiki. He has assisted in the establishment and development of the Institute by virtue of his experience as a university professor and administrator. Jim is a Professor of Classics at the University of Washington, where he also served as departmental chair and will serve as Director of the Honors Program starting in the Autumn of 2007. He is the author of The Best of the Argonauts and he has written articles and reviews on Greek and Roman literature and history. |
Pietro Abela, is the visionary and co-founder with his wife Melanie, of The ARC Institute. He has been an ARC Bodywork Practitioner since 1990. He is also a distinguished teacher, mentor and workshop leader. 
Melanie Abela, M.A. is the co-founder, President, and Spiritual Director of The ARC Institute. Her career encompasses 25 years in the healing arts. She has a B.A. in psychology from Ohio University, M.A. in Art Therapy from Wright State University, and a postgraduate diploma in Spiritual Direction from Chalmers Institute. Melanie established art therapy programs at Charter Rivers Psychiatric Hospital and Thoms Rehabilitation Hospital. She taught psychology at Midlands technical College and has given creative arts workshops for various outreach programs serving emotionally, physically and mentally disabled groups. Internships in holistic health, intuitive training and her hospital art therapy experiences led her to develop a successful practice applying the creative arts process in the medical community as a spiritual mentor. She has received acclamation from such notable sources as the governor of North Carolina and Self Magazine for her work. 
Jo-Ann Svensson is a Director for The ARC Institute, an ARC Instructor (2007), a Certified ARC Health Practitioner (2000), and the founder of the Creative Codependence™ Workshops. Jo-Ann initiated a government contract for energy practitioners and conducted research studying the efficacy of ARC Bodywork with people in early recovery from substance abuse. Her work was documented in Massage Magazine and Vancouver's Georgia Straight. Jo-Ann is committed to helping others find safety and joy within, bringing to ARC a wealth of knowledge of how to begin this journey. She teaches throughout the west coast and has a private practice in West Vancouver. She is a published writer and, most importantly, a connoisseur of the fine things in life like dark chocolate and rich coffee.
Kristen McHenry, LMP, is a Director and the ARC Newsletter Editor. She brings a wealth of experience to The ARC Institute. Kristen is also the Community Outreach and Volunteer Coordinator for The Hope Heart Institute bringing heart health awareness and education to the public. 
Heather Faris, BFA, is a Director for the ARC Institute, an ARC Institute Instructor and a Certified ARC Health Practitioner. Heather brings to ARC a wealth of experience evolving out of a commitment to her own creative healing process and spiritual journey. Over the last sixteen years she has studied and explored various healing arts including Hakomi, Reiki, Chi Gong, Kabbalah, Authentic Movement, Creative Visualization and Journey Work. Heather uses her creativity to connect and expand the ARC community. Her role supports her commitment to facilitating ways for people to live more embodied, heart-centered lives.