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Exploring Psychophysiology Careers

22 March 2024
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As medical technology and academic studies advance, more medical fields have become deeply specialized, allowing patients to get priority treatment optimized for their hyper-specialized needs. The world of psychophysiology, biofeedback therapy, and neurofeedback medical practice are prime examples of this evolution of the medical field. In psychophysiology, doctors study the relationship between the mind and the body by examining physiological signals, such as when somebody blushes due to embarrassment or has a panic attack and starts sweating due to internalized anxiety. 

This starts with academic and hands-on experience acquired before receiving a Ph.D. Psychophysiology is where you can find a career in various fields, including clinical psychophysiology, biofeedback therapy, neurofeedback therapy, and sports psychology. All four of these prioritize the mind and body wellness of their patients. 

What Does a Clinical Psychophysiologist Treat?

After completing a Ph.D. Applied Psychophysiology: Clinical Psychophysiology Specialization, graduates will be prepared for a psychophysiological career in the clinical field, where they will examine a patient’s biological and psychological needs to assess how best to treat them. By treating your patients with a biopsychosocial approach, you can help patients who are suffering from a variety of problems, such as: 

  • Chronic Pain 
  • Hypertension 
  • Trouble Sleeping
  • Inability to Pay Attention for Long Periods of Time

Examining the patient outside of the traditional lens of Western medicine can offer new solutions and truly address the patient’s needs. It can provide an alternative to medications and address the body as its own entity while ignoring the patient’s psychological needs. 

Licensure and Certification: Earning a Ph.D. in Psychophysiology alone will not allow one to practice as a clinical psychophysiologist. Graduates must complete additional licensure requirements and pass related licensure or certification examinations before entering practice. Licensure requirements vary from state to state.

What is the Role of a Biofeedback Therapist?

In a modern and complex world, many people feel that they are in a constant state of stress or anxiety, causes which can result in long-term underlying health issues, both physical and mental. The role of a biofeedback therapist is to help reduce these critical stress levels and make them manageable. This starts with a biofeedback session, which can range from 30 minutes to an hour on average. There are various types of biofeedback, such as using an electrocardiogram machine (ECG) to assess the heart, breathing biofeedback to determine the breathing rate, sweat gland activity to assess nervousness, and much more. 

Biofeedback training for therapists is a great way to specialize in a particular field that can do wonders for patients. It gives them a tangible understanding of their symptoms and offers a viable solution to reduce their physical and mental health problems. Those therapists or mental health workers looking to expand their skill set would be interested in the Ph.D. Applied Psychophysiology: Specialization in Optimal Functioning, where biofeedback therapists start a rewarding career in optimal functioning. 

Licensure and Certification: Earning a Ph.D. in Psychophysiology alone will not allow one to practice as a biofeedback therapist. Graduates must complete additional licensure requirements and pass related licensure or certification examinations before entering practice. Licensure requirements vary from state to state.

What is the Role of a Neurofeedback Therapist?

Like biofeedback therapy, a neurofeedback therapist assesses the brain waves of patients using non-invasive treatments. The goal of neurofeedback therapy is to offer an alternative to medications used for treating neurodevelopmental disorders such as ADHD without a dependency on medications and behavioral therapy. 

Some studies have shown that neurofeedback is associated with significant improvements in people who have ADHD by prioritizing long-term solutions rather than using medications as a short-term solution. By increasing focus, grades, and parental consent from children’s behavior, neurofeedback therapy has helped to reduce hyperactivity. 

In the Clinical Psychophysiology specialization, neurofeedback training is offered to explore integrative medical strategies and clinical skills. 

Licensure and Certification: Earning a Ph.D. in Psychophysiology alone will not allow one to practice as a neurofeedback therapist. Additional licensure requirements for becoming a neurofeedback therapist, such as certification examinations before entering practice, may be required, varying from state to state.

What is the Role of a Sports Psychologist?

Inside the world of sports medicine, a psychophysiology career can be found to help athletes maximize their talents both physically and mentally. A sports psychologist is a type of wellness coach who helps them to prioritize their potential. Studies have shown that sports psychology may have an impact on improving the performance of athletes. During their day-to-day activities, a sports psychologist will walk athletes through their fears and anxieties, recover from injury, and help them develop as individuals and team members. 

Teams of all ages can benefit from having a sports psychologist who is constantly improving their skills. The mental-physical connection a sports therapist emphasizes can help an athlete look at their connection with the game and their teammates with a whole new perspective, considering leadership, behavioral patterns, team chemistry, and individual personalities.

How to Start an Exciting Career in Specialized Psychology?

A psychophysiology career starts with a solid academic foundation on which you can continue to develop your skills and knowledge on how to improve the lives of others. Saybrook’s Ph.D. in Applied Psychophysiology focuses on the natural integration of the mind and the body to create a nuanced understanding of how the medical field examines patients and their needs. If you wish to become a part of this fascinating field of psychology, reach out and learn more today.

Saybrook University Student Profile: Derek Kee-Haynes

22 March 2024
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“Saybrook is different from other schools because there really is a focus on lived experience and human potential,” says Derek Kee-Haynes, MSW, M.A., LCSW, MCAP. “It’s so much more than academics.”

Lived experience is something Kee-Haynes has earned plenty of during his personal and academic journey. While he is now studying for a Ph.D. in Integrative Social Work at Saybrook University, he didn’t pursue social work as a career when he first entered the workforce.

Instead, Kee-Haynes’ first love was fashion, which took him to fashion school in New York City, and he worked for many years in luxury retail sales. He also studied musical theater and danced professionally while he was “figuring it out.”

“This was a whole other lifetime, and I didn’t really start this ‘leg of the tour’ until my late 30s, early 40s,” Kee-Haynes says, referring to his first steps toward pursuing social work.

Despite a circuitous route to his new calling, Kee-Haynes draws a connection between his past pursuits and his current work in that it all comes down to his love of people.

“My ability to listen and hear and hold space and bear witness to people’s lives and stories was something that made me very successful as a salesperson,” Kee-Haynes says. “At the time, I didn’t realize that these skills were related to what I’m doing now, but they really are.”

Kee-Haynes’ personal journey and identity as a Black gay man also cannot be separated from what led him to his current path, and he cites Barack Obama’s election as president of the United States for leading him to reevaluate his life goals.

“It shifted the energy, and I was so proud to be a man of color and so inspired to become a better version of myself and affect change,” Kee-Haynes says. “I thought, ‘I have to go back to school. I have to do more.’ It was so huge for me, and it came in so clear that I wasn’t living my purpose or calling.”

For Kee-Haynes, finding the right purpose and calling meant a change in his core values. “You get to a point in your life when you ask, ‘Why am I here?’” he says. “The answer that came to me is, ‘You need to be serving people and not pursuing money.”

During all of this, Kee-Haynes also met some serious health challenges, leading him to reflect further on the meaning of life and how he should best use his time on this planet. It inspired him to earn his bachelor’s degree as well as two master’s degrees: an MSW and an M.A. in depth psychology with a specialization in Jungian and archetypal studies.

Now working on his Ph.D. at Saybrook, Kee-Haynes expects to graduate in the spring of 2026. He wants to focus his dissertation and research on psychodrama as an intervention for racial trauma. He’s particularly interested in the decolonization of social work, recognizing that social work can’t be a one-size-fits-all system for every identity.

Kee-Haynes applies this approach in his work as the director of Clinical Services at Tranquil Shores, a substance abuse recovery center in Madeira Beach, Florida. “I try to meet my clients where they are,” he says. “They love our diverse modalities and our holistic treatment approaches.”

According to Kee-Haynes, Saybrook facilitates the exploration of different spiritual modalities within the field, and the professors he’s worked with so far have been open and encouraging. “It’s a part of who Saybrook is,” he says, “and I know I belong here because of this.”

Racial Trauma Among the BIPOC Community

26 February 2024
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Racial trauma isn’t a distant concept tucked away in history books; it’s a relentless storm that many people of color navigate daily. This trauma stems from violent racial incidents, some as overt as police brutality witnessed firsthand or through the media lens. Such events aren’t mere moments; they etch deep scars on both mental and physical health, subtly manipulating behavior patterns.

The saga of African Americans is marred by structural racism, an unwelcome inheritance from the era of slavery, persistently manifesting through health disparities, economic hurdles, and enforced segregation. Racial trauma, or race-based traumatic stress (RBTS), emerges from these incessant encounters with racial prejudice, ethnic discrimination, racism, and the horrors of hate crimes. It’s the disturbing reality for anyone who has faced the sharp edge of racism’s blade, rendering them vulnerable to race-based traumatic stress injuries. In the U.S., this vulnerability is most acute among Black, Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) whose lives are overshadowed by the sinister cloud of white supremacy.

Moreover, there’s a nuanced form of suffering, vicarious traumatic stressors, that hauntingly parallels the direct impacts of racial trauma. These are the echoes of systemic racism and individual racial aggressions that BIPOC communities endure. Witnessing the brutality of events such as the murder of George Floyd can trigger profound traumatic stress reactions, especially among Black individuals. Similarly, a significant portion of Latinx youth carry the burden of traumatic experiences from migration, while Native American children are vicariously scarred by the prevalent societal maladies of their communities.

Addressing racial trauma necessitates a multifaceted strategy. Stepping away from the triggering environment, though vital, isn’t always feasible. Building a robust support network, taking mental health breaks, and engaging in dialogues with professional clinicians are pivotal steps toward healing and recovery.

Weaving these insights into our narrative underscores not just the historical significance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Thich Nhat Hanh’s efforts but also the contemporary relevance of their work. Their legacy, characterized by mutual respect, justice, and “love in action,” shines a beacon on the importance of community support, engagement, and the enduring fight against systemic injustices. This dialogue not only enhances our understanding but also stirs a call to action, inviting us to contemplate the enduring power of empathy and collective advocacy for basic human rights amid a backdrop marked by the struggle against racial trauma.

A Story of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Thich Nhat Hanh

26 February 2024
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In the heart of remembrance, January 22, 2022, holds a mirror to the legacy of Thich Nhat Hanh, a beacon of peace in troubled times. The Buddhist monk’s founding of the Plum Village monasteries worldwide isn’t just a tale of spiritual leadership; it’s a chapter in a broader narrative of compassion and cross-cultural dialogue, especially his relationship with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This alliance was born out of their mutual yearning for peace—a theme that, unfortunately, remains piercingly relevant in today’s tumultuous climate.

Their first meeting in May 1966 wasn’t coincidental but a confluence of shared ideals. They discussed the Vietnam War’s devastating impacts and how peace could be nurtured, both within the U.S. and globally. Dr. King, echoing the sentiments of many, expressed his disdain for the conflict and, recognizing a kindred spirit in Thich Nhat Hanh, nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize. This gesture wasn’t just an acknowledgment of Thich Nhat Hanh’s peaceful pursuits but a bridge connecting two vastly different cultures through shared humanitarian values.

The essence of their relationship is perhaps best epitomized by their meeting in 1967 when Thich Nhat Hanh was running late. Dr. King, in a simple act of kindness, kept his breakfast warm. This narrative, while seemingly modest, reveals profound lessons about mental health, especially within the context of care and community. It underscores the importance of nurturing—in the physical sense with nutrition, housing, and medical care, but also in the emotional sphere, healing the trauma that underpins many mental health challenges.

History paints a vivid picture of the civil rights movement’s reliance on the unseen labor of Black women. They ensured that the movement’s heartbeats, its organizers, and activists, remained fed and focused. The narrative of the Black Panthers further expands this theme, emphasizing community care as a revolutionary act—a model that, while appropriated by the government with the USDA’s formation, started as a grassroots effort within the Black community. This reclamation of history serves not just as an educational tool but as a balm for the collective psyche, healing through the acknowledgment of past injustices.

The term “mutual aid” may have entered mainstream lexicon, but its roots are deeply embedded in Black communities’ resilient fight against systemic oppression. It represents a legacy of proactive solidarity and community-based self-help, developed in response to the enduring mental health crisis exacerbated by generational suffering. Dr. King’s actions, though seemingly small, resonated with a universal craving for dignity and basic human rights, transcending racial and cultural boundaries. His warmth toward Thich Nhat Hanh symbolizes the broader ethos of their mission—a universal brotherhood bound by love, action, and a relentless pursuit of justice.

As we absorb the lessons from Thich Nhat Hanh and Dr. King’s relationship, we’re reminded of the continuous struggle for equality and peace. Their story is a guidepost for contemporary activism, highlighting that the path to liberation is paved with acts of kindness, understanding, and relentless love. In a world often divided by differences, their legacy invites us to look beyond the surface, finding common ground in our shared humanity and the collective pursuit of a better world.

Integrative and Functional Nutrition’s Role in Your Health

29 January 2024
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Earning an M.S. in Integrative and Functional Nutrition from Saybrook University can significantly enhance your journey to becoming a functional nutritionist. This degree will support your continuing education and board certification efforts and separate you from other holistic nutritionists by providing a comprehensive education. Our hands-on experience in diverse communities prepares graduates to consider life experience, external factors, lifestyle habits, and mental and physical signs of poor nutrition.

What is Integrative and Functional Nutrition?

Integrative and functional nutrition is the holistic approach to diet, going beyond basic dietetics and considering lifestyle factors that may affect their food choices. These factors can include one’s environment, physiological, mental, or genetic makeup. Standard nutrition is the general application of nutritional guidelines created for an entire population rather than specific to an individual and their needs.

What are the Benefits of Functional Nutrition?

Integrative and functional nutrition can help prevent, manage, and reverse health conditions through the medicinal use of food. Here are a few benefits of holistic nutrition:

  • Improved Gut Health: using food to embrace the gut microbiome and the immune system related to inflammatory bowel disease.  
  • Balanced Hormones: adjusting one’s diet can help regulate fluctuating hormone levels, which impact weight, insulin resistance, inflammation, and beta cell glucose sensitivity. Hormonal balance is crucial for reproductive functions and fertility, especially in girls. 
  • Combat Nutrient Deficiencies: using supplementations and a food-based approach to reduce macro and micronutrient deficiencies, help the body perform, and reduce the chances of diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.  
  • More muscular Immune System: nutrition is associated with immune responses and infection resistance.  
  • Nutrient Absorption: improves the body’s ability to absorb nutrients from food to increase energy, growth, and cellular maintenance. 
  • Decrease Obesity: managing the quantity and quality of a diet can determine the obesogenic effects of foods and metabolic health.

When properly managed, these are only a few physiological changes a diet can have. Studies show that food can impact mental health just as much as physical health. This is why Saybrook teaches a whole-person approach to nutrition, considering mental, physical, and emotional factors that may be symptoms of something more significant, such as nutritional deficiency or inadequacy. 

What is the Role of a Functional Nutritionist?

An integrative functional nutritionist uses an evidence-based, whole-person approach to create a blend of holistic medicine and health science. The practitioner makes recommendations and lifestyle improvements that can improve the patient’s quality of life. 

A functional nutritionist will evaluate the patient’s emotional, physical, and mental state, as well as their environment and lifestyle habits, checking for symptoms of dietary-related causes. Food is believed to be naturally medicinal, so creating a food plan or determining any nutrient inadequacies can help resolve, treat, or manage short—or long-term diseases. 

How to Become an Integrative Functional Nutritionist

Becoming a certified integrative functional nutritionist combines the familiar and holistic nutritionist career paths. Although pursuing a graduate degree in functional nutrition is not required, it will help separate you from other applicants and other practitioners in the field.

  1. Earn your bachelors in a nutrition-related field. Attending an undergraduate program that the National Association approves of Nutrition Professionals to help qualify you for the national exam is recommended.
  1. Pursue your master’s in functional nutrition or a related program such as Saybrook University’s M.S. in Integrative and Functional Nutrition. A graduate degree may be required depending on the state you wish to practice. If it is not explicitly required, it will help set you apart from other applicants while furthering your education, professional confidence, and hands-on training experience.
    1. Optional: Earn your Certificate in Integrative and Functional Nutrition to help fast-track your professional development as a working or prospective nutritionist. This certification will expand on medical models for best practices, legal perspectives, and bioethics.
  1. Take the Holistic Nutrition Credentialing Board certification exam. This board certification will demonstrate the credibility of your practice and assure insurance companies and the medical community that you’re qualified to practice.
    1. You must maintain your board certification by submitting 30 hours of continued education every two years.

Practical and clinical experience will be required at each milestone in your education to become an integrative functional nutritionist. It is best to complete as many hours of hands-on experience as possible for your one professional competency and your resume. 

What Degree Should I Pursue to Become a Functional Nutritionist Degree

Saybrook University’s M.S. in Integrative and Functional Nutrition blends theories with practical applications to prepare our students for real-world situations. Our graduate nutrition programs create a solid foundation for future holistic nutritionists. 

Our Ph.D. in Integrative and Functional Nutrition prioritized leadership skills and a deeper scientific understanding of holistic nutrition to help our students advocate and influence the field.

Take the next step in your career with Saybrook University Integrative Functional Nutrition and become a functional nutritionist, where you combine nutrition and integrative medicine to prompt holistic health care.

4 Types Of Counseling And The Jobs To Pursue With an M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

29 January 2024
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With many different types of counseling, students have plenty of options when it comes to clinical mental health counseling jobs after graduating with a master’s degree and passing licensure exams. If you’re unsure about which path is right for you, we’ve broken down four of the different fields of counseling and their respective jobs with salary data to help you decide what you’d like to pursue.

Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling

Rehabilitation counseling is a specialized field dedicated to empowering individuals with disabilities to lead fulfilling and productive lives by maximizing their functional abilities. Whether the disability is mental, developmental, or emotional, the primary objective of rehabilitation counseling is to facilitate the client’s achievement of an optimal level of functioning within their unique circumstances.

If you pursue clinical rehab counseling, you could work with clientele ranging from children to seniors in a rehabilitation center, hospital, or senior citizen center. Each of these environments presents unique challenges and opportunities for professionals in this field. Professionals in this field collaborate with families, employers, and other stakeholders to create an environment that fosters the optimal functioning of individuals with disabilities.

Clinical Rehabilitation Counselor Salary

The average rehabilitation counselor’s salary in the U.S. is $39,990 annually according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.* The employment rate is projected to grow at about an average rate for rehab counselors.

*Data gathered in 2022.

PTSD and Military Counseling

Military counselors play a crucial role in supporting active service members and veterans as they navigate the complex challenges associated with military service. This specialized field within trauma counseling is dedicated to addressing the unique mental health needs of individuals who have served in the armed forces. The scope of military counseling encompasses a broad range of issues, including anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and the daily stressors inherent to military duty.

One of the key focuses of military counseling is to provide targeted interventions for mental, emotional, and cognitive well-being. Counselors in this field are trained to understand the intricacies of military life, such as combat exposure, deployment-related stress, and the challenges of reintegrating into civilian society. In addition to individual therapy, military counselors may also facilitate group therapy sessions, creating a supportive community where service members and veterans can share their experiences and learn from one another. These group settings provide a unique opportunity for individuals to connect with peers who have faced similar challenges, fostering a sense of camaraderie and understanding.

Military Counselor Salary

The average military life counselor’s salary in the U.S. is $49,286 annually according to the ZipRecruiter.* Depending on where professionals practice, the salary ranges from $26,000-$73,000.

*Data gathered in 2023.

Substance Abuse Counseling

Substance abuse counselors work with individuals who suffer from addiction to drugs and/or alcohol. Counselors in this field will help to identify problem behaviors that could be contributing to their addiction as well as create a proactive plan for coping with stress. Counselors work closely with clients to establish strategies and tools that empower them to navigate life’s stressors without resorting to substance use. This type of counseling may involve teaching effective stress management techniques, building healthy coping mechanisms, and developing a support network that encourages positive lifestyle changes. 

Substance abuse counselors not only work with the individual seeking treatment but also with their family. By educating families about addiction, facilitating open communication, and providing guidance on how to support their loved ones, substance abuse counselors contribute to the creation of a holistic and sustainable recovery environment. Group therapy is also a component of substance abuse counseling. Being in a group of people struggling with the same addictions can help clients in the healing process and also encourage camaraderie in cheering each other on during recovery. Substance abuse counselors might work in a rehabilitation center or hospital setting.

Substance Abuse Counselor Salary

The average substance abuse counselor’s salary in the U.S. is $49,710 annually according to  The Bureau of Labor Statistics.* The employment rate is projected to grow within the substance abuse counseling field by 18% from 2022 to 2032, which is much faster than the average.

*Data gathered in 2022.

Family Counseling

Marriage and family counselors play a crucial role in supporting couples and families as they navigate various challenges such as anxiety, depression, marital discord, and parent-child relationship issues. These professionals are trained to address the complexities of interpersonal dynamics within familial and spousal relationships. Counselors in this field could work in a private practice, hospital, or nonprofit organization. 

One of the primary focuses of marriage and family counselors is providing assistance during times of emotional distress within relationships. This could involve helping couples overcome communication barriers, manage conflicts, and navigate transitions such as parenthood or changes in family structure. To best help families, professionals must be experts on relationships and what makes a healthy relationship work, whether it be between partners or between parent and child.

Marriage and Family Counselor Salary

The average marriage and family counselor’s salary in the U.S. is $79,666  annually according to ZipRecruiter.* 

*Data gathered in 2023.

If you’re looking to pursue a career in counseling, an M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling can help you along that path to success. At Saybrook University, you can continue your education journey with a completion time of three years. Saybrook’s hybrid online M.A. in Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling Specialization is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).

Breaking Barriers in Nutrition Research: Dr. Amylee Amos Champions Accountability, Accessibility, and Planetary Health

19 January 2024
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AMYLEE AMOS, PH.D., 2023, INTEGRATIVE AND FUNCTIONAL NUTRITION

Amylee Amos, Ph.D., a dedicated registered dietitian nutritionist, pursued a Ph.D. at Saybrook University to immerse herself in research while balancing motherhood and a clinical practice.

“As a mom of two little kids, I really needed the flexibility of a fully online program,” Dr. Amos explains. “I also work in my own clinical practice and appreciate that Saybrook is set up in such a way that I was able to continue working while I was a student.”

Dr. Amos’ work combats nutrition misinformation, challenges the health care system, holds the food industry accountable, and reconciles public health with planetary health. Dr. Amos sheds light on the food industry’s tendency to shift blame onto consumers. She also is critical of rhetoric in medicine that blames individuals with chronic diseases.

“In functional medicine we often talk about the power of lifestyle and nutrition to influence disease risk. While this message is powerful and accurate, it can sometimes unintentionally place blame on the individual. This rhetoric isn’t fair because the food industry employs scientists to create hyperpalatable, calorie-dense foods that are designed to be addictive. I want to play a part in holding the food industry accountable for their tactics.”

Dr. Amos believes that functional medicine can support people where the conventional health care system falls short, primarily because the latter relies on “disease care” rather than “health care” and fails, in her view, to keep people healthy. She explains that accessibility to functional medicine is also key, but access is often cost-prohibitive to the average person because most functional medicine practitioners do not take insurance.

With this in mind, Dr. Amos posits that one untapped resource is group nutrition classes that incorporate digital media and are thusly more accessible. “I had the opportunity to conduct a pilot study using this formula with individuals with mild cognitive impairment, and we saw great results,” Dr. Amos says. “I would like to continue conducting these types of studies using different populations and eventually get to the point where the data, if favorable, can be used to offer subsidized programs.

Dr. Amos runs her own company called Amos Institute, which offers online nutrition courses, provides concierge nutrition services, and conducts nutrition research. The root of all her work is her care for people and advocating for their health and Saybrook’s educational approach and flexibility only helped to support her in her endeavours, particularly since she had two children while completing her Ph.D.

“I have incorporated the humanistic message of Saybrook into my research and clinical practice,” she says. “I am so grateful that I was at a university that allowed me to have such a flexible schedule. As much as I love my work and my research, there is nothing in the world that I love more than being my daughters’ mom.”

How Mindfulness Practices Can Help You Through Master’s Schooling

27 December 2023
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Master’s schooling can be both a rewarding and challenging journey. From demanding coursework to maintaining a work-life balance, students often find themselves searching for ways to manage stress and improve focus. This is where the art of mindfulness comes into play. Mindfulness for students is not just a buzzword but an essential tool and growing practice that can drastically transform your college experience.

Understanding Mindfulness

In today’s fast-paced digital world, grounding ourselves has never been more crucial. Mindfulness for college students is a pathway to such grounding. It’s about fully engaging with your current task without getting distracted by past regrets or future worries. Over the past decade, the value of mindfulness has been recognized, with many top universities even incorporating mindfulness courses and meditation rooms into their campuses.

The Power of Meditation

Meditation is an ancient practice rooted in various cultures and has gained global acclaim for its profound and proven impacts on mental and emotional well-being. When it comes to mindfulness for students, meditation offers a range of benefits that can significantly enhance the learning process:

  • Enhanced Concentration and Focus: Dive deep into a subject without your mind wandering. This is one of the primary meditation benefits for students. The practice allows them to concentrate better, leading to more profound insights and understanding.
  • Reduced Stress and Anxiety: Master’s programs can be intense. Through meditation, students can find calm amid the storm, reducing overwhelming feelings.
  • Improved Memory Retention and Recall: The benefits of meditation for students also extend to memory. By calming the mind, students can process and store information more efficiently.

Mindfulness Practices for Students

Embracing mindfulness isn’t limited to sitting silently with closed eyes. There’s a vast array of mindfulness activities for college students that can be integrated seamlessly into their daily routines:

  • Guided Meditation Sessions: Use apps and websites that provide prerecorded or live meditation sessions that can even be tailored to various needs such as dealing with anxiety, stress, and depression.
  • Breath-focused Exercises: A cornerstone of mindfulness, focusing on one’s breath, even for a few minutes, can ground students, bringing clarity in tense situations. A common practice is counting each inhale and exhale and allowing yourself to return to your count when your mind starts to wander.
  • Daily Gratitude Journaling: This simple yet powerful practice of writing down things you’re grateful for can shift focus from challenges to blessings, fostering a positive mindset. Many people report feeling happier after implementing this practice as it allows them to look through the things they are often most grateful for.

For successful implementation of these mindfulness strategies for students, consistency and easing integration into your daily life are crucial:

  • Set a Specific Time: Dedicate a few minutes daily, be it morning or evening, for mindfulness practice. Daily mindfulness practices are easier to continue when you assign them to part of your daily routine.
  • Use Digital Aids: Leverage apps or online resources to guide you through sessions. There are several popular apps such as Headspace, Calm, and Waking Up.
  • Mindfulness in Daily Tasks: Turn mundane activities, like eating or walking, into mindful moments. It’s all about being present. Some simple practices include eating dinner without watching TV or checking your phone and taking walks where you only listen to the sounds of what is going on around you.

Benefits of Integrating Mindfulness Into Daily Routine

Incorporating these practices of mindfulness for students into your daily routine can lead to:

  • Enhanced Emotional Intelligence: Mindfulness fosters self-awareness, allowing students to better understand and regulate their emotions. When you’re able to better deal with and identify your emotions you will be able to better understand other people’s emotions and make better decisions.
  • Better Conflict Resolution: Being present means being a better listener, leading to healthier interpersonal relationships. When your relationships are healthy, you will feel less anxious and happier about your life.
  • Greater Resilience: Academic challenges are inevitable. With mindfulness, students can navigate these hurdles with grace and poise. Students who can perform well under pressure tend to do better in their classes.

The Path Forward With Mindfulness

The academic world can be daunting. But tools like mindfulness—specially, tailored mindfulness practices for students—can make the journey smoother and more fulfilling. By investing a few minutes daily, students can enhance their academic performance and their overall well-being.

Ready to embrace the transformative power of mindfulness during your academic journey? Saybrook offers a range of resources, courses, and programs dedicated to mindfulness practices. Our degree program in mind-body medicine offers an opportunity to earn your master’s in mind-body medicine, several Ph.D. programs in mind-body medicine, as well as certificate programs for those looking to expand their skill sets in mind-body medicine. Click here to learn more and apply to one of our specialized programs. 

In the meantime, we have created a YouTube channel dedicated to providing you with guided meditations and mindfulness practices so you can begin your mindfulness journey today. Check out our three-part series where we go over crafting your vision for graduate success, empowerment through time management, and mind-body practices for self-care.

Dr. Margo Maine: Revolutionizing recovery

5 December 2023
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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.

Career Paths in Mind-Body Medicine

8 November 2023
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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 online 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.

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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.