Margo Maine, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist specializing in eating disorders and related issues, has made significant contributions to the field over her 40-year career. As a pioneer in the field, she has written extensively on topics related to eating disorders and body image, challenging cultural messages, and advocating for prevention and treatment.
Dr. Maine’s journey as a psychologist began during her time pursuing her Ph.D. at Saybrook University. “I was really drawn to the existential and humanistic approach to things,” she says. She found Saybrook aligned with her holistic perspective on psychology. While little was known about eating disorders at the time of her studies, the faculty’s broad lens on mental health matters helped shape her understanding of the field.
During her studies at Saybrook, Dr. Maine was already working with individuals who had eating disorders. She recognized the need for research that focused on the lived experiences of those recovering from anorexia, as most existing studies only collected demographic data. Inspired by an , she embarked on a groundbreaking dissertation conducting in-depth interviews with women who had recovered from anorexia. Dr. Maine recalled, “For him to say, ‘You should pick something you like and that you have some passion about’ … My eyes just opened up. I don’t think they’ve closed since.” This research was among the first of its kind to give a voice to patients and shed light on their experiences.
For Dr. Maine, Saybrook University provided the platform to develop her expertise in the field of eating disorders. The program’s emphasis on independent study allowed her to continue working while pursuing her doctoral degree. Her experience at Saybrook also honed her writing skills, a talent she had always possessed but sought to refine. Dr. Maine reflected, “Because Saybrook did so much of our evaluation based on our writing, it was a really good fit for me.” The school’s focus on writing challenged her to improve her craft, ultimately leading her to become a successful author of eight books, including the recently published “Hair Tells a Story: Hers, Yours, and Ours.”
Throughout her career, Dr. Maine has been involved in the founding of several organizations and initiatives dedicated to eating disorder prevention and treatment. She is a founder of and former adviser to the National Eating Disorders Association, a founder and fellow of the Academy for Eating Disorders, and a former board member of the Eating Disorders Coalition for Research, Policy, & Action.
Dr. Maine’s contributions to the field have been recognized with numerous awards, including the 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals, the Lori Irving Award for Excellence in Eating Disorders Awareness and Prevention in 2007, the Don and Melissa Nielsen Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014, and the NEDA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015. She is also a 2016 honoree of the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame.
Currently, Dr. Maine maintains a private practice, Maine & Weinstein Specialty Group, in West Hartford, Connecticut. She continues to lecture nationally and internationally on eating disorders and works tirelessly to advocate for the field, challenge cultural norms, and promote body positivity.
Dr. Maine’s journey from her time at Saybrook University to her impactful career in the field of eating disorders is a testament to her dedication, pioneering spirit, and commitment to improving the lives of individuals affected by eating disorders. Her work has not only helped shape the field but has also given a voice to those who have struggled with these disorders, paving the way for greater understanding and improved treatment options.
After decades working as a psychologist, Dr. Maine still feels a profound sense of fulfillment from her work. She remains committed to helping patients one-on-one in private practice. Dr. Maine explains, “To help people get their lives back is really just an amazing process. For people to trust you and be vulnerable with you is such an important and intimate journey.” Despite all her expertise, Dr. Maine insists that there is always more to learn.
Unbound Posts
Career Paths in Mind-Body Medicine
Mind-body medicine is an evidence-based approach to wellness and healthcare that integrates physical health with mental health. This healthcare practice focuses on the connection between mind and body and how one can influence and change the state of the other. Looking at a person’s wellness in this approach offers a holistic view of a patient’s well-being. With this ever-growing field of medicine, there are many career options within mind-body medicine to explore. The Saybrook M.S. and Ph.D. Mind-Body Medicine teaches prospective healthcare professionals how to integrate the philosophy, science, and techniques of mind-body medicine into their careers.
Health and Wellness Coach
This career path is often started independently in a private practice or as a consultant, so it is the right path for someone who wants to be their own boss. A health and wellness coach works with individuals to utilize mind-body practices to advise on their health and well-being. This role involves creating personalized wellness plans for all aspects of the mind and body, including a fitness regimen, meditation techniques, a nutrition plan, stress and sleep management, etc.
Health and wellness coaches can also work as consultants, which might involve consulting in various settings, one of which would be a corporate capacity. A corporate wellness consultant works with companies to help provide health and wellness guidelines for employees in the workplace.
Mindfulness Instructor
A common career path that leads to working in integrative medicine and wellness centers is a mindfulness instructor. Mindfulness is a mind-body practice in which a person concentrates and focuses on their current thoughts, feelings, or environment to increase awareness of stressors/patterns. Mindfulness is a technique often used to combat stress and anxiety, but could also be used for managing chronic conditions such as diabetes and depression.
A mindfulness instructor works to create classes and leads in mindfulness and meditation sessions, teaching clients how to bring their thoughts and feelings to the forefront of their minds. Whether the mindfulness classes are individual or group, a mindfulness instructor must assess progress amongst clients to adjust teachings accordingly.
Holistic Health Educator
A holistic health educator is a great career path for someone wanting to work in a hospital setting. The role involves working with individual patients on their overall health and wellness, which includes promoting better lifestyle choices through nutrition, fitness, spirituality, mindfulness, and fostering healthy relationships. Different from most healthcare workers in a hospital, a holistic health educator doesn’t treat a single ailment but rather uses mind-body medicine techniques to promote overall wellness.
Holistic health educators could also work in a teaching capacity at a hospital to other healthcare providers. In this role, educators will hold lessons with the healthcare workers at a hospital to impart knowledge and techniques on mind-body medicine so they can incorporate them into their treatment plans.
Medical Spa Therapist
A spa therapist in a medical spa, also known as a med spa, performs any nonmedical procedures within a med spa such as massages, facials, and other skin treatments. The spa therapist works with clients through a consultation to create a personalized treatment and assists the licensed physician in any medical procedures like laser skin treatments, and Botox.
This is a specialized field within mind-body medicine that will likely require certifications to pursue, depending on which state you are going to practice. Check with the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards to see what requirements are needed in your state.
Athletic Mindset Trainer
An athletic mindset trainer or coach is someone who works closely with athletes to train their mindset and build up confidence. Many athletes experience mental blocks, causing their athletic performance to suffer. A practical example of this was when Simone Biles had a bad case of the Twisties in the 2021 Olympics and had to back out of the competition. With so much pressure and stress on athletes, it’s extremely important to utilize mind-body techniques to avoid potential injury and performance issues.
University Instructor
If practical work isn’t the mind-body medicine career path for you, teaching others theory and practical knowledge could be a rewarding career for you. Working in a university setting, a mind-body medicine instructor is responsible for creating lesson plans, real-life practicum, student evaluation, and keeping up with new research and theories within the mind-body medicine field.
Often, to become an MBM university professor, you must pursue a Ph.D. in mind-body medicine or a related field to secure employment.
Pursue a Degree in Mind-body Medicine Today
The start of a career in mind-body medicine begins with pursuing a degree in the field. At Saybrook University, we offer an M.S. in Mind-body Medicine and a Ph.D. Mind-Body Medicine. We also offer mind-body medicine certificate programs for any working professionals who are looking to expand their knowledge base and experience. With many different educational paths to choose from and a flexible environment of either in-person or online classes, it’s easier than ever to start your mind-body medicine career journey.
Dr. Alexander ‘Alec’ Spradling: Maximizing mental fitness
Alexander “Alec” Spradling, Ph.D., has had a diverse career path, but he found his true calling as a professional coach who works with those who want to realize their potential through active skill development and positive behavior change. Dr. Spradling chose to attend Saybrook University because of its intellectually rigorous Human Science program. Reflecting on his time at Saybrook, he says, “What remains is what I learned from my teachers and the academic environment about the love of learning and the importance of intellectual freedom.”
Prior to completing his studies at Saybrook in 1990, Dr. Spradling explored various careers, including a short stint as a professional photographer. However, it is his current role as a life and executive coach that he finds most fulfilling. He has worked closely with individuals and managers in organizations such as Google, Coupa, and Facebook, coaching his clientele in personal empowerment to improve their mindsets and overall work-life balance, and manage their careers with greater engagement, focus, and productivity.
Dr. Spradling focuses his work on areas such as mental fitness, communication, leadership, and organizational behavior. In his coaching sessions and workshops, he uses proven techniques based on neuroscience, psychology, and philosophy to provide guidance and insights to help his clients set objectives and regulate their emotions regarding their work, all while adapting to their specific needs. Dr. Spradling emphasizes the importance of refining his skills. He says, “My focus is on continuing to work as long as I can while continuing to hone my craft and enjoy every moment I practice.”
Besides conducting coaching sessions in multiple languages, Dr. Spradling’s unique background has given him greater insights into cultural nuances and business practices throughout the world. Having lived in several countries, Dr. Spradling also has personal experience of what it feels like to be a “stranger in a strange land.” Dr. Spradling’s multicultural background has had a significant impact on his working life. He finds comfort working with people from different cultures and believes that speaking multiple languages helps him to connect with and gain the trust of individuals who can relate to his background.
When asked about his greatest professional achievement, Dr. Spradling emphasizes the ability to bring his whole self to coaching. He feels that he can use everything he has experienced and learned in his life to help others achieve their coaching goals, such as transitioning to higher levels within their business and withstanding industry turbulence. On a personal level, Dr. Spradling values the kind of person he has become, stating that it is essential to him because, “at the end of this journey, I suspect it is the only thing that matters.”
Applying what he learned at Saybrook in his work as a coach, Dr. Spradling highlights the importance of values such as intellectual freedom and rigor when it comes to decision-making. He believes these values are needed today more than ever and uses them with himself and in helping his clients. He emphasizes the importance of managing one’s mind “so that your thoughts and emotions don’t cloud too much your perception of reality. If you can do that well enough, you won’t need to worry much about being positive.”
Dr. Spradling also has written extensively on leadership, accountability, and organizational behavior. His writing highlights his expertise on these topics and proposes solutions to common problems and practices that frequently affect individuals and organizations.
Dr. Spradling’s journey from Saybrook University graduate to professional coach showcases his commitment to lifelong learning, multicultural understanding, and a positive mindset. Through his coaching practice, he continues to make a positive impact on the lives of others while embracing the values instilled in him during his time at Saybrook.
Drug Decriminalization: Brave New World or Grave New Worry?
How will decriminalization and legalization change our views of once-illegal drugs, and how will we use them to soothe what ails us?
After 50 years and a trillion dollars spent, the war on drugs is over. And the drugs won. The question now is what society will look like under a more permissive enforcement policy. Will the legalization or decriminalization of these once-criminalized substances lead to a reduction in the use of hard drugs and alcohol? Will we come to view recreational use of these drugs as therapeutic? And perhaps most importantly, what role can mind-altering drugs play in nurturing the human organism, and when should they be avoided?
In 1971, after former President Richard Nixon declared drug abuse to be public enemy No. 1 and launched the war on drugs, the use of drugs that had either been legal just a few years earlier or had been widely used for generations suddenly brought stiff penalties for use and even stricter penalties for their sale. This new regime of zero tolerance also ended decades-long research into the effectiveness of some of the banned substances in treating depression, addiction, and other disorders.
While the laws drove users and some researchers into the shadows, they did little to curtail casual usage or the curiosity of those who believe in the curative power of certain criminalized substances. Widely used party drugs psilocybin (“magic mushrooms”), MDMA (also called molly or ecstasy), and ketamine (Special K) are now broadly used in clinical settings to treat depression, addiction, and PTSD.
“Many people view drug use through a moral lens by seeing all drug use as a corrupt behavior,” says Kelly Serafini, Ph.D., professor of clinical psychology at Saybook University who specializes in addiction. “The use of addictive drugs, and the efficacy of medications to treat addiction, is a very complex and nuanced conversation. With these emergent questions about the use of drugs to treat addiction, it’s important to examine the evidence base, the known risks, and the anticipated benefits.”
While the legal landscape is shifting and our understanding of the uses and harms of these substances is evolving, it is worth taking a look at how drugs once seen as playthings of the counterculture are entering mainstream society.
Cannabis
Driven in part by the wide use of cannabis among the nation’s youth in the 1960s, the Nixon administration came down hard on marijuana, classifying it as a Schedule 1 narcotic (in the same category as cocaine and heroin) under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). However, the public at large has not viewed cannabis as the menace to society the law suggests. Even Nixon’s former White House counsel John Ehrlichman was later quoted as saying, “Did we know we were lying about the drugs? Of course, we did.”
According to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), marijuana “has a high potential for abuse, no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, and a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision.” At the same time, it is legal for recreational use in 23 states, with these states reaping billions in tax revenue annually. Marijuana is also the most widely used of those drugs that have been legalized. Surveys vary but in general suggest that half of all adults in the country have at least tried marijuana.
Medical benefits of cannabis are said to include alleviating the symptoms of chemotherapy, managing chronic pain, and treating sleep disorders. However, Dr. Serafini warns that cannabis purchased on the street or even in a legal dispensary where products are intended to get the user high may pose some risk of addiction. Most of the products with medicinal properties are derivatives without the psychoactive effects, including cannabidiol (CBD). “There are some research studies supporting the use of CBD with several medical conditions,” Dr. Serafini says. “But that doesn’t mean that all cannabis use is medicinal. In my work with adolescents, many have told me, ‘marijuana’s medicine.’ But just because cannabis has some therapeutic components doesn’t mean it’s healthy. Smoking has many harmful effects, and we know that THC can have negative health effects too.
Psilocybin
Derived from “magic mushrooms,” psilocybin has been used in research for more than 70 years, including limited studies that survived the near-total shutdown of psychedelic studies following the CSA. As detailed in a previous article for UNBOUND, researchers discovered in the late 1940s and early 1950s that psychedelics were effective in treatment of addiction and depression.
Fifty years after most of these efforts were shut down, psychedelics (principally psilocybin) have regained a foothold in medical research, typically dispensed in a clinical setting with one or two clinicians present. In addition to depression and addiction, psychedelics can also be effective in treating obsessive-compulsive disorders and are being used more frequently in end-of-life care.
Courses of treatment are short, sometimes just one session. However, there is a movement outside of medical settings, based on theories advanced in the 1960s, to use small doses at regular intervals. Called “microdosing,” the practice generally involves using 10% of a full dose once every three days.
Dr. Serafini stated that changes to existing laws now allows for more scientific investigations. It will be necessary to have randomized, controlled trials to more fully evaluate efficacy of these treatments. “I think it’s important to have well-developed scientific studies to answer many of the questions we have about these new treatments,” she says but adds, “I personally don’t think there’s a “miracle drug” for addiction, but I do believe that there are medicines that can help.”
Cynthia Kerson, Ph.D., associate professor of applied psychophysiology, whose academic focus and practice have been in biofeedback, believes the jury is still out on psilocybin and mircodosing. However, at a recent conference, she attended a presentation on the topic by a neurosurgeon who described the benefit of the practice. Dr. Kerson believes there needs to be research in the area of microdosing with complementary psychophysiological training. “If it breaks negative patterns, great,” Dr. Kerson says. “You’re not going to microdose for the rest of your life, but for the rest of your life you will know the skill of self-regulation.”
Ketamine
Though widely used as a party drug, ketamine was originally developed as an anesthetic. The fact that it already has a medical application helped to speed its off-label use in the treatment of psychiatric disorders. In 2019, a ketamine nasal spray was approved for prescription use, but it must be administered in a clinic by a practitioner. Treatments average $600 each and are not covered by insurance. A typical course of treatment is six sessions, which means nearly $4,000 out of pocket. The cost raises questions about the financial burden on those requiring treatment but also questions of equity for those who cannot afford the treatment. It also incentivizes nonprescriptive use.
“I have some colleagues that work in ketamine clinics, and they really think about it as the ketamine helps the client get into a space to receive the psychotherapy more effectively,” Dr. Serafini says. “Psychotherapy is still a really huge component of the therapeutic process, and the ketamine is seen as an adjunct in helping to facilitate that outcome.”
MDMA
Classified as an empathogen because of how it stimulates dopamine and serotonin, MDMA gained wide usage as a club drug in the 1980s. In recent years, it has been designated as a breakthrough therapy in the treatment of PTSD, and the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) is currently running phase 3 clinical trials.
“One reason why I like psychotherapy in particular is that what we know from any medication is that, usually, when you stop the treatment, you also stop receiving the effects, and symptoms can reoccur,” Dr. Serafini says, “whereas with psychotherapy, we see a “sleeper effect.” so This means that we have research to support that people who finish a course of psychotherapy continue to improve even after they finish their course of psychotherapy. That’s because they’ve developed greater awareness of their triggers, they’ve learned new coping skills, and they have learned what works for them.”
The quest for healthier minds
This year, Saybrook University is launching a nationwide effort to stress the advantage of integrative health care. The core principle behind this initiative is that efforts that treat the body and mind together are most effective, and clinicians in a broad range of specializations should be open to new ways of thinking and collaboration.
“We have so many modalities in biofeedback,” Dr. Kerson says. “We have muscle reeducation, heart rate variability, skin conductance, brainwave biofeedback, and brain stimulation. We have all these different tools, and there’s no reason why we shouldn’t bring them in. I mean, we use psychotherapy—why not use microdosing or cognitive behavioral therapy along with biofeedback?”
Dr. Serafini believes an integrative approach is a boon to treating addiction. “Traditionally, our healthcare system treated addiction and mental health separately,” she says, but an integrative approach would allow the addiction and mental health experts to inform each other.
To learn more about the programs at Saybrook University, fill out the form below.
5 Career Paths for Those With an M.S. In Sport Performance Psychology
A degree in sport performance psychology can be the start of a wide variety of sport psychology careers. By utilizing the tenets of mind-body science, a graduate with an M.S. in Sport Performance Psychology has the qualifications to optimize the performance of their future clients with research and science. An M.S. in Sport Performance Psychology can assist you in pursuing or enhancing your career along these five paths:
- Head Coach
- Personal Trainer
- Performance Enhancement Specialist (PES)
- Academia
- Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC)
What Is a Sport Performance Psychology Degree?
A sport performance psychology degree is an education program built on maximizing an athlete’s competitive execution by enhancing their mind and body. The M.S. in Sport Performance Psychology prepares students to analyze a patient’s performance and health levels and then scientifically optimize them based on their knowledge and skills.
Utilizing traditional mind-body sciences combined with psychophysiology, Saybrook graduates have a deep understanding of how the brain and body work together, and how that can influence overall sports performance. This is an ideal field of study for someone looking to work with athletes, artists, military personnel, and performers.
Head Coach
A head coach of any sports team is responsible for planning and managing team development during competitions, providing feedback to players on their performance, recruiting other team members if needed, maintaining equipment, and reserving practice space, all while enforcing good sportsmanship.
Head coaches can work with youth, collegiate, or professional athletes at various levels. The years of experience and education required are determined by the age and competition level of the team. Most employers require head coaches to have a bachelor’s degree in a related field. Some sports, such as soccer, require multiple-level licensing as well as certifications in CPR and first aid. Some programs may require coaches to further their sports education, e.g., obtaining a football certification.
How Much Does a Head Coach Make?
The national average salary for a head coach is $44,890, according to USN.
*Data gathered in 2023.
Personal Trainer
As an expert in personal wellness and exercise, a personal trainer works with clients, either during individual sessions or during semi-private group sessions, to help them achieve their fitness goals. These fitness goals can range from bodybuilding to having a desired body mass index (BMI). A good personal trainer develops a relationship with clients and works together with them to flesh out realistic fitness goals, making sure clients are both happy with their results and are seeing an improvement in their health.
Personal trainers may have the freedom to work in a wide variety of settings, such as local or regional gyms, personal studios, fitness centers, or even at the client’s home. Besides helping their clients to perfect their form and push them to work their hardest (within reason), personal trainers will also help their clients focus on more long-term goals, such as setting up a diet that works with their desired lifestyle and creating a workout schedule that can show their desired results.
How Much Does a Personal Trainer Make?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, fitness trainers make an average of $46,480 a year. The job outlook for personal trainers is expected to grow by 14% by 2033, which is much faster than the average job growth rate.
*Data gathered in 2023.
Performance Enhancement Specialist (PES)
Someone with certification as a Performance Enhancement Specialist becomes an expert in athletic training, having knowledge of performance exercise techniques. As a specialized coach, a PES goes beyond the standard workout regimens, diving deeper into athletic performance testing and training to bring your clients to the next level of performance.
Not only will you focus on the physical aspect of performance, but you will also work closely with your clients to work on their diet and even the psychological aspects of their motivation. A performance enhancement specialist uses knowledge from sport psychology to help clients overcome personal struggles that go beyond the gym, so they can work to be the best version of themselves.
How Much Does a Performance Enhancement Specialist Make?
The national average salary is $68,249, according to ZipRecruiter.
*Data gathered in 2025.
Sport and Performance Psychology Academia
A career in sports and psychology doesn’t always mean you have to work in a gym or with clients on the track. Getting a degree in sport performance psychology can be the start of a long and successful career in academia. With this degree as a stepping stone to graduate school, you can work in a variety of fields, helping to expand and teach the next generation of professional athletic trainers who are pushing the boundaries of professional athleticism.
As a professor in sport performance psychology, you have the opportunity to receive grants and funding to help push your own passions and interests in the field of sports performance by conducting independent research that could potentially help to advance the field and change the way professional athletes train and look at performance.
How Much Does a Professor Make?
The national average salary for a university professor is $84,380, according to the BLS.* According to the Association for Applied Sport Psychology, the median compensation for mental performance work in academia was $105,000 a year.**
*Data gathered in 2023.
**Data gathered in 2020.
Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC)
With a master’s degree or doctorate in sports psychology and national-level certification from the Association for Applied Sport Psychology, a certified mental performance consultant (CMPC) helps clients focus on their personal and professional goals.
CMPCs work with athletes and other professional performers to overcome personal struggles that they feel are getting in the way of their performance. This can range from psychological barriers (such as performance anxiety, mental exhaustion, or depression) to more physical issues (recovering from an injury or a desired increase in mobility). Using the skills acquired during their studies at Saybrook, a CMPC’s career in sports psychology can be both rewarding and challenging.
How Much Does a Certified Mental Performance Consultant Make?
According to the Association for Applied Sport Psychology, the median income for CMPCs is $85,000 a year.
*Data gathered in 2020.
Pursuing a Sport Performance Psychology Job
As a school that focuses on the nuanced complexities of human beings, Saybrook has celebrated more than 50 years of success, creating a positive impact in the lives of both our students and their future patients. Developing a range of skills from biofeedback to athletic counseling, a graduate of Saybrook’s M.S. in Sport Performance Psychology is prepared for a range of comprehensive careers in and out of sports psychology. Do you want to help change people’s lives through science? Learn more today.
Graduates may also be interested in pursuing a doctorate in Applied Psychophysiology, Mind-Body Medicine, Integrative and Functional Nutrition, or similar programs.
| Career Path | Head Coach | Personal Trainer | PES | Academia | CMPC |
| Minimum Degree Needed | Bachelor’s or Master’s | Master’s degree | Master’s degree | Master’s or Ph.D. | Master’s degree |
| Licensure or Certification Needed | May need certification or licensing | Certification may be necessary | N/A | N/A | Certification |
| Average Salary | $44,890* | $46,480* | $68,249** | $105,000*** | $85,000*** |
*Data gathered in 2023.
**Data gathered in 2025.
***Data gathered in 2020.
Saybrook Kicks off Nationwide Campaign to Address the Mental Health Crisis
A symposium devoted to addressing the need for self-care among mental health professionals and the value of integrative health care seeks to provide solutions to a crisis.
As the U.S. faces a mental health crisis and a lack of trained professionals to deal with it, Saybrook University will undertake an initiative over the next two years called Integrative Mental Health for All. As part of the initiative, Saybrook President Nathan Long, Ed.D., faculty, alumni, and students will travel the country, to examine the state of mental health and integrative health. The goal is to identify opportunities and challenges and develop strategies for action to address the crisis.
This nationwide effort, called the President’s Symposium on Integrative Mental Health, kicked off online on May 19, 2023, with a discussion of the growing demand for mental health services in the U.S., the need to train more professionals to close the gap, and why an integrative mental health model is the best prescription for treating the mind and body.
The event opened with a welcome from Charlotte Hamilton, Ph.D., dean of the College of Social Sciences, and Donald Moss, Ph.D., dean of Integrative Medicine and Health Sciences, and a mindfulness meditation presented by Luann Fortune, Ph.D., and Dr. Moss. The seminar then featured three conversations addressing the most urgent issues currently facing educators and practitioners.
Self-care for caregivers
The first panel, Addressing Burnout and Secondary Trauma, was presented by Stephen Brown, Ed.D., associate professor of behavioral sciences at California Baptist University, and Trent Nguyen, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Integrative Social Work at Saybrook University. Dr. Nguyen began by noting the instructions airplane passengers receive before takeoff to—in the event of an emergency—secure their own oxygen masks before assisting their children. While seemingly counterintuitive, Dr. Nguyen explains that this message is necessary to ensure that the parent remains fully capable to provide care for the child. In a similar way, social workers tackling difficult cases cannot be effective unless they are prioritizing their own mental health.
To illustrate this point, Dr. Brown brought up secondary traumatic stress disorder, which can be caused by indirect exposure to trauma through firsthand accounts. The effects can mimic post-traumatic stress disorder. Accompanying concerns are compassion fatigue, in which health care responders become overwhelmed with the number of people in need they encounter over a prolonged period of time, and vicarious trauma, in which mental health professionals and other care providers assume the emotional burdens of clients who have experienced sexual assault, physical abuse, and child neglect.
“When I was in graduate school, we did not talk about taking care of ourselves,” Dr. Brown says. “The focus was always on the client. When I started feeling a lack of energy and motivation, I didn’t know what was wrong.” The challenges for younger social workers are made more acute by the fact that they are often assigned the toughest cases.
Fortunately, much has improved over the last few decades, Dr. Brown says, noting that every facility he works in now has a meditation room. To insulate themselves against the stresses of profession, he urges social workers to “pay attention to the physical mode where nutrition and exercise are key as well as the mental aspect and the spiritual side.”
Stay active and well
The second panel, Supporting Wellness in Social Justice in Activism Work, was presented by Joel Federman, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Transformative Social Change, and Theopia Jackson, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Clinical Psychology. Dr. Federman stressed the importance of supporting wellness and social justice to stay grounded and emotionally healthy to carry on the work of social activism in a challenging time. “It’s very difficult to be a human being let alone an activist for social justice when stress is literally in the air all around us,” Dr. Federman says.
The liberatory approach Dr. Federman espouses was popularized by Brazilian educator Paulo Freire and is grounded on three core principles: the learning process is nonideological; teachers learn and work alongside their students, not in front of them; and the core belief is that a better world is possible.
Dr. Jackson focused her presentation on individual and collective hearing through the power of ritual. Collective healing refers to seeing the well-being and health of community members as a shared responsibility with the objective of collective empowerment. In other words, she says, “We are not helping someone else as much as we are being helped.”
As an exercise in visualization, Dr. Jackson invited attendees to think about what collective healing, collective care, and collective wellness would look like in their work. “I would submit to you that collective care, collective healing includes self,” because, she says, “We are each other’s best medicine.”
A nationwide effort is needed
The third and final panel of the day served as the kickoff for the national tour of the President’s Council on Integrative Mental Health Panel, moderated by Dr. Moss and Dr. Long and featuring guest Kimberly N. Frazier, Ph.D., president of the American Counseling Association, and C.J. Davis, Psy.D., president and CEO of Burrell Behavioral Health.
Dr. Davis calls the mental health crisis the second curve of the pandemic. “Normally about 15% of people will experience a concerning psychiatric symptom,” he says. “If you look at the data today, it’s anywhere between 40 and 50, which essentially means one out of every two individuals in America are experiencing a distressing, self-reported psychiatric symptom, and that is really impacting the demand for services.”
Dr. Moss cited the surgeon general’s statistics that during the pandemic there was a 50% increase in emergency room visits for suicide attempts by teenage girls and a doubling of anxiety and depression for teens of both genders. This increase has not been met with an increase in care. “A recent APA [American Psychological Association] study showed that 60% of psychologists have no openings for new clients,” Dr. Moss says. “I talked to a Saybook graduate who opened a practice a week ago and already has a three-month waiting list.”
Dr. Frazier pointed out that the crisis is particularly acute in communities of color. “We don’t have enough people who are trained to meet Black and brown communities where there is a stigma associated with just seeking out mental health services,” she says. “People don’t know what to look for in terms of triggers—the behaviors that go on before something blows up into a big issue.”
What’s next for integrative care?
The members of the panel agreed that integrative approaches to health care were successful. But part of the problem, Dr. Frasier believes, is that integrative models are not taught enough in the health care education system. “What needs to happen is that we graduate people who are thinking from that perspective already,” she says.
Going forward, much of the conversation will center on the importance of self-care for mental health care providers, that models for integrative health should include providers of psychological and medical services co-located or partnered in virtual models, and, importantly, that these services be accessible to all.
To learn more about programs at Saybrook University, fill out the form below.
Sport Performance Psychology: Training the Body and Mind for Maximum Performance
The new Sport Performance Psychology program at Saybrook University will train those who train athletes to perform at their peak.
A new program at Saybook University, the Master of Science in Sport Performance Psychology, will teach the next generation of coaches and sport performance trainers to guide their athletes to perform at their best by emphasizing psychophysiology, which maps the intersection between the mind and physical response.
Why does one figure skater land a triple axel to win an Olympic medal while another fails under the pressure of having a billion eyes upon them? How does a below-average hitter go on a hot streak at the right moment to be named World Series MVP? Determining the fine line between executing a clutch performance and “choking” has long been a preoccupation of athletes, coaches, and sport psychologists. There are few human traits more prized or elusive than the ability to excel over equally gifted competitors, and those who can train athletes to deliver consistently excellent performances are in high demand.
Saybrook’s Sport Performance Psychology program will also offer insights to those in a wider range of professions, including members of the military and the performing arts, to maximize their talents. “This program is a natural outgrowth of the optimal performance specializations that are part of the Saybrook philosophy, just a little more focused on the optimal functioning related to competition and sports,” says Eric Willmarth, Ph.D., chair of Saybrook’s Department of Psychophysiology and head of the new program. ”It’s the opposite of treating pathology where most of psychology is focused. And looking at the other side of things is taking people who are above normal already and trying to improve their capabilities as much as possible.”
A brief history of performance optimization in sports
In the 1960s, a wave of technological advances led to a revolution in measuring human responses and performance. At the same time, the stigma of consulting with psychologists about mental barriers to peak performance waned. With biofeedback technology, experts in athletic performance gained the ability to track in real time the relationship between the brain and physical response. These experts therefore could demonstrate to an athlete how changes in thinking and behavior affected the athlete’s performance.
“The equipment emerged that allowed us to study the mind-body connections better,” says Don Moss, Ph.D., dean of the College of Integrative Medicine and Health Sciences. “The physiological measurements are very valuable to a sport psychologist, and yet most of the academic programs cover the psychological concepts but don’t cover the basic psychophysiology. That’s where our program offers something valuable that’s not available elsewhere.”
Why the Sport Performance Psychology program is the right fit for coaches and trainers
While the focus of the curriculum is on improving the performance of already high-performing individuals, the program itself is for coaches and trainers, i.e., the people who train the athletes. By the nature of their profession, people in these roles are good at relating the technical details of how to excel physically, whether they are training tennis players or opera singers. However, they generally are not trained in psychology for sports or even the biofeedback that can be so essential to gauge what might be holding an athlete back from a psychophysiological standpoint.
The Sport Performance Psychology program’s principles apply to anyone’s health
Dr. Moss hopes that students in the program will apply the principles they have learned to their own health and well-being. “We constantly remind our students to practice the skills themselves and integrate them into their own life,” he says. “We find that if the trainer is able to relax their physiology, reduce their stress response, use imagery to enhance their performance, they will also use it more effectively with those that they train, whether they’re high-school athletes or college athletes or pros.”
Dr. Willmarth expects early interest in the Master of Science in Sport Performance Psychology program from three groups: high-school coaches; members of the military who focus more and more on human performance; and those who are beginning a career in sport performance training and seeking a knowledge base and credentials to get started.
Dr. Moss agrees and thinks the appeal may be even broader. “This is a fun degree,” he says. “When you think about it, our graduates will help people run quicker, jump higher, and swim faster. That’s exciting.”
To learn more about Sport Performance Psychology or any other program at Saybrook University, fill out the form below.
How father and son find joy and sense of purpose in their work
Eric Willmarth, Ph.D., is chair of the Applied Psychophysiology department in the College of Integrative Medicine and Health Sciences at Saybrook University. His son, Kevin Willmarth, Psy.D., is an adjunct professor in Health Psychology as well as the director for consulting at the VHA National Center for Organization Development at Saybrook. They wound up working in the same field and at the same university through sheer coincidence—and a belief in paying attention to the interests that make one happiest.
Some fathers pressure their sons to join the family business, but Eric Willmarth never did that to Kevin. As a psychologist, Eric knew how toxic parental pressure could be. Instead, he encouraged Kevin to follow his own interests and stay true to himself. Kevin did so and became a psychologist and a faculty member at Saybrook, just like his father.
Early in Eric’s psychology career, while his own children were still young, many of his patients were children. Kevin recalls, “My dad went to work, and he had toys.” For a child, that was appealing and perhaps predisposed Kevin to an interest in psychology.
Later, Kevin studied psychology, but while his father focused on individual patients, Kevin became interested in the psychology of human systems and the way group dynamics and individual behaviors can affect large-scale outcomes.
Today, Kevin works in organizational development for the Veterans Health Administration. His job includes executive coaching and consultation as well as helping teams handle organizational change. At Saybrook, he teaches health psychology, sports psychopathology, and consulting.
Different Practices, Similar Discoveries
Although Eric and Kevin’s specialties differ, they have what one might call a family resemblance.
Both father and son find meaning in helping people build their own awareness of habits and problems, and both have been guided by following their own interests—as well as a certain amount of chance. “[For] both of us, our careers are kind of serendipitous,” Eric says.
It was a photography assignment for his high school yearbook that first brought Eric into contact with hypnosis. Soon, he was talking to every practitioner he could find. With their consent, he began recording their conversations as a “living history of hypnosis.” Many are now available on his website, Hypnosis Central. Today, his clinical practice includes biofeedback as well as hypnosis, two approaches that help patients build awareness of their behavior and use that understanding to respond constructively.
Similarly, a different early path brought Kevin into contact with what would become his main focus. “I just went where my interest was,” he says. At first, that meant sports. After interning in sports psychology, he realized that the field was less appealing to him in practice than in theory. But a different clinical internship happened to pique his interest in analyzing systems and groups. An internship in graduate school brought him to the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Both men also have had to address misconceptions of their work.
Eric notes that pop culture has contributed to a misunderstanding of hypnosis. “It’s not something that you do to someone,” he says. “Hypnotic ability rests with the individual themselves.” With practice, hypnosis can help patients manage pain, deal with phobias, and reinforce healthy behaviors in addiction recovery. “Hypnosis will never make you want to quit smoking or want to quit drinking,” Eric adds, “but if you’ve already decided to do that, hypnosis can make it a lot easier.”
Hollywood has not helped. Movies often portray hypnotists as evil or manipulative, treating patients as little more than puppets. In reality, the experience should be empowering for the patient. “Everyone is a little curious about hypnosis, but they’re also a little afraid of it,” Eric says. “The control is really yours all along. It’s just finding a way to channel it and be successful at it.”
Meanwhile, Kevin notes that the field of executive coaching is never just about the executive. Though coaching begins with a top-down approach to changing organizations, great individual leaders must be able to work as part of a team. And a team is never a static entity. “It’s a new team every time a new person comes in,” Kevin says.
Much business language tends to focus on personal optimization, but Kevin’s work often helps individuals, usually executives, build awareness of how their actions and words can affect others. Only then can they begin to focus on reshaping their behavior to align with organizational goals and support healthy team dynamics.
Kevin also often finds himself addressing the common belief that conflict is bad. Actually, he says, a lack of evident conflict usually indicates a problem. It probably means that issues lurk below the surface, but team members are too fearful—or worse, too cynical or too hopeless—to bring them up.
Kevin seeks to guide teams through what he calls “constructive conflicts,” the disagreements that can lead to new discoveries and improvements. Then individuals can practice acting in ways that better serve their goals, whether those goals are personal or institutional.
As Eric sums it up, he focuses on the psychopathology of people, whereas his son focuses on the psychopathology of systems.
A Shared Purpose and a Shared Place
More than a discipline, father and son share a value system. Both feel rooted when they are helping others.
In this respect, they are in the right place at Saybrook, where the empowerment of individuals and communities is a core value. Saybrook provides students and faculty with mindfulness moments, offering opportunities for attention to personal mind-body health and balance, as well as the exploration of multiple techniques at the intersection of mental and physical health. Integrating self-awareness with community transformation is also key.
For Eric, teaching is also a path to discovery. “You always learn when you teach,” he says. In addition to treating patients, he teaches master’s and doctoral students at Saybrook, providing a balance he describes as “the best of both worlds.”
Simply put, Eric says that helping others become their best selves is when “you find joy in what you do.”
Eric notes that any therapeutic relationship should also be empowering. For both patient and provider, empowerment can come from finding a sense of purpose and an awareness of the usefulness and value of one’s actions.
Perhaps surprisingly, Willmarth family gatherings don’t include a lot of shop talk. “We tend not to talk about psychology that much,” Eric says.
Rather, music is a point of connection. Eric studied trombone and even majored in music as an undergraduate. Kevin plays keyboard in a rock band where he can observe team dynamics in the rehearsal room. As “band peacekeeper” however, he says he refrains from applying his professional analysis skills to his band mates.
Eric says his mantra is, “Just be happy at what you’re doing.” This belief continues to serve both father and son.
Contact us to learn more about Saybrook’s programs in Applied Psychophysiology or Humanistic Psychology.
How 5 people with disabilities use mind-body practices to support wellness
Mind-body medicine is a complementary, integrative, and alternative medicine that “offers holistic evidence-based therapies to support physical, emotional, social, and mental health through stress management and thought regulation.” Mind-body medicine includes, but is not limited to, yoga, cognitive behavioral therapy, and relaxation techniques such as hypnosis and meditation. According to Saybrook University, mind-body medicine techniques such mindfulness, hypnosis, and stress reduction can offer relief from anxiety, insomnia, chronic pain, and cancer symptoms.
When I was diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism for the second time, I was a graduate student at Saybrook. The difference between my first and second hospitalizations was that by the second episode, I had adopted mindfulness practices in my daily life. The medical team often found me meditating and utilizing deep breathing techniques, even while lying in the intensive care unit, connected to oxygen and intravenous drugs. My first pulmonary embolism kept me in the hospital for a week, but paired with the practice of mindful breathing, the second occurrence lasted only a few days.
Mind-body medicine practices can improve quality of life, support healing from a medical event, and help patients cope with traumatic events. With a pulmonary embolism, I experienced sharp pains when taking breaths, rapid heart rate, and shortness of breath. I used mindful breathing to train my body to breathe normally again and to center me during the traumatic event. My go-to breathing exercise was—and still is—to inhale and say “this,” exhale and say “moment,” inhale and say, “I am,” and exhale and say “grateful.” This mantra, accompanied by slow, deep breaths, helped steady my heart rate and increase the flow of oxygen.
Years later, I am still committed to meditative practice, mindful movement, and other modalities. These have helped me cope with chronic pain and breathing complications. Though I still live with disabilities, I am grateful to have mind-body medicine in my comfort toolkit. From what I’ve read, people turn to mind-body medicine to treat a variety of experiences—including lived trauma, birth, and injury—and mental health conditions. I wanted to learn from other disabled people about how mind-body medicine has improved the quality of their lives. Below, members of the Diversability Leadership Collective share the benefits of mind-body medicine.
Laura Andert (she/her)
Laura Andert has practiced meditation/mindfulness and acupuncture daily for two years. She has a form of cerebral palsy that causes lack of oxygen to her brain, weak motor skills, and involuntary shaking when she writes or lifts heavy objects. She started meditating upon the recommendation of a mentor and using acupuncture after her chiropractor suggested it. “When I turned 30 years old, I learned that [my condition was] maturing once again. … I had to let go of a lot of things that were no longer serving me, [and] I had to relearn how to put my self-care needs first.”
Andert has had incredible experiences using both mindful meditation and acupuncture. Acupuncture has worked to relieve muscle tension, while five-minute meditations before bed help to calm her mind so she can fall asleep easily. To those new to meditation, Andert says, “You just have to remember to breathe in and out. Focus on your breathing. When an unwelcome thought tries to steer your attention away, you have to let it go and re-center your breathing.”
Neil Hughes (they/them)
Neil Hughes has practiced photobiomodulation and biofeedback daily for more than 10 years. They have a functional neurological disorder and spinal cord injuries to the neck and lower back. These neurological disorders cause pain, neuropathy, spasms, rigidity, tremors, altered sensations, vasovagal syncope, and balance problems. As a professional athlete in the 1970s, Hughes turned to photobiomodulation and biofeedback initially for heart-rate training, but after a recommendation from a neurologist, they recognized that neurofeedback has helped improve areas of brain activity.
Hughes believes that these treatments have helped relieve their symptoms. “I can honestly say that the biofeedback treatments have created a night-to-day difference for my dysregulated nervous system,” they say. Historically, biofeedback and photobiomodulation were considered alternative therapies, but they are now embraced by more medical providers. Hughes recommends the following books that give insight into these modalities: “The Angel and the Assassin” by Donna Jackson Nakazawa and “The Body Keeps the Score” by Bessel van der Kolk, M.D.
Katherine Lewis (she/her)
Katherine Lewis has practiced meditation, mindfulness, yoga, mindful movement, tai chi, acupuncture, herbal medicine, and massage therapy a few times a week for about 10 years.
Lewis lives with a variety of chronic illnesses and service injuries that cause chronic pain, nerve damage, cognitive issues, and a number of other symptoms. In conjunction with surgical approaches, infusion therapy, medication, and mobility aids, Lewis utilizes a menu of complementary practices. She says she integrates these practices because “the traditional medical system was often so rigid with treatments and failed to treat me as a whole human.” She believes that much of mainstream medical care is to the detriment of patients who have multiple conditions. After years of not receiving necessary medical care, Lewis chose to take ownership of her health.
Lewis has had mostly positive experiences using meditation, movement modalities, acupuncture, herbs, and massage therapy. The combination of treatments has improved her quality of life.
Puneet Singh Singhal (he/him)
Puneet Singh Singhal has practiced meditation, mindfulness, yoga, mindful movement, and tai chi a few times a week for about one year.
Puneet Singh Singhal has dyspraxia and stammering that cause issues with motor coordination and spatial awareness. He turned to meditation after listening to podcasts and interviews of people with similar dyspraxia experiences. He decided to experiment with mindfulness, knowing that it couldn’t hurt but could possibly help.
Using meditation helps to relax Singh Singhal even when he is not consistent with his practice. “I always cherish these practices whenever I do it without feeling the pressure of doing it regularly or the guilt of missing the sessions,” he says.
About the author: Arielle Dance, Ph.D., is a writer at Diversability who identifies as a Black queer woman with disabilities. Dr. Dance is published across multiple online platforms and is the author of a children’s book, “Dearest One,” that focuses on mindfulness and grief.
Read more from Dr. Dance:
The first hug
Making your events more accessible
Working through the death of a colleague
Returning to dance with chronic pain and invisible disability
The Benefits of Earning a Psychology Certificate vs. Degree
Psychology remains one of the most popular fields of graduate study in the U.S. The number of master’s degrees earned in psychology continues to grow year-over-year, with more than 32,000 graduates earning theirs in 2021.
Earning a master’s degree in psychology has the potential to change a student’s life and the lives of those in their community; however, there may be instances when pursuing a highly focused psychology certificate would make more sense. Keep reading to learn more about psychology certificates, how psychology certificates differ from psychology degrees, and the many benefits of earning a certificate.
What is a Psychology Certificate?
Psychology and other academic certificates acknowledge the completion of a specific course or program of study in higher education outside the scope of a traditional degree. Many students and professionals seek academic certificates for the specialized focus on a particular subject that can supplement their current knowledge and skill set.
Earning a certificate also exemplifies the learner’s passion and commitment to their chosen subject. Completion of a certificate program indicates to hiring managers that a candidate respects their field, dedicates themselves to continued personal and professional growth, and can handle the rigors of challenging work.
While some certificate programs require enrollment in a degree program, many certificate programs are open to career-focused individuals with curious minds who are not full-time students.
What Are the Differences Between a Psychology Certificate and Psychology Degree?
Psychology certificates and psychology degrees are both academic achievements marking the successful completion of a psychology program, but there are some key differences that set the two apart.
Psychology degree programs offer a broad, comprehensive education in psychology. These programs typically cover a wide range of topics and practical skills that will act as the foundation upon which students will build their future careers. Psychology degrees often include lessons on research methods and psychological theory, and some allow students to focus on a more specialized area of study within the field such as Creativity Studies, Existential and Humanistic Psychology, or Psychophysiology.
On the other hand, psychology certificates offer hyperfocused training in a specific subject. At Saybrook these include programs in Neurofeedback, Complex Trauma and the Healing Process, or Contemplative End-of-Life Care.
A psychology degree is ideal for students seeking a well-rounded education in psychology and a wider range of career options upon graduation, including those that require a degree as a prerequisite. Working professionals often seek psychology certificates to supplement their full degrees with study of a particular topic that will advance their careers or open doors to other opportunities that require such in-depth knowledge.
The Benefits of Psychology Certificate Programs
Time and Cost
Psychology certificate programs are often less time consuming and less expensive than full degree programs. Because they do not have to build the foundational knowledge of the entire field through multiple courses and textbooks, psychology certificate programs reduce time and costs by getting right to the subject at hand.
Each program will differ depending on a number of variables; however, one can expect to spend two to three years earning a master’s degree and at least four to five years completing a doctorate. Certificate programs also vary in length, but many can be completed in less than a year.
Flexibility
Flexibility is crucial for working professionals with full-time schedules to navigate. Most certificate programs do not include full-time coursework that would require taking a break from a career. With options for online, remote, and hybrid learning, many students can earn their certificates from the comfort of their own homes.
Professional Development
Earning a psychology certificate can be a valuable way for the career-driven psychologist to gain additional credentials and expertise in a specialized subject, enhancing job prospects and providing a competitive edge in the job market.
Certificates can also expand the scope of a current career, giving the earner confidence to work on more complex projects, accept greater responsibility, or to become a subject matter expert who others rely on for answers.
Psychologists are not the only ones who can enhance their careers with a certificate. Some professions incorporate aspects of psychology without directly providing psychological services. These include careers in social justice, functional nutrition, and wellness coaching. A psychology certificate focused on one of those specific topics can help community organizers, nutritionists, and life coaches develop a deeper understanding of psychological elements within their specialties and how those elements can be used to improve the lives of their clients.
Psychology Certificates at Saybrook University
A pioneer in online learning since its inception, Saybrook University is proud to offer a variety of flexible and affordable certificate programs that provide professional training opportunities in areas such as psychology, health care, and consultation.
Some of these programs may be used to satisfy educational requirements for national certification in a variety of areas; be sure to review the program descriptions carefully for more information. In addition, students may transfer credits from these certificate programs toward applicable degree programs.
Humanistic and Clinical Psychology
Psychophysiology
- Certificate in Biofeedback
- Certificate in Neurofeedback
- Certificate in Stress Management Education
- Certificate in Clinical and Applied Hypnosis
Transformative Social Change
- Certificate in Complex Trauma and the Healing Process
- Certificate in Multiculturalism and Social Justice
Integrative and Functional Nutrition
Integrative Social Work
Mind-Body Medicine
- Certificate in Mind-Body Medicine
- Certificate in Contemplative End-of-Life Care
- Certificate in Mindfulness Applications
Integrative Wellness Coaching
Interested in learning more? Visit the Areas of Study page to explore every program Saybrook University has to offer, or contact an enrollment counselor today to help you find the program that’s right for you.