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Practicum diaries: What I learned about alternative healing—and myself—in Peru

31 August 2016
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admit I was hesitant.

As a clinician in New York City with a private practice and more than a decade of experience, I was less than inspired to do a clinical practicum—offering my services for free, no less—as part of my doctoral program at Saybrook University.

But now that I’m on the other side of the practicum experience, I understand the importance of this great Saybrook tradition and the value it brings as a humanistic psychologist. What I learned in those two weeks I spent at The Sachamama Center for Biocultural Regeneration in the Amazonian town of Lamas, Peru, and the surrounding area will stay with me for a lifetime, both personally and professionally.

It was truly transformational.

From the second I stepped into the facility and met my site supervisor, anthropologist Dr. Frederique Apfell-Marglin, I knew I was about to see and experience things I had never been exposed to before and probably would never have been exposed to without this practicum.

My journey started with a local shaman healer or curandero named Carlos, who led me through a holistic blend of healing techniques that help connect individuals to mind, body and spirit—a Saybrook value that I didn’t fully understand until I experienced it for myself. That heightened awareness of the mind-body connection set the tone, and started me down a path that continued deeper into the jungle on a boat down the Huayaga River where we met another curandero, Aquilino Chujandama, and his son, Henry, a “plant master” who demonstrated the importance of sacred ritual and ceremony in healing. These theories and indigenous traditions were put into practice at our final stop, the Takiwasi Center in the small town of Tarapoto, Peru. Blending traditional Amazonian medicine and conventional psychotherapy, Takiwasi healers working under thatched roofs in the jungle see as much success in the treatment of addiction as medical professionals in some of the modern world’s most prestigious health care facilities.

I left a different person, and a different kind of practitioner. And while I am still struggling to articulate all the ways my Saybrook practicum experience changed me, there are three definitive lessons I learned in the Amazon that I will never forget:

The Power of Medicinal Plants in Indigenous Healing

So there I was, walking deep in the jungle, being guided by a “plant master” and expert in the healing power many of these plant-based tonics and ceremonies, when I had this realization. Not because someone told me, but because I was living it.

Of course I was aware that certain plants and minerals and vitamins were essential to good health and wellness, but to actually make the tonics—to cut fresh ginger and mix the ingredients in the heart of the jungle—opened my eyes to what other civilizations have known for centuries: As humans in harmony with the Earth, the plants around us are our most natural healers.

In fact, many of our most common physical ailments, from upset stomach to stress, can be healed with the power of plants.

In addition to experiencing the beauty of ancient plant ceremonies, I was able to enjoy a powerful energy healing session that utilized tobacco, breath work, and Ikaros, the healing “songs” of the plants.

Henry, the “plant master,” not only taught me about the uses of each plant, he instilled the importance of ceremony and ritual when ingesting these plants.

Plants have cosmic energy. Harnessing that energy results in healing and a state of wellbeing.

The Importance of Connecting to Nature for Mind-Body Balance

Beyond the healing power of plants, I also became keenly aware of the importance of connecting to nature.

It’s something we talk about a lot at Saybrook. We speak of mindfulness, we speak of energy healing, but often we forget the most basic elements of nature.

Spending time in a natural spring reminded me of the restorative benefits of being immersed in a place filled with lush, green plants, fresh air, and a culture that truly respects the land.

There was a moment after a master plant ceremony when I was deep in the jungle, and we were being asked to clear and feel our energetic fields. The shaman asked for permission to enter this place and if he didn’t receive a “yes” from the spirit of the forest, he wouldn’t go in.

Seeing that and living that moment that really shifted the way I experience nature now.

The Necessity for More Integrative Medicine Approaches in Health Care

In the U.S. we are just beginning to unlock the potential of integrative health approaches.

The way in which the practitioners and the shamans work with mind-body medicine in the Peruvian Amazon is all-encompassing. There is no separation between the emotional, physical, and spiritual. Everything is connected.

In observing these indigenous healers and learning more about their beliefs and practice, I became aware of how important it is to have a healthy relationship with your own spiritual self. This means being mindful of what you eat but also what you expose yourself to.

Clearing negative energy opens a pathway to wellness, and that realization is something our modern society could truly benefit from.

So it is all of these things I am now carrying back to my own practice, and the clients I care for as a therapist. I expect to infuse my clinical work with my ancient and traditional teachings for many years to come.

Katrina Anderson is a doctoral student in the Saybrook University College of Integrative Medicine and Health Sciences and a private clinician in New York City. She chose to do her practicum learning about indigenous healing in the Amazon basin in hopes of integrating some of those therapies into her own big city practice.

Envisioning transformative social change

25 July 2016
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We are living in a time of transformative social change. Around the world, people are becoming aware and connected in very different ways than ever before. We have increased access to information about the world, and the technological capacity to communicate our ideas, which allows us to organize collectively with greater efficiency.

Our society is also experiencing the inertia of seemingly relentless violence and injustice, both episodic and systemic. These injustices are being committed by and against individuals, communities, states, and religions. They are committed between neighbors locally and between nation-states globally. These are exemplified by recent U.S. gun violence tragedies in Orlando, Dallas, Charleston, and Baton Rouge. They also include terror attacks in Germany, Turkey, France, Mexico, and Honduras against innocent civilians, citizen activists, and journalists.

A new generation of young people is coming of age shaped by these conditions. They expect to be able to mobilize and make a difference in this new world. They also seek a broader understanding of social movements and ways to organize for effective change worldwide.

What is the Transformative Social Change program at Saybrook?

The Transformative Social Change (TSC) degree program at Saybrook University was created to support effective responses to the risks and opportunities the world is presenting. The program is an incubator of ideas, solutions, strategies, and visions in service of Saybrook’s broader mission of inspiring transformational change “toward a just, humane, and sustainable world.”

The program has assembled a stellar multidisciplinary faculty, who are leaders in their scholarly and activist fields, including Communications, Psychology, Peace and Justice Studies, Social Impact Media, and Transformative Learning and Change.

Tahrir Square and the Global Spring

The pivotal historical movement that symbolizes the potential for transformative social change occurred in Tahrir Square in Egypt in 2011. The Egyptian people, who had been repressed for decades, mobilized immense support online, which in part allowed them to take over the central intersection of their capitol city, making it into a common space where people were housed and fed, and free share their dreams about the kind of country in which they wanted to live.

It is no coincidence that “Tahrir” translates into English as “liberation.” Tahrir Square is Liberation Square. Despite the terrible backlash currently faced by Egypt’s democracy movement, their visionary and courageous actions continue to inspire the rest of the world.

Even with its limitations, the Arab Spring has, in turn, inspired a global spring, with similar reclaiming of parks and town squares in cities throughout the world. These include #OccupyWallStreet, #BlackLivesMatter, and #DemocracyAwakening movements in the U.S., the Los Indignados of Spain, the Idle No More movement in Canada, the Brazilian Spring, the Taksim Square movement in Turkey, the global climate justice movement, and the Nuit Debout (Rise Up at Night) movement in France.

All of these movements have found their manifestation not only in the streets, but in a proliferation of nonprofit or nongovernmental organizations that are focused on addressing issues of democratization, human rights, climate change, social justice, conflict resolution, and peace.

Saybrook University as Part of the Solution

Building from these local and global changes, Saybrook University’s Transformative Social Change program prepares graduates to provide theoretical insight and policy expertise to community organizers and nongovernmental organizations focused on peace, democracy, human rights, the environment, and social justice. They learn to develop strategies for greater impact, and to help NGOs evaluate their effectiveness.

Throughout the Transformative Social Change program curriculum, scholarship and activism are interconnected. Students make personal connections with those making change in their chosen areas of study, as well as build conceptual links between the theory of change and its practical applications. The program is an extension of Saybrook University’s ongoing commitment to identifying needs in our global society and finding ways to become part of the solution.

Look forward to more blog posts about the amazing work our students and faculty are doing, as well as developments in the program coming soon. As always, you can find more information about the Transformative Social Change program at Saybrook here.

Dr. Joel Federman, Ph.D., is the director of the Transformative Social Change program at Saybrook University. His writing, teaching, and activism focuses on helping people to re-envision their individual and collective potential in order to see themselves shaping a better world. He is particularly interested in the development of global civil society efforts aimed at realizing values such as universal compassion, social justice, and peace.

Louis Hoffman, Ph.D.

24 May 2016
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Louis Hoffman, Ph.D.
Existential, Humanistic, and Transpersonal Psychology

“I believe the solutions for many of the world’s problems can be found through interdisciplinary approaches. As a professor I truly enjoy fostering interest in different areas of thought and helping students figure out how to connect them.”

Humanity’s Mirror

“One of my passions at Saybrook is to keep the humanistic and existential traditions alive for future generations.”

There is a quote from a great humanistic legend that Louis Hoffman, Ph.D., likes to share with his students who are still trying to find their way.

“Rollo May once said, ‘If you want to see the new innovations in understanding what it means to be human, don’t go to the psychology department; go to the literature department’,” explains Dr. Hoffman, director of the Existential, Humanistic, and Transpersonal (EHTP) specialization within Saybrook’s College of Social Sciences. “Poetry, for example, is one legitimate way of understanding what it means to be human that has been helping people heal for thousands of years.”

Dr. Hoffman says students sometimes come to Saybrook with a preferred way of seeing the world. Their opinions are set, and their “way of knowing” is restricted. But with Saybrook’s interdisciplinary approach to psychology education, those predispositions are disassembled, examined, and then put back together again with a fresh, integrative perspective.

“What we do at Saybrook is create a place where it is safe to explore different viewpoints—to break outside of mainstream psychology to see how religion, spirituality, creativity, and other ways of knowing are connected in a humanistic perspective,” he says.

One of Saybrook’s faculty luminaries in the field of existential psychology, Dr. Hoffman is the author/editor of eight books, and serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Humanistic Psychology, Janus Head, PsycCRITIQUES: APA Review of Books, and The Humanistic Psychologist. He is also past president of the Society for Humanistic Psychology and a co-founder of the Zhi Mian International Institute of Existential-Humanistic Psychology. Additionally, Dr. Hoffman has been recognized as a fellow of the American Psychological Association (APA), the Society for Humanistic Psychology, and APA Division 52 (International Psychology) for his contributions to the field.

As co-director of certificate programs at Saybrook—one in International Psychology and the other in Socially Engaged Spirituality—Dr. Hoffman takes pride in giving psychology education at Saybrook a much-needed interdisciplinary lens.

“I enjoy fostering interest in different areas of thought and helping students figure out how they can connect them,” explains Dr. Hoffman, who also teaches in both Saybrook’s Creativity Studies specialization and Consciousness, Spirituality, and Integrative Health specialization. “Saybrook has a long history and many would say that we are the leading school in the world in the existential-humanistic psychology tradition. But there are other views, and we want to make sure students are exposed to those as well.”

This approach sets Saybrook’s culture apart from other psychology schools.

“Some individuals enter psychology enthusiastically but leave feeling disheartened because there was no soul in the program,” he says. “Our students find their heart here. They find what they are passionate about. That’s what defines us as an institution and makes us different.”

Beth Haggett, Ph.D.

24 May 2016
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Beth Haggett, Ph.D.
Mind-Body Medicine

“I’ve witnessed the benefits of mind-body medicine and welcome the opportunity to help expose others to its power.”

Nurturer

“Saybrook is what they say they are—humanistic. As a student, my teachers went the extra mile for me. Today, as a professor, it’s an honor to carry that tradition forward.”

Call it human instinct. Call it an intuitive ability to thrive. Coaching comes naturally to Saybrook professor Beth Haggett, Ph.D.

In addition to her graduate students at Saybrook, she trains internal coaches for large high-tech companies how to build more meaningful relationships with colleagues and customers. But it’s not always easy—especially on days when she finds herself walking into a room full of IT professionals with an agenda that includes teaching them “how to breathe.”

“It takes courage to not be scared that I might be rejected because they think it’s weird,” admits Dr. Haggett, relaying a story about a training session she was hired to co-teach with a high-profile tech executive. “I started out teaching that self-awareness requires tuning in to our breathing and noticing what’s going on with our body.”

Dr. Haggett’s Internal Coach Training course is a “best practices” in the customer support industry and is licensed by Help Desk Institute, the Consortium for Service Innovation, Novo Nordisk, and Dell Computers. But it broke the corporate mold and made the executive she was co-teaching with very uncomfortable at first.

“He said, ‘Seriously, are we going to do yoga too?’” recalls Dr. Haggett, a licensed clinical social worker who complemented her professional success with a Saybrook Ph.D. in Mind-Body Medicine in 2012. “By break time, everyone was gathered around me wanting to know more, and the co-teacher turned out to be a big fan as well!”

Whether it’s with her clients—who include Dell Computers, Autodesk, and Yahoo—or her students, Dr. Haggett says her mission is to give people the tools they need to thrive and cultivate healthy habits. She tries to lead by example, which starts with making sure she has her own life and family in balance.

“I always try to walk my talk. So if I’m tired, I need to make sure I get those self-care things in,” she explains. “I do want to make a difference on many levels, but I want to do it mindfully.”

In fact, a self-guided imagery experience while at a Saybrook residential conference led her to convince her husband to sell their home and move to a remote area of Utah, where she spends her down time riding her horse, meeting local ranchers, and nurturing her young grandchildren. From there, she runs her business and creates new, humanistic-based curriculum for Saybrook and major corporations—including a project with the Veteran’s Administration in Topeka, Kansas.

Being back at Saybrook as a professor brings her journey full-circle, a way for her to continue to feed her love of learning with a desire to nurture the next generation of humanistic practitioners.

“My own professors at Saybrook set the bar for me,” explains Dr. Haggett, who is also a personal and executive coach, speaker, organizational consultant, and aspiring author. “It’s important to step into that place of trust immediately, from the first class.”

Dr. Haggett says she is grateful to have found her niche in life, and to continue finding ways to incorporate mind-body medicine into her career.

“I felt like an outsider for a long time, but now people respect what I bring, and that’s very rewarding,” she says. “I feel like I’m part of a movement. Saybrook is teaching students what they need to know to help the world. There is so much going on in this growing field that I know together we will have a lasting impact.”

Saybrook nutrition student on Integrative and Functional Nutrition in clinical practice

19 May 2016
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Brianne Morwood, RD, CD, LDN, is  a dietitian and a student in the first cohort of Saybrook’s new Master’s of Science Program in Integrative and Functional Nutrition. Another student in this cohort, Karmen Gregg, is interviewing the cohort members and creating blog postings about each.  Here are Brianne’s responses to a series of interview questions.

What motivated you to pursue integrative nutrition versus conventional dietary treatments alone?

Conventional treatments often have a limited and superficial effect on health, while an integrative approach can identify the underlying cause of disease, thereby providing a lasting treatment and cure. The challenge of this aspect of nutrition was both inspiring and motivating as I begin my career as a dietitian.

If you had to choose one attribute that is unique to Saybrook University and your education experience, what would it be? Why?
Although Saybrook provides education through an online, distance format, the amount of support provided by professors, staff, and peers is exceptional. The residential conference allowed peers to interact and bond before beginning the program, and this friendship has continued throughout each term.

What do you think are the most important attributes and competencies for integrative nutritionists?
An integrative nutritionist should always be familiar with the latest research, as health and nutrition are continually changing. Additionally, one working in this field must be able to compile a list of effective treatment options and work with patients to determine which would be most appropriate for their situation. Thorough education and close monitoring are essential, as the patient’s primary care provider may not be familiar with interactions between dietary supplements and medications, and may not recognize the patient’s reactions to integrative treatments.

As an integrative nutritionist or dietician, what is your approach toward patient care?
As an integrative dietitian, my approach to care is individualized to the specific needs of my patients. Each patient has a unique past medical history and symptomatology, and thus each must be provided with a unique treatment plan.

How influential was the residential conference on your personal and professional growth? Describe any mind-­body approaches that you have adapted as a self-­care strategy, as well as incorporated into patient care plans to enhance well-being.
The residential conference provided an excellent foundation in mind­-body approaches to self care for both my personal life and my practice. My eyes were opened to the variety of mind-­body approaches available, and I briefly learned how to perform each, which improved my confidence in applying the techniques to my future practice. Currently I am working more to incorporate meditation into my daily routine, which will prove quite beneficial while enrolled in a demanding master’s program and working full time. The residential conference also promoted development of friendships with my peers, which has led to invaluable relationships throughout the program.

Since you enrolled in the program, how are you applying this knowledge into your personal and professional life?
Since enrolled in the program, I have been working to apply my knowledge of laboratory values and supplements to my assessment of patients. Recently, I have been working to incorporate aspects of the Nutrition-Focused Physical Exam, and I am seeking hands on training in the near future. As for my personal life, I have continued to incorporate mindful eating into my daily routine, and this has proven quite effective.

How do you envision the emerging field of integrative medicine and nutrition within the current medical model?
I envision that integrative medicine and nutrition will become an essential component of the current medical model. Conventional treatments often do not cure the underlying cause of disease, and patients are becoming quite frustrated with the lack of improvement in their health, causing them to turn to a more integrative approach. Additionally, with the changes in reimbursement, health systems may be looking for ways to decrease cost and increase outcomes, which integrative medicine and nutrition can provide.

What is your professional goal, or what career do you hope to pursue after graduation?
My dream is to open a wellness center that incorporates a variety of approaches to achieving and maintaining health. From meditation and massage therapy to fitness, nutrition, chiropractic care, and naturopathic medicine, this center will promote health and wellness by treating the underlying causes of dysfunction and disease.

Saybrook instructor speaks on integrative approaches to palliative care

20 April 2016
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Dr. Leila Kozak

Leila Kozak, PhD,is the Director of Integrative Medicine in Palliative Care for Paliativos Sin Fronteras (Palliative Care Providers Without Borders).  She is a Saybrook University graduate and an instructor in the Saybrook University College of Integrative Medicine and Health Sciences.  Dr. Kozak is currently a “Clinical Champion” at the Office of Patient-Centered Care and Culture Transformation at the Veterans Administration Central Office and works locally with VA Puget Sound Health Care System in advancing patient-centered care and integrative health for Veterans. She will be delivering a keynote address and conducting a breakout session at the Palliative Care Institute Spring Conference, May 13-14, 2016 at Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington.

Palliative care providers are increasingly seeking non-pharmacological supportive interventions to increase comfort and quality of life, which has led to the integration of complementary therapies within palliative care environments. A variety of complementary therapies have been shown to reduce suffering and improve quality of life in palliative care populations. This emerging field of integrative palliative care brings wonderful opportunities as well as challenges.

In her keynote, Dr. Kozak will discuss the opportunities and challenges related to the use of integrative modalities in palliative care, including acupuncture, aromatherapy, biofield therapies (Healing Touch, Therapeutic Touch, and Reiki), expressive arts therapies (art, writing, and music methods), massage, mind-body interventions, and movement approaches.

Dr. Kozak’s break out session will discuss “The Role of Touch Therapies in Enhancing the Patient Experience.” Her presentation was inspired by a video interview describing the implementation of touch therapies at VA hospitals, in which a Veteran undergoing palliative care described his experience receiving massage: “It makes you feel that you are not just a thing, you are a person.” During the 90 minute session, Dr. Kozak will introduce participants to various touch therapies, describing affordability and costs and emphasizing evidence and the role of these modalities in symptom management and quality of life. The session will also provide practical strategies that participants can use to implement touch therapies at their medical facilities.

Readers may register for the conference at:

https://ee-portal.wwu.edu/courseDisplay.cfm?schID=266

A massage therapy session for a veteran at the Ann Arbor, Michigan VA clinic

Saybrook dean conducts free webinar on heart rate variability training

12 April 2016
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Dean Don Moss

Heart rate variability (HRV) is the moment to moment fluctuation in heart rate, or the variation in the small segment of time between heart beats.  Human beings with higher heart rate variability experience better general health, wellness, and resilience.  Persons with lowered heart rate variability are more likely to experience anxiety, depression, and a variety of physical illnesses.  Patients with heart disease who show lower HRV are more likely to suffer additional heart problems and even sudden death.  Higher HRV is correlated with longer life in cardiac patients and in the general population.

Today, with heart rate variability biofeedback, health professionals can train human beings to increase their heart rate variability.  This training is helpful in treating anxiety, depression, PTSD, asthma, and a host of other medical and mental health problems.

On April 19, 2016 from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM, Saybrook University Dean Donald Moss will conduct a free webinar for the Biofeedback Federation of Europe. The webinar will cover several critical topics regarding heart rate variability biofeedback:  1) What is heart rate variability? 2) Why should a health professional care about heart rate variability? 3) What do we actually train in HRV biofeedback? and 4) What does research show us about the usefulness of HRV biofeedback for common medical and mental health disorders?

This webinar will also report some of the promising uses of HRV biofeedback emerging in optimal performance and coaching practice. The presentation will also include a case study of an individual with public speaking anxiety who benefited from HRV biofeedback

Registration is now closed.

Donald Moss, Ph.D., is Dean of the College of Integrative Medicine and Health Sciences, at Saybrook University.  There he has built training programs in clinical hypnosis, biofeedback, integrative mental health, and integrative and functional nutrition.  Dr. Moss has served as president of Division 30 (hypnosis) of the American Psychological Association, president of the Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback (AAPB), and president of the Michigan Society for Behavioral Medicine and Biofeedback.  He is currently President-Elect of the Society for Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis.

Moss is co-editor of Foundations of Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback (AAPB, 2016), co-author of Pathways to Illness, Pathways to Health (Springer, 2013), chief editor of Handbook of Mind-Body Medicine for Primary Care (Sage, 2003) and Humanistic and Transpersonal Psychology (Greenwood, 1998). He currently has a new book under contract for Springer with co-author Angele McGrady on Integrative pathways:  Navigating chronic illness with a mind-body-spirit approach.   He is chief editor of Biofeedback: A Clinical Journal, a quarterly publication and has edited a number of special issues on hypnosis, pediatric applications, and related topics.  He has been an associate editor or consulting editor for the journals Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, the Journal of Neurotherapy, Psychophysiology Today, and other journals.  He has published over 70 articles and book chapters on psychophysiology, spirituality, health, and integrative medicine.

Saybrook University nutrition webinar on fit versus frail: Nutrition and exercise for maintaining strength, function, and independence while aging

31 March 2016
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Saybrook’s College of Integrative Medicine and Health Sciences presents an online webinar on maintaining strength and independence while aging.  The speaker is Dr. Jeannemarie Beiseigel, Director of the Saybrook University Master’s of Science degree program in integrative and functional nutrition.

The webinar is available on YouTube.

Getting older is not for the weak.  Diet and lifestyle can, to an extent, slow physiological aging by preserving lean tissue and strength.  This talk will review the role of nutrition and exercise in preventing and reversing age-related loss of muscle mass and function.  Dr. Beiseigel will discuss recommendations and considerations for practice and future research.

Bio-sketch:  Jeannemarie Beiseigel, Ph.D., RD, LD, CSSD, is a Registered Dietician/Nutritionist and a Licensed Nutritionist.  She earned her M.S. and Ph.D. from Virginia Polytechnic, completed an internship at Brigham & Women’s Hospital, and worked on post-doc research through the USDA.  She later served as Senior Scientist for the Bell Institute of Health and Nutrition with General Mills, and spent six years overall doing research and development in the food and dietary supplement industries where she reviewed the science and actively monitored field progress and regulations of the functional ingredients in foods and dietary supplements.

Sandy Gebhart, student in Saybrook’s inaugural class in nutrition, describes her use of integrative and functional nutrition in clinical practice

30 March 2016
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Sandy Gebhart is a student in the first cohort of Saybrook’s new Master’s of Science Program in Integrative and Functional Nutrition. Another student in this cohort, Karmen Gregg, is interviewing the cohort members and creating blog postings about each.
There is something special and unique about being an inaugural cohort. A roller coaster of emotions surrounded us all as we started this amazing Master’s of Science program in Integrative and Functional Nutrition.

 We were intrigued and excited about the unknown, and driven by the passion for food and nutrition and the foundations for building a healthy, vibrant life. Now that we have all settled in, deep into our second semester, we have adapted and progressed personally and professionally. I wanted to check in with the amazing women that I’m share this journey with to see what brought them to Saybrook, what motivated them, and what is in store for them after this Saybrook journey.

This blog entry reports on an interview with Sandy Gebhart. Sandy is working as a registered dietitian and health coach for a company called Total Nutrition Technology, Inc., in Charlotte, North Carolina. She learns more each day with each client she encounters about the biological individuality of each client and each client’s unique biochemistry. She has already incorporated some of the integrative nutrition techniques learned in her Saybrook courses, coaching clients through specific diets and using mind-body techniques that are helping her clients reach their health and wellness goals.

Sandy found her passion and interest for nutrition during her dietetic internship with Mary Beth Augustine. (Mary Beth Augustine also served as the founding director of Saybrook’s nutrition program). Through that experience she was able to develop a foundational understanding of integrative health. Mary Beth mentored Sandy to never stop learning and acquiring knowledge.  This ever-changing field of integrative health/nutrition allows endless opportunities for nutrition professionals to keep learning and growing.

Here are Sandy Gebhart’s responses to a series of interview questions:

What motivated you to pursue integrative nutrition versus conventional dietary treatments alone?
When I was an undergraduate I had the privilege of working as an intern under Mary Beth Augustine. Through her guidance and teachings my mind became consumed with the knowledge of integrative nutrition. When I came to understand that there were more than just conventional dietary treatments available, I knew that I had to learn more.

If you had to choose one attribute that is unique to Saybrook University and your education experience, what would it be? Why?
Saybrook is unique, because the university prides itself in facilitating full communication between professors and students. Through the use of video conferences students are able to engage in conversations with peers and instructors.

What do you think are the most important attributes and competencies for integrative nutritionists?
I think that the most important attributes of an integrative nutritionist is that she or he recognizes that one diet does not fit all. Taking time to assess and evaluate each unique individual is a crucial component of an integrative nutritionist.

As an integrative nutritionist or dietitian, what is your approach toward patient care?
My approach towards patient care is that each individual has a unique genetic and environmental make-up.

How influential was the residential conference on your personal and professional growth? Describe any mind-body approaches that you adapted as a self-care strategy, as well as incorporated into patient care plans to enhance well-being.
The residential conference allowed me to practice mind-body approaches that I had never tried before. Meditation and deep breathing are two mind-body approaches that I am currently practicing myself and which I am currently recommending to my clients.

Since you enrolled in the program, how are you applying this knowledge into your personal and professional life?
I have learned a great deal of information every week, since I enrolled in the program. My approach is to keep an open mind and use my knowledge to further serve my clients.

How do you envision the emerging field of integrative medicine and nutrition operating within the current medical model?
In the current model of health care, symptoms of a disease are treated and the disease itself is often times not addressed. The integrative nutrition model addresses the root causes of a disease and is able to reverse the symptoms through multiple treatment strategies.

What is your professional goal, or what career do you hope to pursue after graduation?
My professional goal is to pursue a career as a health coach. I believe that my education at Saybrook will further educate me to be able to serve my clients in the most effective way I can.

Nina Narelle

26 March 2016
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Nina Narelle
Ph.D. Managing Organizational Systems, 2012

“Saybrook showed me I could do organizational change work in any kind of organization and find it rewarding. That was a great thing to discover.”

Team Builder

“There are a lot of smart people in the world who can solve technical problems, but there are not a lot of people in the world who can solve complex humanistic problems. My hunch was that Saybrook would help me develop that capacity, and I was correct.”

Nina Narelle built a nonprofit career in organizational change the old-fashioned way. But a “hunch” that the Seattle-based LIOS Graduate College of Saybrook University could give her work a humanistic edge pushed Narelle out of her comfort zone and into one of the most transformative experiences of her life.

“I had to break through my own mental models of how the world works,” explains Narelle, adding that her time at LIOS inspired her love of self-expression through doodles and blogging. “LIOS showed me I could do organizational change work in any kind of organization and find it rewarding. That was a great thing to discover. Now I work at a consulting firm where we work with Global 2000 for-profit companies, big complex corporate systems, and I love it.”

Using principles of co-creation, visual thinking, and people-centered design, Narelle’s work at the XPLANE strategic design consultancy firm reflects the humanistic values she learned at Saybrook. The challenges within the organizations she works with are complex, often revolving around organizational alignment or strategy activation. Her expert solutions focus on bringing people together—the human touch.

“A big part of our philosophy is that we don’t solve the problem for you. We help you solve the problem,” she says. “We design experiences for them so they can figure out the solution. We are very sensitive to the idea of facilitating a human-centered, co-creative process that enables people solve really complex problems from inside their organization.”

Narelle is grateful to LIOS and Saybrook for opening her mind to a more human approach in her life’s work.

“This is real-time learning. You apply your skills directly, not just in theory,” she adds. “You cannot get through the program without having some kind of evolution in your behavior—both in how you move through the world and in how you can impact change within that world.”