The School of Images

What The School of Images does

The School of Images (SOI) is a New York-based nonprofit 501(c)(3) educational organization founded in 1982 by Dr. Catherine Shainberg, operating under EIN 20-3694020. SOI teaches a guided visualization and dream-work methodology grounded in the Kabbalah of Light tradition, transmitted to Shainberg from her teacher Colette Aboulker-Muscat. Its core intellectual property is the trademarked Saphire® Imagery technique, supplemented by DreamBirth® (a childbirth imagery method co-developed with seven doulas), DreamOpening® (a four-level dream interpretation framework), DreamHelper® (a private session matching service), and supporting modalities including Morphology, The Life Plan, Tree of Life Healing, Reversing, The Waking Dream, and Tarot. The methodology uses short, distinctive imaginal prompts designed to bypass mental chatter and create dialogue between conscious and subconscious minds.

SOI delivers programs through a community-led, event-driven model spanning 7 international regions (US, UK, France, Japan, China Mainland, Hong Kong/Asia-Pacific, Benelux, and Slovenia) with offerings in 10+ languages. Primary revenue streams are course and workshop fees (ranging from free introductory Tastes to multi-session certification programs), private sessions via the DreamHelper® service, retail product sales (books such as 'The Kabbalah of Light' published July 2022 by Inner Traditions, 'Kabbalah and the Power of Dreaming' and 'DreamBirth', plus audio programs priced $18-$36), and tax-deductible donations. Pricing is largely individual/consumer-level with no enterprise contract evidence.

The customer base is a long-tail mix of individuals seeking personal development, expectant parents and birth professionals, aspiring certified practitioners (an 8-semester Saphire® certification and a 3-level DreamBirth® certification are offered), and small group/organizational clients. The organization operates with only 5 employees, suggesting heavy reliance on certified practitioners and regional directors as the primary delivery layer. Marketing is conducted through the website, blog, email newsletter, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, conference appearances (e.g., IASD International Dream Conference), and earned media coverage of Dr. Shainberg.

Name

The School of Images

Legal name

School of Images

Website

https://theschoolofimages.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The School of Images is a New York-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1982 that teaches Saphire® Imagery and dream-work techniques grounded in the Kabbalah of Light tradition to individuals, expectant parents, and birthing professionals across 7 international regions and 10+ languages.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Personal Development Education

NAICS

All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAAAEAG

Personal Enrichment & Creative Arts Programs

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Continuing Education (Noncredit) & Lifelong Learning Programs

Keywords

• Guided imagery training
• Dream work classes
• Visualization workshops
• Personal development education
• Kabbalah teachings

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Course and Workshop Fees: Revenue from semester-length courses, workshops, and intensives taught by certified practitioners. Offerings include Saphire® Imagery courses, DreamOpening®, Morphology, DreamBirth®, and special topic workshops. Classes range from free Tastes to multi-session courses.
2. Private Sessions: One-on-one sessions with certified SOI practitioners using DreamHelpers service. Sessions available in 10+ languages. Revenue generated per session.
3. Product Sales: Sale of books, audio recordings, and educational materials. Products include books such as 'The Kabbalah of Light', 'Kabbalah and the Power of Dreaming', and 'DreamBirth', as well as audio programs for DreamBirth exercises.
4. Donations: As a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN: 20-3694020), SOI accepts tax-deductible donations to support expansion of training, new workshops, scholarships, and organizational improvements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The School of Images delivers guided visualization, dream work, and personal transformation education rooted in the Kabbalah of Light tradition. Core offerings include the Saphire® Imagery methodology, the DreamBirth® childbirth program, the DreamOpening® dream interpretation technique, and complementary programs (Morphology, The Life Plan, Tree of Life Healing, Reversing, The Waking Dream, Tarot SOI's Way). These are delivered through in-person and online classes, multi-year certification programs, private DreamHelper® sessions in 10+ languages, and supporting books and audio products.

Product overview

The School of Images® is a New York-based educational institute and global network offering a comprehensive suite of imagery, dream work, and visualization programs. The core offering is Saphire® Imagery - a unique methodology of guided visualization using quick imaginal prompts to access the subconscious. This is supported by specialized programs including DreamBirth® (for childbirth), DreamOpening® (dream interpretation), Morphology (body form study), and The Life Plan (reactive behavior transformation). Products include books (Kabbalah and the Power of Dreaming, The Kabbalah of Light, DreamBirth), audio guides for DreamBirth phases, and free DreamGifts exercises. Training is available through self-development classes or multi-year certification programs. Services are delivered via in-person classes, online Zoom sessions, and private DreamHelper® sessions in 10+ languages.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Saphire Imagery: Unique form of visualization exercises for guided imagery and subconscious communication
• DreamBirth
• DreamOpening
• DreamHelpers
• School of Images International Schools

Products and services

• Saphire® Imagery The core methodology of The School of Images - a unique form of guided visualization using short, quick imaginal prompts to access the subconscious mind. Uses 'jolt' exercises to short-circuit mental chatter and enable direct dialogue between conscious and subconscious for individual adults and practitioners.
• DreamBirth®

Quantifiable outcome

• Assisted over 300 births as a birth doula using DreamBirth® techniques
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Monroe Institute: Nonprofit educational organization teaching guided imagery and out-of-body exploration techniques. Comparable to SOI as both are experiential learning schools centered on altered states of consciousness, imagery practice, and structured facilitator/practitioner training programs.
• Hoffman Institute Foundation: Nonprofit personal development organization offering week-long residential programs on emotional healing and self-awareness. Comparable to SOI's intensive workshop model, facilitator-led transformation programs, and nonprofit educational structure.
• Academy of Guided Imagery: Specialty training institute certifying guided imagery practitioners for clinical and wellness applications. Direct overlap with SOI's Saphire Imagery training and certification program; both serve practitioners who deliver one-on-one imagery sessions.
• Sedona Training Associates: Personal development education company offering experiential release and transformation courses in small-group settings. Comparable to SOI's workshop-intensive delivery model and self-development curriculum.
• The Focusing Institute: Educational nonprofit teaching Eugene Gendlin's Focusing method for embodied self-awareness. Comparable to SOI as a nonprofit teaching specialized self-awareness/contemplative practices through structured training and practitioner certification.
• Haden Institute: Educational nonprofit offering programs in dream work, spiritual direction, and contemplative practice. Directly comparable to SOI's DreamOpening® dream interpretation training and broader mystical/contemplative educational mission.

Broad incumbents

• The Chopra Center (Chopra Foundation): Large wellness education organization offering meditation, yoga, and consciousness programs. Comparable as a broader wellness/personal development education brand with teacher certification, workshops, books, and global reach — but operating at significantly greater scale.
• Landmark Worldwide: Established personal development education company offering large-format transformation courses globally. Overlaps with SOI in delivering structured personal development curricula, though Landmark operates at much larger scale and for-profit.

Others

• International Association for the Study of Dreams (IASD): Professional association focused on dream research and education, with annual conferences. SOI presents at IASD conferences; the organizations are thematically linked through dream work and imagery, though IASD is a professional body rather than a training school.

Emerging players

• Mindfulness Schools: Nonprofit organization training educators in mindfulness practices. Comparable to SOI as a nonprofit training-the-trainer model for contemplative/inner-awareness practices, though focused on K-12 educators rather than adult personal development.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC5Zb6AYV6niu9FyZyBtkmSA

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The School of Images