Training will include an introduction to a number of mind/body approaches used in healthcare, including Mindfulness and Cognitive Behavioral approaches.  However, the program will focus most intensively on teaching students a combination of psychoeducation that helps clients retrain the way their brains interpret pain signals and emotion-focused work that allows clients to experience and express powerful emotions. Students interested in the program are advised to explore work by John Sarno, Howard Schubiner, and Alan Abbass to assess the extent to which these ideas align with their own understandings of mind/body interventions. 

This advanced certificate program does not lead to licensure or prepare students for the practice of any profession in NYS. There is no practice exemption for students in this program and only students who currently hold a NYS license in an appropriate field or are concurrently enrolled in an appropriate licensure qualifying program may complete restricted activities. For PSI 401, only appropriately licensed professionals or students concurrently enrolled in appropriate licensure qualifying programs may enroll in the course.

Yes, any student, in consultation with their advisor, can choose to add this certificate to their program.

Students who work in health care professions who do not have a background or training in psychotherapy will learn how to integrate mind/body approaches into their roles as helpers, but not actual therapy.  Such learning will include research and theory that has explored mind/body approaches to healing and wellness, how to identify the multiple ways in which somatoform disorders can manifest, how to identify patients who may benefit from mind/body approaches, and how to skillfully present mind/body options and referrals to their patients.  Health care providers will also learn how to assess the potential for self-harm in clients and how to effectively refer them to mental health services.

Students will be informed that the certificate provides only an introduction to using mind/body approaches such as mindfulness, CBT, and Emotion-focused therapy to address chronic pain and other physical conditions. Those seeking to integrate these modalities into their practices will be encouraged to seek additional training and supervision after completing the certificate. 

Yes, some courses can be used as electives in existing programs in counseling and marriage and family therapy. Four of the courses can be transferred into the Ed.D. program in counseling and human development.  Emotion-focused therapy currently fulfills the “psychological processes in Human Development” elective, and the other three courses can be used as part of their 36 credits of transfer credit or as electives in their program.

Yes, anyone who has already taken any of the courses in the program can transfer those credits into the program, thus reducing the required number of courses needed to complete the advanced certificate.