In August 2009, James S. Gordon and the Center for Mind-Body Medicine collaborated with Saybrook University, founding the Graduate School of Mind-Body Medicine for individuals pursuing a master’s degree and/or doctoral degree. As the program has grown over the years, the graduate school now provides four doctoral level specializations, to prepare graduates for careers in healthcare and mental healthcare. Influenced by the humanistic philosophy of Saybrook University, the central focus of each degree program and specializations emphasize person-centered health care, and advocate the importance of integrating self-care, mind-body practices, and other alternative approaches within the mainstream of health and mental healthcare. The School of Mind-Body Medicine is designed as a hybrid program, which affords working professionals the opportunity to conveniently attend a maximum of three short residential conferences a year, as well as complete all of their coursework through online and videoconference technology.
Information about the four Ph.D. specializations follows:
Integrative mental health: This specialization provides licensed mental health providers (and those with licensable mental health degrees) with a comprehensive preparation for integrative practice of mental health care, including education in alternative and mind-body approaches to mental health.
Graduates are prepared to pursue their existing mental health careers with a more integrative focus and a full range of mind-body skills. Graduates are also be prepared for academic jobs in universities, colleges, and medical schools, teaching an integrative approach to health and mental health.
Healthcare practice: This specialization provides health care providers with a comprehensive preparation for integrative clinical practice in healthcare, and provides others with preparation for careers in health promotion, wellness education, and health coaching.
Licensed healthcare professionals who complete this degree strengthen their already existing careers, utilizing integrative approaches to treatment and a variety of mind-body skills. Graduates without healthcare licenses are prepared to work in the private practice of coaching and stress management, and as consultants and employees in corporate and medically based health promotion and wellness programs.
Healthcare systems: This specialization prepares students for careers in the transformation of health care organizations, with a comprehensive education in organizational systems, approaches to leadership, grant writing, health informatics, and consultation skills.
Graduates are prepared for employment as organizational consultants and administrators in healthcare institutions and corporate health promotions programs. They are also employable as grant writers and in health informatics.
Healthcare research: This specialization prepares students to work in research and academic settings, providing a comprehensive education in both qualitative and quantitative research design, and an introduction to educational and pedagogical methods.
Graduates in the healthcare research specialization are prepared to pursue careers in health research, academic careers in University and medical school settings, and health education roles in corporate and community settings.
Future blog entries will highlight the MS degree in Mind-Body Medicine, the MS degree in Integrative and Functional Nutrition, and the Certificate programs.
The School of Mind-Body Medicine is now accepting applicants for the January 2015 semester. Prospective students interested in applying may go online to https://dev.saybrook.edu/applying or by email to: [email protected]