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Institute for Complementary, Alternative, and Integrative Therapies - A 10-day study institute in Tuscany in October offered by Old Dominion University
 
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, a branch of the National Institutes of Health, estimates that about 40% of Americans use some form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for health and wellness. CAM includes a variety of medical and health care practices, systems and products that are not usually considered to be part of conventional medical treatment.
 
From a 2007 health survey, this translates to Americans spending over $33 Billion on CAM in out-of-pocket health care expenses. Of this total, it is estimated that $22 billion was spent on “self-care costs” such as products, classes and materials; close to $20 billion was spent on complementary, alternative or integrative therapy (CAIT) such as acupuncture, chiropractic, meditation and massage. CAIT combine treatments from conventional approaches to health and healing, for which there is some evidence of safety and effectiveness for some approaches.
 
Counselors and other mental health providers need to be aware of the implications for their own practice, educating themselves about the use and effects of the various forms of CAIT as well as how clients may be using the approaches as they focus on health and healing. Other forms of CAIT overlap the wellness and multiculturalism movements and include modalities like
 
“If counselors knew that 40% of clients were already using a tool or technique that could be affecting their mental health positively or negatively, this would become a natural opening for asking questions about client resources in the therapeutic process,” states Suzan K. Thompson, research associate professor in Old Dominion University’s graduate counseling program. “Counselors need to know about the possible uses and effects – both positive and potentially harmful – of CAIT and CAM in their client’s lives.”
 
Old Dominion University will be offering for the first time in October 2010, a 10-day Institute for Complementary, Alternative, and Integrative Therapies, held in Tuscany, Italy. Participants will learn about complementary, alternative and integrative therapies in Italy from American and Italian mental health professionals as well as visit ancient Italian cities on day trips including Florence, Pisa, Assisi, Siena, and Lucca.
 
“This program is the only institute of its kind to focus on educating counselors and other mental health providers. It offers professionals an initial foundation for understanding how complementary, alternative and integrative therapies might be incorporated into the counseling process,” says Thompson. “This not only educates the counselor or therapist, it opens the conversation between counselor and client, bringing into the therapeutic process all of the client’s resources for healing.”
 
In June, a 2-day “Complementary, Alternative, and Integrative Therapies Workshop” will be held at Old Dominion University. This workshop provides an overview of various CAIT approaches and offers counselors ideas on how to integrate these approaches into their work with clients.
 

 

About the Institute for Complementary, Alternative, and Integrative Therapies
A 10-day study institute set in a picturesque 14th century villa on a mountainside in Tuscany.  Learn about complementary, alternative and integrative therapies in Italy from American and Italian mental health professionals. Visit ancient Italian cities on day trips including Florence, Pisa, Assisi, Siena, and Lucca. This institute offers the comfort and security of a planned itinerary that includes an American guide who is fluent in Italian. Participants stay the entire 10 days in the same room in a magnificent 14th century villa that features a spectacular view of the Tuscan hillside. Frequent visits to a small Italian village are possible that provide a flavor of Italy that can only be experienced in the rural countryside. In addition, all of the major ancient cities in Tuscany will be visited, including a day in the culturally rich city of Florence. More information is available through the following link to ODU’s Programs for Continued Learning: http://education.odu.edu/pcl/counselor/
 
Cost:(excludes roundtrip airfare from your home to Rome, Italy)
$1,995 Program Fee; Included in the costs:
·      Room in villa (shared room with shared bath); Single rooms available for additional fee of $300
·      Most meals
·      Tuition for graduate or undergraduate credits or continuing education hours
·      All transportation within Italy
·      Health Insurance
·      Entry to two museums in Florence
·      English speaking institute guide throughout trip and local guide in Siena

 

 

 About Suzan Thompson
 Suzan K. Thompson, Ph.D., LPC, is a research associate professor and clinical coordinator in the Graduate Counseling Program at ODU; she is also a Licensed Professional Counselor. In addition to teaching, she has a private practice in counseling where she uses a variety of healing modalities. Dr. Thompson co-created a popular course at ODU on Complementary and Alternative Therapies in 2006. She is the creator and American co-director of the Italian Institute for Complementary, Alternative, and Integrative Therapies.

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Training for Clergy

Addiction Training for Clergy. Newly developed resources have been designed specifically with you in mind. A "toolkit" entitled "Spiritual Caregiving to Help Addicted Persons and Families: Pastoral Counselor’s Curriculum for the Education of Faith Leaders" has just been printed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. This curriculum provides four study modules to use for training faith leaders. AAPC members can request a complimentary copy by emailing brenda@aapc.org and note "Toolkit" in the subject line. It will assist you in furthering your efforts to provide important training to faith community leaders regarding the impact of alcoholism and drug addiction on individuals, children and families. This also offers you the opportunity to collaborate with other service providers in your community.

Additional resources for The Clergy Education and Training Project can be found at http://www.nacoa.net/clergy.htm. Please call the AAPC office if you require assistance or have any questions.

 

Loyola University Maryland

 UNIQUELY INTEGRATING SCIENCE AND SPIRIT - The graduate programs in pastoral counseling and spiritual care at Loyola University Maryland offer a dynamic synthesis of scientific methodology and spiritual perspective. This holistic, integrated approach is designed to prepare students to meet both the psychological and spiritual needs of individuals, families, and organizations. Whether students are called to the department's diverse tracks in pastoral care, or to its one-of-a-kind professional counseling programs that graduate licensed counselors, researchers, supervisors, and trauma specialists, they join a graduate department that - since its inception in 1976 - has earned a global reputation as being unique, innovative, and academically stimulating.