Robert Schmitt

Robert

Schmitt

Robert Schmitt

Adjunct Faculty

  • Roles:

  • Co-Director of Certificate in Transpersonal Psychology

  • Co-Director of Certificate in Death, Loss, and Meaning

  • Director for Specialization in Consciousness, Spirituality and Integrative Health

  •  
  • Campus:
  • Saybrook University
Department
Humanistic and Clinical Psychology
Institution
Saybrook University
Office Phone
707-328-4122
Email
Biography

Dr. Robert Schmitt is the Director of the Consciousness, Spirituality, and Integrated Health Specialization (CSIH) and full time faculty in the Psychology Program of Saybrook University. He has a Ph.D. in Spirituality (Fordham University) and Masters Degrees in Counseling, Philosophy and Sacred Theology. His goal has been to integrate spirituality and psychology as a scholar-practitioner. Before coming to Saybrook Dr. Schmitt was on the core faculty at the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology (now Sofia University) and before that at Santa Clara University. Besides his faculty roles, his practice has also included spiritual guide, Jesuit priest, Novice Director, administrator (as dean at 2 schools and as president at 3 schools), author and Hospice Chaplain.

Areas of Expertise
Area Expertise
Executive and Career Coaching
Coaching Life Coaching
Pastoral care
Religion and psychology
Consciousness & Spirituality Studies Spirituality
Counseling Work/Life Balance
Ethical & Legal Issues Code of Conduct for Counselors
Life Coaching
Leadership & Management Collaborative Management
Leadership and Management
Education History
Degree Institution Year
B.A. Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA 1960
PhL Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA 1961
S.T.M. Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, CA 1968
M.A. Counseling Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, CA 1987
Ph.D. Fordham University, New York 1974
Question and Answer
Describe your teaching philosophy or your approach to working with students.

I have concentrated on the areas of spirituality and psychology in my studies and research because my life passion has been to help people and groups clarify and achieve their life meaning and purpose. That perspective is at the heart of my approach to teaching. I seek to help students gain the knowledge they need for their degree and explore how the topics studied relate to their interests and goals. I also believe that true knowledge (in John Newman’s words, real knowledge rather than simply notional knowledge) transforms the student. And so I help students ask how this knowledge impacts their life and work. Finally, I approach each course as an opportunity for me to learn more. In that sense we are all explorers together.
Curriculum Vitae
Download
Research

Research on ethical issues facing therapists

Research on impact of an evolutionary cosmology on religion, psychology and ethics.

Research on religious wounding

Research on spiritual direction with those outside a religious tradition

Research on the medieval imagery within the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola

Research on religious experiences and images of Sacred Feminine

Research on transpersonal education and management

Research on discernment or whole person decision making

Research on differences between regional accreditation bodies
Professional Skills
Religious wounding, Discernment (individual and group), Spirituality for those outside any tradition, Christian spiritual direction and formation, Ignatian Spirituality, Balancing masculine and feminine characteristics, An evolutionary cosmology, Integrating spirituality and psychology, Strategic Planning