Apr24
A Free Online Overview with Jennifer Gruczelak, Nikole Moffett and Dennis Spears
Integral Counseling Psychology
Mind-body-spirit education and practice
For over 50 years, CIIS’ Integral Counseling Psychology program has trained students in a vision of psychotherapy that combines major spiritual traditions of the East and West and contemporary therapeutic practices. The holistic orientation of this unique counseling program invites students to articulate their personal vision of psychology within modern theoretical approaches.
Three Formats
The M.A. in Counseling Psychology concentration in Integral Counseling Psychology is available in three convenient and engaging formats – choose the schedule that works best for you:
Integral Counseling Psychology
The original Integral Counseling Psychology program, with Monday-to-Friday classroom instruction on our campus in the heart of San Francisco.
Integral Counseling Psychology
Full-time classroom learning at the CIIS campus with a weekend schedule for busy professionals.
Integral Counseling Psychology
Online courses for students who live outside of the Bay Area or California, with one in-person (retreat or weekend intensive) requirement per semester.
Curriculum Areas
Our curriculum incorporates scholarship from family and community systems theories, attachment theory, contemporary trauma theory, and transpersonal concepts. Deepen your academic and personal inquiry in these areas of study:
- Human Development and the Family
- Gestalt therapy, Psychodynamic, and Relationally-based Therapies
- Integral Philosophy, Meditation, and Yoga
Through our innovative coursework and education from progressive faculty, the Integral Counseling Psychology program provides a holistic, in depth curriculum that is both personally enriching and adheres to the strict guidelines of the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.
The program defines integral as "essential to wholeness" which means we emphasize multicultural competencies and personal growth as necessary parts of clinical experience. Our graduates are trained to become thriving licensed clinicians who go on to work in private practice, schools, and non-profit organizations.
Which Format Suits You?
| Program Format | Weekday | Weekend | Hybrid (NEW!) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Semester Start | Spring/Fall | Fall | Spring |
| Format | On-campus | On-campus | Online with an on-campus intensive every semester |
| Length | 3 years - 7 semesters | 3 years - 7 semesters | 3 years - 7 semesters |
| Licensure Prep | LMFT/LPCC | LMFT/LPCC | LPCC |
| Units | 60 (LMFT) or 70 (LPCC) | 60 (LMFT) or 70 (LPCC) | 66 (LPCC) |
Explore our M.A. in Counseling Psychology Programs
Not sure which program is right for you? Browse our other four specializations to find your match.
Department of Counseling Psychology
Focus on healing through social justice and structural change
Department of Counseling Psychology
Utilize drama and theatre to promote psychological health
Department of Counseling Psychology
Integrate creative expression with clinical and community practice
Department of Counseling Psychology
Bring an embodied approach to whole-person healing
Faculty Research and Scholarship
Our faculty have a variety of research interests, including ecopsychology, depth psychology, pop culture, and mystical practices; work with incarcerated people, LGBTQIA+, and activist communities; psychedelic-assisted therapy; and transpersonal, Jungian, and Gestalt psychotherapies.
Camp, Nostalgia, and Comfort Watches
Assistant Professor Emily Marinelli’s recent book, Comfort Sequels: The Psychology of Movie Sequels from the 80s and 90s, considers the campy and nostalgic sequels to blockbuster films that were touchstones of Gen X and Millennial childhoods. She uses psychological theory to analyze characters, plots, and themes, while weaving in memoir, interviews, and fun behind-the-scenes details.
Integral Psychedelic Therapy: The Non-ordinary Art of Psycho-spiritual Healing
Professor Jason Butler co-edited a volume of essays, several of which he also co-wrote, on creating the safety and equity necessary for effective psychedelic-assisted therapy. Integral Psychedelic Therapy: The Non-ordinary Art of Psycho-spiritual Healing is an evidence-based collection that explores how psychedelic medicine can be incorporated into contemporary psychotherapy.
On Mythology, Land, and Life
In this episode of the CIIS Public Programs Podcast Associate Professor Rachael Vaughan joins Sharon Blackie, an award-winning writer whose work combines psychology, mythology, and ecology. During a transformative conversation on the importance of myth and land, they discuss how developing a relationship to both can re-enchant our lives and create a greater sense of belonging in the world.
Our Upcoming Events
Apr30
An Online Event with Admissions Counselors
May09
A Faculty-Led Info Session with Anna Benassi
Our Program in Action
Campus News
The Integral Counseling Psychology concentration now offers an online-focused hybrid format of its M.A. in Counseling Psychology.
Faculty News
Barbara Morrill, CIIS Professor Emerita, explores the life of Jewish writer Etty Hillesum, who decried the brutality of the Nazi occupation of Amsterdam during World War II.
Campus News
CIIS plans to expand its community health services with the launch of a new psychedelics clinic that will provide patients with ketamine-assisted treatments, the first of its kind to be associated with a university in the United States.