Psychology and Mental Health – Online
April 2 – September 27, 2021
Taught by M. Mala Cunningham, Ph.D., C-IAYT
Yoga and mindfulness practices are powerful tools for assisting in emotional healing, self regulation, and resiliency. This training will provide participants with a thorough overview of how Yoga and mindfulness can impact and heal issues related to emotional dysregulation, depression, anxiety, trauma, an overactive brain, and negative wiring. Through an exploration of theory, research, clinical practice, and self-care practices, participants will emerge with the knowledge and skills to apply their understanding of psychology and mental health to how they interact with Yoga students and private clients, as well as in their own approach to personal self-care.
This course is both didactic and experiential in nature; after lecture and discussion, participants will have the opportunity to apply what they’ve learned in practice and gain feedback on their work. Coursework includes reflection journaling, designing assessment and treatment-based care plans, and recording practice sessions. Participants will be actively engaged during the course, through participation in discussions and partnering work with classmates.
Curriculum
The program covers theory, research, and practice in the following areas:
- How psychology characterizes psychiatric disorders
- Definition and symptoms of common psychiatric disorders
- Understanding affective neuroscience, stress, and mental health
- Basic overview of theories of human development, personality, and various cultural and societal influences on development
- An integrative model of Yoga and psychology
- Common steps / stages of a clinical intervention
- Active listening and interview skills for peer counseling
- Opportunities for clinical practice and application, including referral and ethical guidelines for the Yoga therapist as peer counselor
Learning objectives:
- Understand and identify how psychiatric disorders are categorized as per the Axis I through V conceptualization of organizing psychiatric disorders
- Understand the difference between Axis I and Axis II disorders
- Comprehend and identify the most common psychiatric disorders and their symptoms
- Understand psychiatric symptoms related to the gunas and koshas
- Demonstrate and understand the five stages of a clinical intervention
- Understand and articulate when and how to make a referral to a mental health professional, including scope of practice, professional boundaries, and ethical considerations
- Comprehend and apply the techniques of active listening, peer counseling, and interviewing skills
- Understand the role of intuition in healing
- Comprehend and understand basic theoretical concepts of Yoga and psychology related to: models of human development, personality, affective neuroscience, and healing
This training is open to:
- Yoga teachers with a 200-hour teaching certification and sufficient teaching experience, who are interested in the Integral Yoga Therapy Certification pathway
- Integral Yoga Therapy students who have completed Raja Yoga and Adaptive Yoga
- C-IAYTs who are interested in deepening their understanding
Technological Requirements
Regular access to the Internet with a steady connection is required to participate in this online training. You must be able to run Zoom on your computer or tablet with functional audio/video, and have an active email account for delivery of course materials.
Tuition
- $1080, including $100 non-refundable deposit
- $900 for Active IYI teachers and C-IAYTs (contact TeacherTraining@iyiny.org to request the discount)
Schedule
April 2 – September 27, 2021
April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30; May 7, 14, 21, 28; September 10, 17, 24
- Fridays • 3:00p.m.–6:00p.m. EDT
September 13, 20, 27
- Mondays • 4:00p.m.–6:00p.m. EDT
Plus 8 hours of pre-recorded practices and clinical homework assignments.
Attendance at all live online sessions is required for certification.
How to Apply
An application form and $100 non-refundable deposit are required to complete your enrollment.
Integral Yoga Therapy students currently enrolled in the 800-hour program: register here through the online student portal.
Certification and Continuing Education Credits
- Yoga Alliance: 42 contact hours + 8 non-contact hours for continuing education.
- 300-Hour Certification: 50 hours credit for Integral Yoga 300-Hour Certification.
- IAYT: 50 hours for continuing education with completion of both the self-paced and live sections.
M. Mala Cunningham, PhD, C-IAYT, is an International spiritual and motivational speaker and is also an author, educator, and certified Yoga therapist in the field of Health Psychology and Lifestyle Integrative Medicine. Dr. Cunningham has a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology and has a private practice in Charlottesville, Virginia. She is also an Assistant Professor in the School of Nursing at the University of Virginia and is the President of Positive Health Solutions. Dr. Cunningham is the Founder and Director of the renowned certification training program Cardiac Medical Yoga for heart patients and is the Founder of Hospital Bed Yoga and Limited Mobility Yoga. Dr. Cunningham has been highly instrumental in developing initiatives and innovative programs in the emerging fields of Lifestyle Medicine, Neuroscience, Psychology and Medical Yoga and Mindfulness. She has a unique ability to bring together divergent concepts and make them understandable to her audience. She has been a consultant to businesses and hospitals for over 30 years and has been an innovator in the field of Behavioral and Lifestyle Medicine.
Dr. Cunningham is the author of two innovative books: Medical Yoga: A Gentle and Modified Practice of Yoga for Assistance in Healing and Cardiac Yoga. She has also produced two popular CD’s entitled: Healing Journey and Before and After Surgery: Guided Imagery & Relaxation for Surgery Patients; and has a series of CD lectures on Neuroscience, Yoga, and Mindfulness. Dr. Cunningham has been prominently featured as an expert in Lifestyle Medicine, Corporate Health, Medical Yoga, and Spiritual Psychology. Her knowledge base and her informative, inspiring lectures and retreats make her a much sought-after speaker for keynote presentations and workshops. She has been practicing Yoga and meditation since the early 1970’s. She resides in beautiful Charlottesville, Virginia located at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. www.cardiacyoga.com.
Psychology and Mental Health training is a required core module in the 800-hour 
