Alternative and Adjunctive Treatments in Behavioral Health introduces behavioral health professionals to a diverse array of evidence-informed, non-pharmacological, and integrative approaches that complement traditional psychotherapy and psychiatric care. This course examines key modalities including mindfulness-based practices for cultivating present-moment awareness and emotional regulation; yoga for enhancing mind-body connection and reducing stress; music therapy and art therapy as creative outlets for expression, trauma processing, and self-discovery; animal-assisted therapy to foster attachment, empathy, and social skills; emerging psychedelic-assisted therapy protocols (with attention to current legal, ethical, and research contexts); wilderness and eco-therapies that leverage nature immersion for restoration, perspective-shifting, and ecological reconnection; and somatic therapies that address trauma and distress stored in the body through movement, breath, and sensorimotor awareness. Through theoretical foundations, empirical evidence reviews, experiential demonstrations, and case studies, participants learn how to ethically incorporate these adjunctive interventions, collaborate across disciplines, assess appropriateness for clients, and support holistic recovery in mental health settings. Completion of PSYC& 100 recommended. This class may include students from multiple sections.
Must be seeking a Bachelor of Applied Science in Behavioral Healthcare degree to enroll. If interested, visit pencol.edu/bas
Bachelor's Program Admittance to Behavioral Healthcare Degree
Course Outcomes
- Articulate an understanding of the basic history, key figures, theoretical foundations, and core mechanisms of action for each alternative or adjunctive modality covered.
- Articulate an emerging understanding of the current empirical evidence supporting the efficacy, safety, and appropriate clinical applications of each alternative or adjunctive treatment, including key research findings, limitations, and areas of emerging investigation.
- Identify client-specific factors (e.g., diagnosis, trauma history, preferences, cultural background, physical abilities, and contraindications) to assess the appropriateness and potential benefits versus risks of recommending or referring for each modality.
- Demonstrate an experiential understanding of selected practices (e.g., mindfulness exercises, simple somatic techniques, nature-based grounding, or creative expression prompts) and be able to articulate how personal experience with these practices informs one’s understanding of their therapeutic benefits.
- Demonstrate an emerging awareness of ethical and professional guidelines for integrating adjunctive treatments, including the need to obtain informed consent, maintaining scope of practice boundaries for non-specialist clinicians, addressing cultural sensitivity, and navigating legal/regulatory considerations.
- Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of one of the modalities covered through a project focused on how it could be realistically applied to a particular fictional client, including why it might be helpful, how it integrates with other services the client may be receiving for their identified issues, and what ethical and safety considerations must be addressed.