About

— Human Potential

Annabelle Nelson, PhD

Annabelle’s journey has been fueled with a passion for discovering the psychology of human potential. While earning her PhD in developmental psychology, she was a graduate student and a educational consultant in low-income schools in Indianapolis, Hopi and the Bronx. In this work, she saw young people with great, untapped potential. The educational environment did not help students find their potential, and their vitality was stifled by their environment.

Her journey explored yoga, imagery, storytelling and archetypes to open the mind to emotional healing and spiritual insight for clarity, peace, happiness and wisdom.
Over the years, Nelson’s research documented the natural ways to expand consciousness to accelerate learning, release emotions, and nurture awareness and flashes of insight from collective wisdom.

Her MISSION was from that day forward to find natural ways for people to unlock their potential.

— Global Work

Teaching, Research & Consciousness

Annabelle is prolific scholar and researcher, working for over 40 years as a professor first at Prescott College and then at Fielding Graduate University. She is a world traveler, teaching with a Fulbright in Gujarat, India and presenting in conferences in Cuba, New Zealand, UK, Japan and throughout the U.S.

As a program developer she created:

  • a teaching credential and B.A. program for American Indian teacher aides
  • a community nonprofit Wholistic Empowerment and Education for Life (WHEEL) using culture and storytelling for substance abuse and HIV prevention for American Indian and Latino youth.

Her yoga and Zen meditation practice prompted visionary states which gave her experiences of expanded states of consciousness that could clear the mind and tap the collective unconscious of wisdom. She blended this insight with her studies of humanistic and Jungian psychology and Buddhist teachings.

The WHEEL Council →
— Inner Practice & Wisdom

Publications, Books & Life

Her extensive research is published in peer-reviewed journals like Humanistic Psychology, Heroism Science, Child and Youth Care Forum, Journal of Primary Prevention and Journal of Adolescent Research and others.

Topics of Annabelle’s research are:

  • substances abuse prevention
  • imagery and creativity
  • archetypes
  • wisdom
  • heroine archetypes

She is equally prolific in publishing books, and her last two were Storytelling, Wisdom and Archetypes, 2026, Mandorla Book and Archetypal Imagery, 2014, Jessica Kingsley.

She is an engaging teacher and facilitator and enjoys helping people find their archetypes on their path to wisdom. She lives in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, has three child, and enjoys hiking, cycling and cross country skiing.

— Annabelle Nelson

Research Articles

Davidson, L., & Nelson, A., (2025). Strength training as recovery capital in substance abuse disorders. J Ment Health Soc Behav, 7(1): 201
Nelson, Annabelle L. (2024) The heroine archetype, Heroism Science: Vol. 9: Iss. 1, Article 9. DOI: 10.26736/hs.2024.01.10
Kaviani, C. & Nelson, A. (2020) Smartphones and the sexual behaviour of Generation Z college men in the USA, Sex Education, DOI: 10.1080/14681811.2020.1790350

Nelson, A., Cordova, D., Walters, A.S. & Szecsy, E. (2015). Storytelling for empowerment for Latino teens: Increasing HIV Prevention knowledge and attitudes. Journal of Adolescent Research. 1-30

Nelson, A., McClintock, C., Perez-Ferguson, A., Shawver, M. & Thompson, G. (2008). Storytelling narratives: social bonding as key for youth at risk. Child Youth Care Forum 31: 127-137. DOI:10.1007/s10566-008-9055-5

Nelson, A. and Arthur, B. (2003). Decreasing at-risk youth’s alcohol and marijuana use. Journal of Primary Prevention. 24:2, 169-180. DOI: 10.1023/A:1025944412465

Nelson, A. (2007). The spacious mind: using archetypes for transformation towards Wisdom. The Humanistic Psychologist.35, 235-246. DOI: 10.1080/08873260701521491

Nelson, A., & Lalemi, B. (1991). The role of imagery training on Tohono O'odham children's creativity scores. Journal of American Indian Education, 24-32
Nelson, A. (1990). Center for Indian Bilingual Teacher Training: A case study in empowering Indian college students. Journal of Navajo Education. 7 (1), 14-20.

Nelson-Burford, A. (1989). Imagery's physiological base. Journal of the Society for Accelerative Learning and Teaching. 13 (4), 363-373.

— Continue the conversation —

Interested in working together?

Let’s explore how consulting can support your organization, program, or community.
I’d love to hear about your work and ideas.
Contact Annabelle