Meditation & Psychology

The Meditation and Psychology emphasis at PAU involves clinical and research training concerning mind-body approaches to promote health and well-being. Numerous studies demonstrate the effectiveness of meditation interventions for stress symptoms and disorders. Students in this emphasis will receive clinical and research training and experience in the design, implementation, and evaluation of meditation-based interventions designed to enhance positive coping and prevent and alleviate stress symptoms and stress-related disorders. A primary approach to these interventions will be based on the Inner Resources (IR) programs (Waelde, 2003, 2004, 2005), though students will have the option to develop and implement other approaches or to adapt the current work to new populations.
Clinical Training

Students in the Meditation and Psychology emphasis can take 1 – 3 years of related practicum training. In these practica, students work with children and adults in hospital, clinic, and community-based settings and in the Inner Resources Center, a specialty clinic of PGSP’s Kurt and Barbara Gronowski Psychology Clinic. Second and 3rd year students will participate in this practicum in addition to their other practicum experience; 4th year students participate as advanced practicum students.
Practicum Course Sequence

2nd and 3rd Year Students: F250 Practicum Elective: Psychoeducational Groups

4th Year Students: F231 Practicum 4A – F233 Practicum 4C
Inner Resources Center Specialty Clinic

Students in the Meditation and Psychology emphasis participate in the Inner Resources Center, a specialty clinic of the Kurt and Barbara Gronowski Psychology Clinic. Staff of the Center conduct psychoeducational programs, clinical interventions, and professional training concerning the applications of mind-body therapies, especially meditation, for mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being. Students gain clinical training and experience in the design, implementation, and evaluation of psychoeducational and skills-based interventions, based on mind-body and cognitive-behavioral principles, for the enhancement of positive coping and the prevention and alleviation of stress symptoms and stress-related disorders. The IR Center offers interventions that have empirical support.
Research Training

Students in the Meditation and Psychology Emphasis participate in a Research Group that investigates the effects of meditation for stress-related symptoms and disorders. Students can participate in ongoing research or develop independent research projects leading to their dissertations.

Ongoing and proposed research in the group includes investigations of meditation for:

* survivors of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans
* dementia family caregivers
* chronic depression
* combat veterans
* mild cognitive impairment (MCI)

Contact Lynn C. Waelde, Ph.D., Director of the Meditation and Psychology Emphasis at lwaelde@paloaltou.edu for further information.