Spectrum Resource Center | Rosa Reilly

Spectrum Center opened its doors in Houston, Texas in February of 1988. The Houston economy had crashed and had not yet recovered. A number of spiritual centers were closing their doors, yoga was considered a strange, “flower child” activity and meditation was looked upon with suspicion. The body-mind connection was truly a revolutionary thought and there were only a tiny handful of difficult to find health food stores providing alternative approaches health cares. Books on astrology, goddess worship, macrobiotics or Buddhism could only be found in a few remote bookstores where dusty treasures were hidden, only to be discovered by those willing to search through badly lit stacks. This was the cusp of the great mainstreaming of what was soon to be called “New Age” thought. Those attracted to that paradigm shift in health and spiritual perspective had no idea how quickly acceptance would arrive for what had long been considered edgy and weird.

At this time a vision was born of a Center where state licensed therapeutic professionals would practice next to those skilled in the metaphysical arts. We imagined a place where astrology could be taught next door to a seminar for continuing education credits for CPA’s, where a psychologist could office next to an energy worker. This diverse, inclusive and exciting vision became Spectrum Center.

Rosa Glenn Reilly and her husband Tom Reilly, rented a large house in Montrose on a wide, tree-lined street called Audubon Place. The rent was cheap because the house was uninhabitable. Driven by an infectious dream, a community of volunteers showed up to paint, sand floors, re-wire, landscape and otherwise transform this neglected home into a beacon of light. Then, as now, our fundamental purpose was to create a place where everyone would be welcome. Participation was not limited by the rigors of dogma, whether traditional or non-traditional.

That first winter the inaugural events held in the two meeting rooms at Spectrum Center on Audubon were an American Indian Pipe Ceremony and a financial planning seminar, clearly reflecting the dream of inclusion. Rosa sat happily in the kitchen that was situated between the two rooms and watched as the groups mingled and exchanged curious questions during their breaks. Michael Wilson also chose Spectrum Center to host Houston’s first HIV Positive support group. The Center became a place where those in the first days of HIV awareness found solace, guidance, friendship and laughter.

The mission statement for Spectrum Center remains clear even after two plus decades — “We are dedicated to the education and well being of individuals and families through workshops, lectures and professional care. We are inclusive of traditional and non-traditional approaches to health, spirituality and lifestyle.”

In 1992 Spectrum Center moved from the house in Montrose to a two-story office building inside the Loop near the Galleria. Spectrum continued to expand sponsoring  internationally recognized teachers such as Shakti Gawain, Gabrielle Roth, Lucia Cappichione, Ron Kurtz, Frank Natale, Wayne Muller and Gordy Ryan.

Three 2-year professional trainings in Hakomi Body Centered Psychotherapy, a pioneer modality of mind/body science, were held at Spectrum. Gabrielle Roth, the originator of the ecstatic dance movement in America, brought her workshops to the Center after a 10-year sabbatical, spawning a new national wave of expressive dance work. The Houston workshops birthed a dance community called “Sweat Your Prayers” which has been duplicated across the U.S. and Europe.

The sponsorship of workshops began to slow in the late1990′s as these teachers and their work became accepted by the wider community and easily available through churches and universities. In 2001, Tom Reilly, Rosa’s husband and Co-Director, died after a long illness. A period of grieving and re-grouping began.

In the Spring of 2004 Spectrum Center moved to Post Oak Place and then moved again, back to 4100 Westheimer in 2008. Spectrum has now grown to house more than 28 practitioners offering a wide range of services from psychotherapy to skilled and focused bodywork, Naturapathy, Acupressure, Acupuncture, energy medicine, Christian and non-denominational spiritual counseling,  holistic health consultation and the psychic arts. Our excellent group of skilled professionals are the heart of Spectrum Center. We also sponsor an active creative writing community with monthly workshops and private coaching. The Spectrum Center Writers Guild is a welcoming, supportive group of writers who share a common passion.

Spectrum Center proudly continues to provide professional holistic choices for family and individual care, and a variety of educational opportunities in the form of weekend workshops and daytime and evening classes.

See their class schedule at www.spectrumcenter-houston.com