Because the prevalent land development mindset today remains artificially trapped in a functional and/or human-centric approach to planning, most urban landscapes are developed in ways that increasingly separate human life from the natural and spiritual patterns of place. This leads to closed-system human communities that are increasingly disharmonious and degenerative to their environments, thereby diminishing the potential for contributing to sustainable and evolving habitats. The purpose of this dissertation was to develop greater understanding and insight regarding the design and implementation of regenerative urban planning processes that can successfully reintegrate human settlements with the inherent patterns of socio-ecological place.;This dissertation involved theory development in the field of psychology and its application in two comparative case studies of successful regenerative urban planning efforts, Curitiba in Parana, Brazil and Noisette in South Carolina, United States. Each effort moved beyond the conventional planning process to include a more comprehensive approach toward developing integrative solutions, civic co-participation, socio-ecological understanding, and the re-inspiriting of place. The design processes and leadership capabilities of the core design teams were the focus of this study. The central research question was: What are the critical internal and external success factors for implementing a regenerative planning process within an urban community? Data were collected through semi-formal interviews, archival document analysis and field notes.;Through a combination of theoretical and case-study research, four levels of mind in relationship to place (operational, human nurturing, socio-ecological, and spiritual) were identified as integral to a holistic and regenerative planning process. In addition, case study findings elucidated critical leadership capacities and process elements for regenerative planning. Critical leadership capacities included: Balancing realization and actualization work; courage to marshal a vision; appreciating the unique identity and vocation of place; living systems thinking; continuous commitment to learning and improving; compassion and solidarity; co-responsible partnering, self-organizing resourcefulness; connecting needs with potentials; and integrating functions. Critical process phases included: Growing a regeneration-able team; building a field of realization; regenerating community patterns through urban acupuncture; and instituting an evolving legacy. Taken together, these findings and conclusions offer community planners a basis for organizing regenerative leadership teams and planning processes.
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