Saybrook University

Nov 25, 2024

2016-2017 Academic Catalog and Student Handbook with Spring Addendum [Archived Catalog]

Mind-Body Medicine, Healthcare Practice Specialization, Ph.D.

Transforming the Practice of Healthcare

Integrative medicine represents a new level of intellectual breadth and personal depth in healthcare. It requires training that emphasizes treating the patient as a whole person, rather than as a set of symptoms, and working with the mind and spirit as well as the body. The Healthcare Practice Specialization for the doctoral degree in Mind-Body Medicine gives currently licensed and aspiring holistic health professionals expert knowledge in their field. This specialization also prepares graduates to work in integrative health and wellness coaching, wellness education, health promotion, and stress management services.

Learn how to apply evidence-based, validated techniques through a transformative educational experience. You will be introduced to a wide range of mind-body and integrative approaches including hypnosis, biofeedback, nutrition, somatic therapies, wellness coaching, and other complementary therapies.

Treating the body does not treat the whole person. As a best practice, practitioners consider the interaction of body, mind, and spirit. As part of the PhD Mind-Body Medicine program at Saybrook, you will be on the cutting edge of your field, able to offer skills and experience to your patients and clients that others cannot match.Whatever doctoral specialization you choose, you will work directly with leaders in the field. Enroll now to become a member of a community dedicated to improving healthcare in America and developing better models of care.

Program Learning Outcomes

Students completing the PhD Degree in Mind-Body Medicine will be able to:

1. Evaluate methodologies and/or conduct independent research to investigate contemporary issues in lifestyle and wellness.

2. Explain the influence of biopsychosocial factors on general health and wellbeing and the implications for individuals, organizations, and/or communities.

3. Interpret the values, ethical principles, and practice standards that are paramount for multidisciplinary practitioners and researchers.

4. Assess and synthesize evidence, theories, and informed practices/interventions in integrative medicine.

5. Apply published research and critical thinking skills in academic papers, presentations, and/or communications.

6. Develop reflective practices and/or model adaptive skills in integrative healthcare and wellness.

7. Demonstrate multicultural competencies and diversity awareness, and support health equity and social justice in healthcare systems.

Requirements

Specialization in Healthcare Practice

Designed for licensed health care professionals and individuals pursuing careers in health coaching and wellness education, this curriculum involves extensive evidence-based research to support a comprehensive range of mind-body skills used in the field of integrative medicine.

Requirements Overview

Students entering the Mind-Body Medicine doctoral program must have completed a master’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university prior to enrollment. Doctoral students must complete a minimum of 83 credits. Credits are earned by completing CIMHS courses.

By approval, Saybrook may accept up to nine graduate transfer credits into the PhD degree in Mind-Body Medicine with the Healthcare Practice specialization from other regionally-accredited colleges and universities prior to entrance. Transfer credits are applied to the required number of elective credits or required courses for degree completion. Nine transfer credits may be accepted to fulfill three three-credit elective course requirement for the degree program.

These credits must be suitable for transfer to the intended degree as determined by the Dean and Registrar. For further details regarding transfer credit policies, consult the Institutional Transfer Credit Guidelines section of the University Catalog.

Students receiving a master’s degree in Mind-Body Medicine or the master’s degree in Integrative and Functional Nutrition from Saybrook who are admitted into the doctoral degree in Mind‐Body Medicine can generally transfer all MS degree credits that match either a required course or an elective into the PhD program. Past students have transferred up to 38 credits. The exact amount depends on which MS degree the student has completed, and which PhD specialization the student selects. These students must fulfill the doctoral degree requirements not completed at the master’s level, including the remaining required courses and the dissertation or project. Meeting the doctoral requirements will include completing additional credits of doctoral coursework plus the dissertation or project, for a minimum total of 83 credits. Under some circumstances, additional courses required may total more than 83 credits.

For further information on admission into the PhD Mind-Body Medicine program after completion of the M.S. in Mind-Body Medicine degree or the MS in Integrative and Functional Medicine degree, contact the Dean of CIMHS. Some credits from a master’s degree earned in other programs at Saybrook may also be transferable into the doctoral degree program. Contact the Dean of CIMHS for additional information.

Note, this program is not a clinical psychology program. However, it can offer more flexibility in program planning to those wishing to enhance and further develop their clinical knowledge and expertise, but who do not intend to use the degree to qualify for licensure.

MBM 1009 - Information Competency & Research Skills 3 credit(s)
MBM 5500 - Ethics in Healthcare 3 credit(s)
MBM 5511 - Graduate Colloquium I 1 credit(s)
MBM 5512 - Graduate Colloquium II 1 credit(s)
MBM 5510 - Imagery for Health 3 credit(s)
MBM 5540 - Fundamentals of Research 3 credit(s)
MBM 5557 - Advanced Research Method 3 credit(s)
MBM 5584 - Doctoral Level Professional Seminar in Mind-Body Medicine 3 credit(s)
MBM 5586 - Ph.D. Practicum 3 credit(s)
MBM 5600 - Mind-Body Medicine: Overview
MBM 5615 - Movement, Exercise, and Health 3 credit(s)
MBM 5628 - Evidence-Based Coaching 3 credit(s)
MBM 5640 - Psychophysiology 3 credit(s)
MBM 5690 - Complementary and Integrative Medicine
MBM 5555 - Doctoral Research Pilot Study 3 credit(s)
MBM 5553 - Quantitative Research Overview 3 credit(s)
OR
MBM 5556 - Qualitative Research Overview 3 credit(s)
MBM 5620 - Basic Training and Education in Hypnosis 3 credit(s)
OR
MBM 5622 - Basic Training and Education in Biofeedback 3 credit(s)
MBM 5625 - Intermediate Training and Education in Hypnosis 3 credit(s)
OR
MBM 5627 - Intermediate Training and Education in Biofeedback 3 credit(s)
OR
MBM 5632 - Intermediate Health and Wellness Coaching 3 credit(s)
MBM 5635 - Spirituality and Health 3 credit(s)
OR
MBM 5655 - Mindfulness and Meditation in Health 3 credit(s)
MBM 9501 - PhD Dissertation Proposal 3 credit(s) *
MBM 9601 - PhD Dissertation Research 3 credit(s) *
Elective Credits Included 24 credit(s)

Total Credits: (Years 1-4) 83

* (Note: Students will remain enrolled in this course each term during culminating phase until completion.)

Degree Requirements for 2016-2017 Academic Year approved by CIMHS Degree Program Committee.

NOTES:

The degree completion time for a student following the default course sequence will average between 5 ½ to 6 ½ years. Some students may complete degree requirements in fewer terms and some may require more terms to complete the degree.
A listing of acceptable CIMHS courses and electives is available in the Saybrook Catalog. Students may also choose an elective from the required courses in other specializations.
This is a structured cohort program and the sequence of courses is different for students who start in the fall than for students who start in the spring.

Learning and Career Outcomes

What you can do with a PhD in Mind-Body Medicine, with a Healthcare Practice Specialization?

Licensed healthcare professionals who complete this degree will strengthen their already existing careers, utilizing integrative approaches to treatment and a variety of mind-body skills. Practice specialization graduates are prepared to excel in integrative medicine, holistic nursing, and a variety of allied health professions. Graduates without healthcare licenses will be 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.

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