Post-Graduate Certificate in Integrative Behavioral Health

Certificate Description 

Students will develop mastery of advanced mental/behavioral health clinical practices derived from traditional theories of counseling, psychotherapy, human development, and behavior modification integrated with evidence-based complementary and alternative practices in the treatment of various disorders and improving the quality of life for persons with differing abilities, especially those with developmental disabilities. Traditional clinical practice skills will be integrated with spiritual practices, creativity, animals, and nature (SCAN). Providers will develop multidisciplinary case collaboration skills to work with other healthcare providers incorporating complex case assessment and integrating national health initiatives such as exercise and nutrition as medicine in a wellness vs. a disease-focused paradigm. Congruent with UNF's mission, this program will inspire emerging professionals to be leaders and problem-solvers in the mental/behavioral healthcare fields while preparing them with the knowledge and experience to uniquely change the world, believing that they can do this one patient at a time. 

Student Learning Outcomes

Students who complete certificate will be able to:

• Create a philosophical shift in community mental health services from disease-focused to one of health and wholeness and resource management without sacrificing patient care.
• Develop a more resilient, connected, and grounded workforce of committed community mental health providers who can take care of themselves and their clients.
• Encourage provider identity development and advanced practice skills in assessment, diagnosis, holistic treatment planning, advanced/experiential group practice, and process skills.
• Solve community mental health staffing shortages to ensure reliable provider access for the health despair in the community.
• Prepare community mental health providers with an advanced practice toolbox of integrative healthcare practices, including integrating spirituality, creativity, animals, nature, exercise, and nutrition as prescriptive ‘medicines’ to effectively treat common symptoms of mental illness.
• Support interprofessional clinical development and collaboration between medical, mental health, and other health and wellness discipline providers to meet the needs of individuals and families from an integrative team approach to care.