Integrative Mental Health University

Pick One 

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     Last 2025 Date-

October 10-12, near Boston, MA, USA

2026 Dates

April 24-26, near Boston,MA. USA

August 15-19, Whidbey Island, Washington, USA

(above is residential)

September 11-13 in London, UK

October 9-11, 2026 near Boston, MA, USA

Locations:  Scroll down the page for details on each location.

Course Description 

Disturbances related to spiritual awakening are not in themselves indicators of illness or pathology and are often misdiagnosed by healthcare professionals.  Generally, most healthcare providers have not been trained to recognize or support someone in this process.  The current psychiatric taxonomy alludes to “spiritual problems” but clumps all spiritually-based, anomalous events under the umbrella of "cultural phenomena" which does not adequately describe Spiritual Emergence or the crises that can arise called “Spiritual Emergency”. Because of this inadequate nomenclature, intense emerging phenomena in an awakening process can become confused with symptoms of psychosis or mania, i.e. mental illness.

This course provides a safe space for practicing how to interact supportively with those in Spiritual Emergency or processes of awakening and Spiritual Emergence.  In the Friday night session you will participate in one model of a support group format, in which participants share experiences and resources. Over the weekend, students will learn to understand their personal strengths in working with those experiencing awakening as well as the need to enlist collaborative colleagues. We cover ethical guidelines, and the regulations for being a support person when one is or is not authorized as a healthcare provider.

This course is appropriate for both healthcare professionals and the general public. Healthcare professionals will be able to incorporate the tools and practices offered in this program in ways beneficial to clients and patients.  We welcome those with lived experience, their loved ones, as well as healers, peer counselors, spiritual directors, and pastoral counselors. 

To those who are not previously authorized to do one-to-one coaching or counseling: IMHU's training will cover how to lead support groups, and after completing the course you can be certified as a "Peer Coach" to lead support groups. However, IMHU cannot authorize you to do one-to-one coaching or counseling for those in spiritual crisis via this (or any brief!) workshop.  At the same time, we subscribe to the idea that people who are able to connect and "be with" those in extreme states are often the best support people – whether they have had previous academic or professional training or not.

You are welcome to take the course if you want certification or not. We learn from each other’s perspectives and thus enrich our experience of the domain of Spiritual Emergency—and what kind of help is most beneficial for those in this particular crisis.   

Pre-requisite: Students must take the course "How to Effectively Support Someone in Spiritual Emergency" - available ongoing at IMHU.org.  

Learning Objectives:

At the end of the course, you will be better able to:

• Discuss the issues surrounding accurate diagnosis of disturbances related to Spiritual Emergence
• Explain the problems that frequently arise when an individual undergoing Spiritual Emergence is treated in a conventional hospital setting
• List five parameters for predicting which individuals are most likely to emerge quickly from a Spiritual Emergency with a positive outcome  
• Apply appropriate guidelines for facilitating support groups for those in Spiritual Emergency and/or their loved ones
• Demonstrate practical application of techniques for supporting individuals in Spiritual Emergencies
• Demonstrate how to maintain authentic connection with a person who is experiencing phenomena associated with Spiritual Emergence
• Explain appropriate boundaries to be maintained with an individual experiencing Spiritual Emergence phenomena
• Describe why a team approach to supporting someone in Spiritual Emergency is ideal
• Compile a list of colleagues to create a collaborative team within your community members to increase the effectiveness of care
• Assess when it is appropriate to implement your training as a healthcare professional or your own gifts as a healer when supporting someone in a Spiritual Emergence process

For those who become certified as Spiritual Emergence Coaches®, your take home also includes-

• Being listed in IMHU’s International Directory of Spiritual Emergence Coaches® to help connect you with to others who want to collaborate or find help for themselves or loved ones in crisis.
• Certificate acknowledging you as a Spiritual Emergence Coach®
• Use of the logo for Spiritual Emergence Coaches® on your website and promotional materials

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Click HERE to see short videos that introduce you to Certified Spiritual Emergence Coaches® - hear about what they are doing!

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Partial Scholarships Available:

If you are in financially difficulties, consider applying for a partial scholarship by clicking on Scholarship Application.

To Be Certified:

To qualify for certification you need to have some prior experience facilitating groups and/or authorization to coach, counsel, or give psychotherapy given by a reputable board in your state or country.   We will ask you to provide IMHU with a recommendation from someone who has observed you and overseen your work in the role facilitating support groups if you are not authorized to do 1-on-1 coaching/counseling/or psychotherapy.  See application below for details.  After the Practicum is over an IMHU representative will have a brief personal interview with each applicant to discuss their readiness for being certified as a Spiritual Emergence Coach®.

Application and Policies for Certification as a Spiritual Emergence Coach®:

Please fill out the application for becoming an IMHU Certified Spiritual Emergence Coach® and bring it with you to the Practicum or send to [email protected]. Click for our Policies, Procedures and Regulations.  Click HERE for application.

Course Facilitator:

Emma Bragdon, PhD, (Transpersonal Psychology) is an expert in the field of Spiritual Emergence and Emergency.  She’s been immersed in it as a researcher, psychotherapist, teacher, and published author since 1984.  She is the author of seven books and co-producer of two documentary films, and the Founder/Director of Integrative Mental Health University, IMHU.org.  Dr. Bragdon is most well known for the seminal books she originally published on Spiritual Emergency in 1988, and 1990, and more recently updated.  Her most recent books about Spiritism in Brazil have also gained rave reviews.  She was a volunteer for the Grof’s Spiritual Emergency Network from 1984-1991 and Editor of its newsletter and Journal. Since 2022 she has been an invited guest teacher in South America for  "Grof Legacy Training". She was licensed as a psychotherapist in 1988 and has expanded that practice by serving also as a spiritual guide.  She spent 6 months of every year from 2001-2012 in Brazil researching the positive potential of Spiritist Community Centers and Spiritist Psychiatric Hospitals.  Read more at EmmaBragdon.com, IMHU.org