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5 Impacts of a Transformative Social Change Degree

29 August 2024
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In the face of rising authoritarianism, political polarization, social inequality, discrimination, and worsening climate change fanning fires and deadly storms, those committed to improving social conditions in their own communities, much less the larger world, may wonder how to make an impact. That’s where Saybrook University’s Transformative Social Change program can play a vital role, as it prepares students to become policy and advocacy experts focused on the pressing issues of our time.

The program’s faculty members have broad expertise in the activist sphere, including community organizing, social media communications, conflict resolution, social movements, and policy advocacy. In addition to these tools for activism, the program supports students who are planning to teach at the university level in fields including sociology, peace and justice studies, education, and political science.

During their studies, Transformative Social Change students learn to research and advocate for change in a range of issues and later specialize in the area of their choice for their M.A. projects or Ph.D. dissertations. Below are some examples of how the program’s curriculum addresses areas of focus for advocates of social change.

The Rise of Authoritarianism

Totalitarianism is on the rise around the world. Countries such as Hungary and Venezuela, whose governments were democracies until recently, now hold elections for which the outcomes seem predetermined. In Russia and China, leaders solidify power and lengthen their terms. In many countries, including the U.S., an influx of migrants has inspired a nationalist response.

In a Saybrook University ethics course, the instructor and the student discuss at length the principles related to democracy, advocating for tangible processes by which those who are affected by governmental decisions have a voice in how those decisions are made.  The discussions consider recent and successful examples of how unjust concentrations of power have been challenged in U.S. and global contexts.

An example of relevant research is a dissertation written by a Saybook University graduate that explores democratic processes within municipal meetings and how to use widely available new media technologies to expand democratic representation.

Political Polarization

Despite ever-improving means of communicating and gathering information, studies show American society is more polarized than ever. With a range of conflicting groups, divisions, and sources of tension, many are becoming more entrenched in their positions and less respectful of other views.

An important part of the Transformative Social Change curriculum is the  Conflict Resolution course, which applies the theories of conflict to practice, including facilitating training sessions in which students learn how to respond constructively to conflict and how to facilitate dialogue across differences.

An example of relevant research on this issue is an M.A. project that considers possible means of better communication across the rural-urban divide.

Inequality and Social Justice

Rising income inequality is leading to a social justice crisis, and the Transformative Social Change program is educating its students to address this reality.  The Social Systems Theory and Social Interventions course focuses on the theoretical and practical challenges to creating a more just, compassionate world in which each person and community has increased opportunity to live a life of dignity and to thrive. The Global Civil Society Activism and Social Change course addresses these on a wider scale.

An example of relevant research would be a dissertation exploring the effects of gentrification on broader community inequality and development.

Climate Change

At a time when the country and nations around the world are faced with a range of challenges, many international organizations view climate change as the most immediate and persistent threat to our society.

Saybrook University has a curriculum devoted to the issue. The Ecological Psychology and Community Organizing courses address climate change from a holistic perspective, including how people can approach the issue individually. Additionally, issues of climate change arise across the curriculum, including in the Ethics of Climate Justice and the Social Interventions courses, which explore how climate issues increasingly affect most efforts toward collective change.

An example of what this looks like might be a Ph.D. dissertation that addresses ways to educate high-school students about climate change to transform despair into hope and action.

Race, Gender, Equality, and Inclusion

In recent years, certain actors in American politics have sought to demonize diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. At Saybrook University, efforts to expand opportunities for those who have faced discrimination because of race, faith, or sexual orientation are at the heart of our vision of a just society.  Both the Race, Class, and Gender course and the Gender and Society course consider emerging theories and practices that address these issues at the individual, community, and systemic levels.

A dissertation presenting case studies on how to develop a racially responsive policing procedure for a community in the U.S. is an example of the kind of scholarship that might arise from this area of focus.

Pursuing a degree in Transformative Social Change begins with a commitment to making the world a better place, whether it be at the community, state, national, or global level.

Saybrook University Appoints Alumna and Social Justice Advocate Ellen Helms to its Board of Trustees

22 July 2024
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Saybrook University is pleased to announce the appointment of Ellen Helms, Ph.D., to its Board of Trustees. A distinguished Saybrook University alumna and advocate for social justice, Dr. Helms brings a wealth of experience and a commitment to transformative social change.

“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Helms to our Board of Trustees,” said Robyn Parker, Ph.D., acting president of Saybrook University. “Her exemplary work and her relentless pursuit of social justice makes her an ideal addition to our board.”

Dr. Helms holds a Ph.D. in Psychology, with a specialization in Transformative Social Change from Saybrook University, which she earned in 2018. She also received a Master of Arts in Psychology from Saybrook in 2010 and a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies from Antioch University. Her extensive academic background is complemented by her work in liberation psychology, political activism, and justice-oriented philanthropy.

“Dr. Helms embodies the values of Saybrook University through her extensive advocacy work,” said Patricia Breen, Ph.D., chair of the Saybrook University Board of Trustees. “We look forward to her contributions as we continue to advance Saybrook’s mission of promoting positive social change.”

Dr. Helms has long been a vocal advocate for reproductive freedom and justice. She is particularly known for her efforts to address and reverse the controversial political legacy of her grandfather, the late U.S. Senator Jesse Helms. Senator Helms, who began his first U.S. Senate term in 1973, was a staunch opponent of abortion, and his Helms Amendment has restricted the use of U.S. foreign assistance funds for abortion for more than 50 years.

“I am deeply honored to join the Saybrook University Board of Trustees,” Dr. Helms said. “Serving my alma mater in this capacity is a profound way to give back to an institution that has shaped my values and my commitment to social change. I look forward to working with my fellow trustees to advance Saybrook’s mission and to support the next generation of leaders dedicated to humanistic values and societal impact.”

Driven by a strong sense of justice, Dr. Helms partners with Ipas, an international health organization that improves access to safe abortion and contraception in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Through Ipas, Dr. Helms has helped to fund abortions in countries restricted by the Helms Amendment for more than a decade. She also supports Ipas in fundraising, lobbying in Washington, D.C., for the Abortion Is Healthcare Everywhere Act, and promoting global reproductive justice through various media efforts.

In North Carolina, where she resides, Dr. Helms supports efforts to restore access to safe abortion through partnerships with the North Carolina Democratic Caucus and Planned Parenthood South Atlantic. She leverages her platform to promote reproductive freedom, believing that bodily autonomy and access to safe abortion are fundamental human rights.

“Dr. Helm’s appointment to the Saybrook University Board of Trustees reflects her deep connection to the university’s mission and her dedication to fostering environments that promote social justice and human dignity,” said Michael Horowitz, Ph.D., chancellor of The Community Solution Education System. “Her diverse experiences and steadfast commitment to advocacy will be invaluable assets to the Saybrook community.”

Saybrook University is part of The Community Solution Education System, a nonprofit education system made up of six colleges and universities that uses shared infrastructure and collaboration to drive innovation and advance student outcomes. Since joining The Community Solution in 2014, Saybrook has expanded educational offerings to include more than 30 degree programs.

For more information about Saybrook University, please visit saybrook.edu.

About Saybrook University

Founded in 1971, Saybrook University is an online, private graduate university accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. The world’s premier institution for humanistic scholarship and research, Saybrook offers advanced degrees in psychology, mind-body medicine, organizational systems, leadership, and human science. For 50 years, Saybrook has empowered students to find their life’s work and achieve their full potential. Saybrook’s programs are deeply rooted in the humanistic tradition and a commitment to help students develop as whole people—mind, body, and spirit. Saybrook University is a proud member of The Community Solution Education System, an integrated nonprofit system of colleges working together to advance student success and community impact. For more information, visit https://www.saybrook.edu/.

A Look Into Thanatology: How Professionals Help Individuals Cope With Death, Dying, and Grief

7 July 2024
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Death and dying are inevitable parts of life, but for many people, the process remains shrouded in mystery, taboo, and fear.  At Saybrook University, our commitment to exploring this complex subject prepares our students with the empathy and knowledge to navigate the process of grief, loss, and bereavement. Our Ph.D. in Mind-Body Medicine, Specialization in Contemplative End-of-Life Care provides health care professionals with the skills and understanding to better tend to the psychospiritual needs of the chronically ill and dying.

What Is Thanatology?

Simply put, thanatology is the study of death and dying. It combines scientific, religious, spiritual, and psychological aspects to examine how people navigate this complex emotional and psychological process. This perspective is important for professionals dedicated to supporting individuals and families as they face the realities of mortality. Such professionals offer the knowledge that provides comfort, understanding, and compassionate care to the dying at the end of their lives and to families after the death of a loved one.

Through thanatology, students and practitioners explore the emotional, social, and cultural responses to death. They create space for experiencing grief and accepting it as a process that can lead to growth and understanding. By engaging with thanatology, students gain a nuanced understanding of death’s impact on human behavior, relationships, and societal norms, increasing their capacity to serve those in need with empathy.

What Does a Thanatologist Do?

A thanatologist can work in a variety of roles. They may providing direct support to the dying as well as to families experiencing loss of a loved one. They may also conductresearch that furthers understanding of how societies perceive and deal with death. Thanatologists might work in hospice, hospitals, counseling centers, or academic settings, bringing a compassionate and informed perspective to those involved.

Clinical Settings and Counseling Centers

Thanatologists provide guidance and support to patients and their families during the challenging journey through terminal illness and loss. They work in hospice, hospitals, counseling centers, etc., where they assist in managing the emotional and psychological aspects of dying, offering comfort and understanding to those facing the end of life.

Education, Research, and Advocacy

Beyond direct support, thanatologists can serve as educators, teaching about death, dying, and bereavement to students across various disciplines. Whether in universities, health care training programs, or community workshops, they prepare future generations of professionals to approach death with sensitivity and informed care.

Thanatologists are also active in research, working to deepen understanding of the social, cultural, and psychological impacts of death. Their research contributes to a body of knowledge that informs better practices in end-of-life care, grief counseling, and policymaking. Moreover, they advocate for improvements in how society manages death and supports those involved, ensuring that policies reflect compassion and dignity for the dying and the bereaved.

Thanatology Salaries

Certified Thanatologist Salary

According to ZipRecruiter, a certified thanatologist in the U.S. makes an average annual salary of $41,734. The usual salary range for a certified thanatologist is between $34,000 and $47,000 a year.

Mental Health Therapist Salary

According to ZipRecruiter, the average annual salary in the U.S. for a mental health therapist is $76,241. The salary range for mental health therapists varies widely based on where they practice, their skill level, and their years of experience. The range is between $37,000 to $127,500 a year.

Licensed Mental Health Counselor Salary

According to ZipRecruiter, an LMHC in the U.S. makes an average annual salary of $75,386. Similar to mental health therapists, the salary range for licensed mental health counselors is vast, ranging from $43,000 to $113,500 a year.

Saybrook University’s Ph.D. in Mind-Body Medicine: Specialization in Contemplative End-of-Life Care

Saybrook University’s Ph.D. in Mind-Body Medicine offers a Specialization in Contemplative End-of-Life Care, designed for students seeking to deepen their expertise in holistic, person-centered care for individuals nearing life’s end. This program equips students with the skills to support the psychospiritual needs of patients and their families with an approach that integrates mind, body, and spirit.

Students will learn to navigate palliative and end-of-life care, preparing them for roles that make a real difference in the lives of those facing chronic and life-limiting illnesses. Whether you aim to become a counselor, therapist, coach, or consultant, this specialization offers the foundation you need to excel in community, corporate, and clinical settings.

Take the next step in your career by exploring Saybrook University’s innovative approach to end-of-life care. Apply online to join a program committed to making end-of-life care more compassionate and person-centered.

Bo Aucoin: Building Shelter

11 June 2024
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Video by Nick Sperry

Before enrolling in the M.A. Counseling program at Saybrook University, Bo Aucoin had to find his way back from a dark and dangerous place in his life. Suffering from addiction and untreated mental illness, the father of two lost a promising career and found himself unhoused, living out of his car in San Francisco. It’s not rare for patients who receive life-changing mental health care to later pursue a career in mental health care and in turn help others. Aucoin is one of their number. Like so many students at Saybrook, he brings hard-won life experience to his training and has found that the faculty is positioned to help him pursue his goals.

“The first thing I noticed about Saybrook is that professors are very approachable, very human, and really want to see us succeed,” Aucoin says.

Given what Aucoin witnessed on the streets and under the fluorescent lights of a residential facility, he not only understands the vital importance of treatment and therapy, but he also has developed deep concerns about the inequities in American society. He believes that, had he been a person of color, he would have ended up in jail or dead.

“I had a lot of ethical questions about becoming part of the system,” Aucoin says, “and I appreciate that Saybrook has always made the space for those discussions.”

After graduating from Saybrook, Aucoin began working as a clinical counselor at a residential substance use disorder treatment facility. He feels a kinship with people in addiction recovery because of his own struggles with addiction. He tells those he has counseled that, while he may have achieved a lot in his life, “There is nothing that I have been through or accomplished in my life that is harder than recovery from addiction.”

Aucoin also sees a lot of the unhealthy mindsets ascribed to addicts as a reflection of our culture. He believes we are all suffering from addiction, whether it is to capitalism, unsustainable consumption, or unbalanced power structures. “We need to learn to let go of these things, and we can learn a lot from those who have overcome addiction,” he says.

Saybrook’s M.A. Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling Specialization trains students to apply holistic and systemic perspectives when working with individuals, relationships, and groups in a range of settings.  Aucoin was impressed by this focus on the big picture but wondered if this was just marketing speak. “I was a little skeptical and wondered what that is going to look like,” he says. “What I’ve found is that the professors really are committed bringing others in, to learn how they can grow, and how they can be part of social change.”

Learn more about Saybrook University


If you are interested in learning more about the community and academic programs at Saybrook University, fill out the form below to request more information. You can also apply today through our application portal.

Dr. Michael Mayer: A Journey of Mind, Body, and Spirit

24 May 2024
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Retraction notice: We have retracted the previous version of this article, which you may have received. The article contained factual errors and was not vetted by the subject before publication. We deeply regret this error. If you have a copy of this past article, please delete it.

American author and educator Joseph Campbell outlines the first step of the hero’s journey as a call to adventure where the hero is lured, carried away, or voluntarily proceeds. For nearly five decades, Saybrook University graduate Michael Mayer, Ph.D., has proceeded on his own journey: to become a pioneer in weaving sacred wisdom traditions and holistic approaches into modern psychotherapy, developing his own method called Bodymind Healing Psychotherapy. To this day, Dr. Mayer’s passion continues to drive him forward, and his journey is far from over.

A Child in the Woods

The son of a prominent attorney, Dr. Mayer grew up in West Orange, New Jersey. In his youth, he spent much of his time in the woods, exploring and looking in awe at the ecosystem that surrounded him, the ecosystem of which he himself was a part. Dr. Mayer’s website describes these early experiences in nature as fundamental to his continued exploration of balancing both ancient and modern considerations of health.

These early experiences motivated Dr. Mayer to earn his master’s in psychology from The New School for Social Research in New York City, where he trained to become a psychotherapist. However, he quickly found the limitations of modern psychology rooted in its entomological definition of the study of the mind. It wasn’t long before his yearning to explore a more expansive understanding of psychotherapy sent him across the country.

A Revolution of Consciousness

Many people are familiar with the cultural revolution of the 1960s and 1970s, but fewer are familiar with the consciousness revolution, a person-centered movement that reexamined the connection between the mind and body and emphasized human potential. This revolution brought Dr. Mayer to the West Coast.

“I came to the West Coast to find a school that could be better at allowing innovative research,” Dr. Mayer says. “At Saybrook you could combine East and West in your doctoral studies and study what was called the consciousness revolution.”

During this time, the founders of Saybrook University were on their own journey, one that would challenge the existing psychology establishment. The Humanistic Psychology Institute was born.

“[At the time] Saybrook was the Humanistic Psychology Institute,” Dr. Mayer says. “The beautiful thing about Saybrook at the time was, basically, you could study whatever you wanted to study. I was able to study various forms of what I call ancient wisdom traditions, including Greek mythology, astrological symbolism, tai chi and qigong, and many other things.”

Saybrook’s approach of encouraging self-discovery ultimately led Dr. Mayer to embark on a 40-night vision quest alone in the woods. Just as he did during his youth, he explored and allowed the elements of nature to inspire him. “My vision quest set the groundwork for my life’s work,” Dr. Mayer says. When he emerged, he penned his doctoral dissertation on ancient traditions of personality description.

Among the first graduates of Saybrook University, Dr. Mayer graduated with his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology in 1977.

An Integral Approach to Integrative Medicine

A licensed and practicing psychologist, Dr. Mayer employs an integral approach to psychotherapy, considering a range of perspectives into healing. “I co-founded an integrated medical clinic where I worked for 10 years,” Dr. Mayer says. “[There I worked] with a whole team of healers, Western medical doctors, chiropractors, acupuncturists, etc.”

Utilizing his experiences as a psychologist, Dr. Mayer seamlessly integrates tai chi, qigong, and many other traditional and nontraditional techniques into his practice. “I take the essence of those traditions and bring them into my psychotherapy practice, making it grounded for those who may be averse to the esoteric dimension of it,” Dr. Mayer says. “I’ve taken my education at Saybrook and apply it to many things I do nowadays over 40 years later, for example having a humanistic connection with all of my patients.”

Dr. Mayer was a co-founding faculty member at John F. Kennedy University’s Transpersonal Psychology Program where he trained psychotherapists for more than a decade. He pioneered the integration of qigong and psychotherapy, being the first person to train doctoral psychology students in this integration at an accredited graduate school, the California Institute of Integral Studies.

A New Approach: Bodymind Healing Psychotherapy

Inspired by Ken Dychtwald’s classic book, “Bodymind,” Bodymind Healing Psychotherapy continues the consciousness revolution that brought Dr. Mayer to the West Coast and ultimately to study at Saybrook. Specializing in incorporating ancient techniques and wisdom into modern therapeutic techniques, the Bodymind Healing Center offers courses, workshops, certificate programs, literature, sessions, and other resources for those interested in applying traditional forms of healing into practice. Dr. Mayer offers tai chi and qigong classes, which transmit a broader view of cross-cultural, age-old practices, following the Saybrook idea of expanding traditions into a pluralistic endeavor. “After the class, we spend a half hour talking about any topics of interest,” Dr. Mayer says. “They include psycho-spirituality, politics, and even dissertations. Saybrook students are welcome to come to the first class for free.”

Currently, Dr. Mayer is exploring utilizing Bodymind Healing Psychotherapy as an integral approach to working with patients with Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders.  “My brother has Parkinson’s,” Dr. Mayer says. “Whenever something deep and personal is happening in my life, or in those around me, I try to utilize it as an opportunity to further my knowledge of healing.”

To bring others along on his journey, Dr. Mayer is author of more than 20 publications, including peer-reviewed articles, six books, and various audio/video products integrating Western Bodymind Healing methods with ancient wisdom traditions, including his Ben Franklin award-winning autobiography, The Path of a Reluctant Metaphysician: Stories and Practices for Troubled Times. He teaches his integral approach to healing at hospitals, universities, and workshops nationally and internationally.

Dr. Mayer has also spoken extensively at conferences, and continues sharing his integral method to psychotherapy with those entering the field. “I’m grateful that my doctoral years at Saybrook seeded my interest to research a broader dimension of psychology than I would have received at a traditional school,” Dr. Mayer says. “My interest in integrating ancient wisdom traditions with modern psychology continues to this day.”

Additional resources for Bodymind Healing Psychotherapy:

America Is Ready For An Integrative Health Care Revolution. Here’s How It Can Happen.

30 April 2024
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The U.S. spends more per capita on health care than any other country, yet, according to a report by the Commonwealth Fund, average life expectancy is three to five years shorter than similarly developed countries and about 20% higher in preventable deaths each year. How did we get here, and what can be done to reverse this unhealthy inversion?

One hopeful trend is growing awareness among practitioners and patients alike that the American tradition of treating mental and physical health as separate disciplines is outmoded, and health care providers are increasingly pairing psychological services within hospitals and clinics that treat physical illnesses.

As part of this rethinking of health care and treatment, there is a movement to blend this holistic approach with complementary alternative medicine (CAM), which includes techniques such as acupuncture, hypnosis, yoga, and herbal medicines, also referred to as ‘whole health’. As Saybrook University President Nathan Long, Ed.D., explains, “What integrative health attempts to do is to take the best parts of Western medicine, especially Western therapeutic interventions, and merge them with complementary and alternative models of care so that those are coming together to provide the greatest amount of support to individuals.” This support will improve overall healthcare outcomes through multi-modal, person-centered care — a win-win for practitioners and patients.

While some may intuitively understand the link between mental and physical health, recognizing how to apply that awareness to improve patient outcomes across the U.S. population is an enormous challenge. It requires not only rethinking how medicine is practiced today but also reimagining what the future of health care will look like. Dr. Long and his leadership team are leading an effort to promote an approach called integrative health for all. Their goal is to help the public understand the value of these new approaches and the availability of a broader range of services, as well as to address the greater challenge of standing up a network across the country to provide those services.

Dr. Long foresees an effort comprising three complementary steps.

  • The first step is to call attention to the need for greater healthcare access, including mental health and mind-body wellness, across the U.S.
  • The second step is to spotlight those hospitals and clinics that are engaging in best practices when it comes to innovation in integrative health.
  • The third step is to build partnerships among organizations to serve a broader network of integrative health providers.

“The goal of integrative health is looking at the person holistically,” Dr. Long says, offering the case of a theoretical patient who suffers from depression, is a cigarette smoker, a heavy drinker, and suffers from a range of physical ailments that are attendant with that lifestyle. After screening this individual, an integrative care team would develop a course of care. For example, if the person is on antidepressants, the team might augment care through hypnosis, mindfulness, meditation, and cognitive behavioral therapy. Once a plan is developed, the team would go to the patient and say, “You’ve given us your challenges, you’ve identified some long-term goals, and here  are options for us to partner together to help you achieve these goals.”

A cornerstone of any successful patient care program is access, which these days means blending telehealth with in-person visits. “An integrative care team works with each person individually, which is very humanistic, and they also look at how we help the patient achieve their maximal goals over a given number of months,” Dr. Long says. “That’s the ideal. If I were to say kind of the gold standard, that would be what it could look like.” Dr. Long points to the Camden Center in Los Angeles as a model for how comprehensive health care might work broadly across the country. Its interdisciplinary care team clinic provides mental health care, medical care, and holistic health care all under one roof to patients who seek it. Nevertheless, the challenge comes down to access and affordability of services, addressing these will also be paramount.

Laying the groundwork for a new understanding of care

Creating care networks that can treat a large segment of the population will require innovation beyond the options currently available. Such an initiative will include improving connectivity among care providers. One possible approach that is gaining traction is using blockchain technology to allow information and file sharing among providers that is secure, decentralized, and efficient.

Another necessity is reforming medical and mental health education to prepare the next generation of clinicians for a new integrative reality. Dr. Long points to future psychiatrists in medical school and future counselors in clinical training programs as being an important audience to become future advocates for this new approach to health care. “We need to create new curriculum models that can support training and education in this space that show for instance that a lot of the complementary forms of care can be very effective when applied to Western techniques,” he says.

Additionally, professional societies such as the American Psychological Association and the American Psychiatric Association ought to embrace an integrative model and to collaborate on advancing an understanding of this approach to client-centered care.

Perhaps most important will be educating the public about the increasing range of tools available to them. For example, patients living in areas with limited access to mental health services need information about the telehealth options available to them and how to determine which will best meet their needs. The goal is to bring these services under one umbrella so potential clients can educate themselves and gain early access to the help they need.

“We have a student who’s in rural New York,” says Dr. Long. “There’s one psychologist in her rural county serving close to 15,000 people. There’s way more need than there are therapists. The goal is figuring out how to fill those gaps to support the overall health and well-being of these vital communities.”

What Saybrook brings to the movement

As a leader in health sciences education, Saybrook University is uniquely positioned to be at the forefront of creating integrative health awareness. The institution is developing a growing selection of graduate programs geared toward helping practitioners of traditional medicine using traditional techniques to combine integrative skills with their expertise and expand their range of care.

In addition, Saybrook boasts some of the leaders in integrative  health, including Donald Moss, Ph.D., the dean of the College of Integrative Medicine and Health Sciences (CIMHS); Eric Wilmarth, Ph.D., dean of the Psychophysiology Department; Julie Cerrato, Ph.D., faculty in the Mind-Body Wellness Department, who is a significant presence in the wellness coaching field; and Jessica Weissman, Ph.D., who chairs the Integrative and Functional Nutrition program, and is well known in that field, as is Maureen Molinari, Ph.D., specialization coordinator in Integrative and Functional Nutrition.

Collaboration is key to the future of health care

The pressures on the mental health profession have created an urgent need for a new approach to mental health care. “We need to invest at the federal, state, and local level in preventive wellness care, including into mental health,” Dr. Long says. “Preventive care also reduces the cost and the impact in the future. We need to make those investments now so that we see long-term rewards.” Most of all, Dr. Long emphasizes the critical importance of collaboration among all corners of medicine and wellness. He says, “Collaboration is central to our vision of the future to get people the care they need when they need it.”

Learn more about Saybrook University

If you are interested in learning more about the community and academic programs at Saybrook University, fill out the form below to request more information. You can also apply today through our application portal.

The Mental Health Benefits of Playing Sports

11 April 2024
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The mental health benefits of playing sports are well-documented across age groups and skill levels. Athletes and amateurs alike have felt the impact of regular participation on stress reduction, mood improvement, cognitive enhancement, self-esteem, and mental toughness. Regular participation in sports, healthy competition, and other active recreation can lead to surprising benefits to mental health and well-being.

Sustaining these benefits and keeping players on the field (or court, rink, stage, etc.) can be a challenge, especially as competitive sports and their demanding leagues become a larger part of the American childhood. Sport and performance psychologists dedicate their careers to helping athletes, performers, and amateurs maximize their potential so they can continue to receive the mental health benefits of playing sports.

Playing Team Sports Can Improve Children’s Mental Health

A 2022 study published in PLOS One that explored how playing team sports can improve mental health of children and adolescents found remarkable results. Participation in organized team sports leads to the following changes among the study’s 11,235 children aged 9 to 13:

  • 10% lower anxious/depressed scores
  • 19% lower withdrawn scores
  • 17% lower social problems scores
  • 17% lower thought problems scores
  • 12% lower attention problems scores

In addition, the study found a 20% lower rule-breaking-behavior score in team sport participants compared with children with no participation in sports. Playing team sports helped children become more confident, social, inquisitive, respectful, and engaged. Working to achieve a shared goal combined with physical activity instills at an early age the values of teamwork, camaraderie, and fitness.

Conversely, participation exclusively in individual sports, such as tennis or wrestling, can lead to more mental health challenges for children. While the physical benefits remain, the pressure to succeed and the depression of losing fall completely onto the shoulders of a single child rather than a collective team whose members can support and uplift one another after a disappointing day.

Sport and performance psychologists are uniquely qualified to help children—especially children who do not play team sports—better respond to disappointment or depression when they fall short of their own expectations. Through mental skills training, performance preparation strategies, and focusing techniques, sport psychologists can ensure their patients are well-prepared for the challenges they may face on the field or beyond.

Healthy Competition in Sports Can Help People Focus

According to a study published in Frontiers in Psychology that examined the effects of competition on effort and memory, the presence of a competitor during physical activity can result in faster reaction times, an indicator of increased attention.

The study also found that competition had the opposite effect on nonphysical memory tasks. While physical reaction times increased with competition, memory recall and retention were damaged when facing a human competitor.

As the study shows, healthy competition, even on simple or menial physical tasks, can help us be more direct with our focus and attention. Sport and performance psychologists can help their patients translate that increased focus to nonphysical activity, sustaining those benefits long after the patient steps off the field.

Professionals who work at this intersection, between athletic performance and psychological well-being, typically train through graduate-level programs in sport and performance psychology. Saybrook’s M.S. program is grounded in psychophysiology and prepares practitioners to apply evidence-based mental skills training with athletes, performers, and teams at all levels.

Life Lessons From Sports

The mental health benefits from playing sports can be converted into life lessons that will assist athletes in navigating the working world and life’s other challenges. For example, playing team sports instills a sense of cooperation and respect that can lead to tighter social bonds outside of athletics. The breathing techniques a basketball player uses at the free-throw line to calm their nerves can also be used before making a presentation at work or school. And learning how to accept defeat with grace builds mental fortitude and can help overcome other disappointments that may weigh someone down otherwise.

Those who stick with sports through high school and college also learn how to balance multiple responsibilities at once, and they develop better mental toughness as competition becomes fiercer. Because of this discipline in sports, former student-athletes consistently score higher on well-being indicators, including purpose, social connections, and thriving, than non-athletes who attended the same schools, according to a Gallup study of more than 30,000 college graduates.

Support Mental Health in Sports With a Sport and Performance Psychology Degree

Saybrook University offers an integrated health care education that uses an evidence-informed approach to wellness and mental health in sports. The Sport and Performance Psychology degree programs can be the gateway to a rewarding career helping patients flourish in and out of sports settings.

Grounded in psychophysiology, our M.S. in Sport and Performance Psychology program helps students gain a comprehensive understanding of how the brain and body work together to influence human behavior and how those interactions can affect overall performance. They will learn the crucial skills in areas that make up the backbone of effective sport and performance psychology:

  • Biofeedback: Using physiological data to train athletes to regulate stress, arousal, and focus in real time.
  • Psychopathology: Identifying and addressing mental health conditions that affect athletic performance and overall well-being.
  • Optimal functioning: Helping athletes reach consistent peak performance through evidence-based psychological strategies.
  • Athletic counseling: Supporting athletes through injury, identity transitions, career endings, and high-pressure competition.
  • Professional and ethical issues in sports: Navigating the unique ethical landscape of working with athletes, coaches, and organizations.

Sports play an important role in the growth and development of children, athletes, and amateurs and the professionals who support their mental health make those benefits sustainable over time

Saybrook University’s M.S. in Sport and Performance Psychology prepares graduates to work with athletes, performers, and teams using evidence-based mental skills training, biofeedback, and psychophysiological methods. The program is fully online, designed for working professionals, and grounded in Saybrook’s humanistic approach to integrated health care.

Those interested in a broader mental health practice can also explore Saybrook’s M.A. in Counseling.

How Team Sports Support Mental Health in Adults

The mental health benefits of playing sports don’t stop at graduation. Research consistently shows that adults who maintain participation in organized sports or recreational leagues report lower rates of depression, higher social connectedness, and better stress management than sedentary peers.
For working adults in particular, team sports provide both the physical activity and the structured social contact that modern routines often eliminate. Adults who play team sports also tend to show greater self-efficacy, the belief in one’s capacity to manage challenges, a quality that carries directly into professional and personal settings.

Frequently Asked Questions: Mental Health and Sports

What are the most significant mental health benefits of playing sports?

Research consistently identifies five core mental health benefits to playing sports: reduced anxiety and depression, improved mood through endorphin release, stronger self-esteem, enhanced cognitive function (including focus and attention), and greater social connection through team participation.
A 2024 study published in Scientific Reports helps explain the exact psychological mechanisms behind these benefits. Tracking 400 middle school students, researchers found that the positive impact of physical activity on mental health is entirely driven by a “chain mediation” effect involving two crucial skills:

  • Self-Efficacy: Consistent physical activity builds an individual’s belief in their own capability to navigate challenges and achieve goals.
  • Stress Self-Management: That elevated confidence naturally leads to better, more adaptive strategies for handling daily stressors rather than avoiding them.

Does it matter whether someone plays individual or team sports?

A 2022 study published in PLOS One found that children who played organized team sports showed 10% lower anxious and depressed scores, 19% lower withdrawn scores, and 17% lower social problem scores compared to non-participants.

According to the research, team sports are associated with stronger mental health outcomes than individual sports, particularly among children.

Team participation distributes the psychological weight of competition wins and losses, which buffers the impact of defeat on any single athlete. Individual sports offer physical health benefits, but the lack of a support network can heighten pressure and isolation, particularly for young athletes.

Sport psychologists are trained to work with both populations, developing individualized mental skills strategies that compensate for the social element individual sport athletes may lack.

What does a sport and performance psychologist do?

Sport and performance psychologists apply psychological principles to help athletes, performers, and active individuals optimize their mental functioning, improving focus, managing pre-competition anxiety, building resilience after injury or defeat, and sustaining motivation over the course of a long career.

They work with youth athletes, professional teams, performing artists, military personnel, and corporate executives in high-performance roles.

The field sits at the intersection of clinical psychology, counseling, and performance science and requires graduate-level training in areas such as biofeedback, psychopathology, mental skills training, and optimal functioning.

What degree do you need to become a sport psychologist?

Becoming a licensed sport or performance psychologist typically requires a graduate degree, either a master’s or doctoral degree, in sport psychology, counseling psychology, or a related field.

At the master’s level, programs such as Saybrook’s M.S. in Sport and Performance Psychology prepare practitioners to apply mental skills training, biofeedback, and psychophysiological methods in athletic and performance settings.

Licensure requirements vary by state, and many sport psychologists pursue additional certification through organizations such as the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP).

Can sports help with anxiety and depression?

Multiple studies support a strong relationship between physical activity, especially organized sports participation, and reductions in anxiety and depressive symptoms. The study published in PLOS One found measurable reductions in anxious and depressed scores among children who participated in team sports.

Another study of 1.2 million individuals, published in The Lancet Psychiatry, found that people who participated in popular team sports experienced a 22.3% lower mental health burden than those who did not exercise; this represents the largest reduction observed across any type of physical activity.
These benefits occur because physical activity triggers endorphin release, improves sleep quality, and creates built-in social structures that buffer against isolation. Together, these physiological and social mechanisms directly drive profound stress reduction and mood improvement.

How do the mental skills developed in sports translate to everyday life?

The cognitive and emotional skills developed through sports, such as focusing under pressure, managing failure, teamwork, and self-regulation, transfer directly to professional and personal settings. The same breathing technique a basketball player uses at the free-throw line can reduce performance anxiety before a presentation.

The mental toughness developed through competitive sport builds resilience that helps athletes navigate setbacks outside athletics.

A publication in the journal Athletic Training & Sports Health Care confirms that these benefits are durable rather than temporary; former student-athletes consistently report thriving across multiple measures of well-being and living more fulfilling lives after college than their non-athlete counterparts

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.