Integrative Mental Health University
Bringing Spirituality into Mental Healthcare
What is Spiritual Emergence?
Spiritual emergence is a process of positive change involving spiritually-transformative experiences. A gradual deepening of insight and understanding happens over time with little or no disruption to everyday life and increasing peace and joy.
A spiritual emergency is a crisis within spiritual emergence in which someone becomes distressed and disoriented as a result of spiritually-transformative experiences.
Both involve valuable new perceptions of reality.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SPIRITUAL EMERGENCE VS. SPIRITUAL EMERGENCY
Spiritual awakening is a process of positive change associated with transformative spiritual experiences. Gradually, one's understanding of reality deepens, awareness grows, and there is more joy and peace in everyday life. Sometimes this process can cause a temporary crisis, called a spiritual emergency, when a person faces disorientation and emotional instability amidst powerful spiritual discoveries. It is important to note that even in moments of crisis, these experiences have value because they help one to see the world differently. Spiritual discovery requires mindfulness and self-care so that the experience enriches life rather than disrupts its harmony.
What is Spiritual Emergence?
Spiritual emergence is a process of positive change involving spiritually-transformative experiences. A gradual deepening of insight and understanding happens over time with little or no disruption to everyday life and increasing peace and joy.
A spiritual emergency is a crisis within spiritual emergence in which someone becomes distressed and disoriented as a result of spiritually-transformative experiences.
Both involve valuable new perceptions of reality.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SPIRITUAL EMERGENCE VS. SPIRITUAL EMERGENCY
What if you or someone you know needs help?
The most important thing for a person going through a spiritual emergency is to feel safe and supported. During this time, speaking with a trained coach who can provide necessary guidance may help them cope with their circumstances and harvest the positive potentials in the experience: greater peace and joy.
Once mental health professionals have the necessary training they can also provide this guidance and understanding.
The benefits of working with a trained provider
- Receive support from a caring, respectful, knowledgeable, experienced practitioner
- Have a safe space to share extraordinary spiritual experiences without being dismissed as “crazy”
- Gain insight and make sense of the range of spiritual experiences
- Develop strategies and practical skills for managing stress and anxiety related to having spiritual experiences
- Connect with a supportive network to nurture personal growth
- Harvest all the benefits that can come from a spiritual emergence process
The benefits of working with a trained provider
- Receive support from a caring, respectful, knowledgeable, experienced practitioner
- Have a safe space to share extraordinary spiritual experiences without being dismissed as “crazy”
- Gain insight and make sense of the range of spiritual experiences
- Develop strategies and practical skills for managing stress and anxiety related to having spiritual experiences
- Connect with a supportive network to nurture personal growth
- Harvest all the benefits that can come from a spiritual emergence process
Integrative Mental Health
Integrative mental health is a relatively new approach that brings together a variety of effective therapeutic modalities to achieve the best possible results for individuals seeking wellbeing.
Integrative mental health may combine conventional psychological approaches with holistic approaches and practices — such as yoga and meditation — as well as new approaches like family systems therapy or psychedelic-assisted therapy, as it becomes legalized.
What is the Integrative Mental Health University?
IMHU contributes to improving mental healthcare through online and live educational presentations and certifications for wellness seekers and healthcare providers.
We believe spirituality has a profound impact on individual mental health, and that truly integrative care needs to include body, mind, spirit, and community. We emphasize building more knowledge and skills regarding the spiritual aspects of mental healthcare.
We are committed to providing the resources and support to individuals and healthcare professionals to support better mental health and well-being.
Words of Praise for Our Work
"The straightforward approach to delivering challenging concepts balanced by supporting an Optimal Wellness potential, the whole person paradigm, is so key to redefining the normal that has been standardized...people want to know where they're going and what that looks like."
Terry T. Monnell, South CarolinaMA, CSC, ILC"Of greatest value for me in the Brazil trip was the chance to see existing Spiritist models of healing in action in Brazil."
Darius Soon, SingaporeDirector & Practitioner, Radiant Wellness Centre
"I enthusiastically recommend attending Dr. Bragdon's workshop, “Effective Support for Someone in Spiritual Emergency”. Her many years as a psychotherapist, healer, scholar and presenter shine through as she presents her life’s work, creating many rewarding opportunities for expansive professional and personal enrichment."
Ted Esser, PhDDirector, Spiritual Emergence Network
"I highly recommend Emma Bragdon. She has solid professional credentials and many years of impressive work as a scholar. Emma has a great personality and she creates many rich opportunities which would be completely unavailable to those with less knowledgeable, experienced, and insightful guides.”
Karen ZieglerMSN, MDiv, DMin, NP, Faculty - Duke School of Medicine
"Dr. Bragdon is on the leading edge of issues that must be addressed if we are going to realize a transformation in the ways in which health care is currently conceptualized and delivered."
Jeffrey Rediger, MDMedical Director, McLean Hospital SE, and Harvard Medical School faculty
"This workshop has been very valuable in providing the resources, information and language around Spiritual Emergency and Spiritually-Transformative Experiences. I feel every healthcare provider will find value in it. Five Stars!"
Jessica TullossMPH, RN
How can professional therapists and counselors positively support spiritual emergence?
Get Educated
IMHU offers professional-level courses to provide practitioners with real knowledge and practical advice that can be incorporated into their current client or patient practice. IMHU courses use a hybrid online/in-person approach and qualify for CE credits.
Get Certified
Individuals and Professionals who want to gain expert-level mastery and become certified as a Spiritual Emergence Coach®. IMHU has trained and certified 100+ SECs® from 17 countries.
Get Connected
Once you become a Spiritual Emergence Coach® , join IMHU's unique directory to reach and support those challenged by spiritually-transormative experiences.
Continuing Education Credits
Are you a healthcare professional?
Are you comfortable knowing the difference between spiritual emergency and mental illness? Are you confident in knowing how to help a client manage spiritual emergence?
With IMHU professional training courses you can earn CE credits, learn how to better support your clients and patients, and gain more confidence to effectively address spiritual issues and concerns.
IMHU courses include online materials and content together with live sessions for maximum effectiveness.
Spiritual Emergence Coach® Certification
Become an IMHU-certified Spiritual Emergence Coach®
Learn skills for effective management of spiritual crisis. IMHU offers comprehensive in-depth training in two parts to become a certified Spiritual Emergence Coach®.
PART 1
How to Effectively Support Someone in a Spiritual Emergency
5 online webinars with experts
LIVE online meetups every other week for discussion
10.5 CEs for healthcare professionals
PART 2
Spiritual Emergence Coach Practicum: Learn Skills for Effective Management of Spiritual Crisis
Our LIVE 2-day workshop is the final part of training to become a certified Spiritual Emergence Coach®
14 CEs for healthcare professionals
LIVE ON LOCATION
Spiritual Emergence Coach Practicum
Our LIVE 2-day workshop is the final part of training to become a certified Spiritual Emergence Coach®.
It is an experiential, skill-building weekend workshop that occurs every year in the US on each coast and in the UK. 14 CE credits available.
Spiritist Therapies Seminar - Goiania, Brazil
Explore Brazil's Spiritist Psychiatric Hospitals and Community Centers and Experience Spiritist Healing Modalities First-Hand!
Our annual 7-Day Live Seminar in Goiania, Brazil for healthcae providers who want to learn about and experience Spiritist healing/treatments in Spiritist Psychiatric Hospitals and Community Centers. 35 CEs or CMEs available.
Spiritist Therapies Seminar - Goiania, Brazil
Explore Brazil's Spiritist Psychiatric Hospitals and Community Centers and Experience Spiritist Healing Modalities First-Hand!
Our annual 7-Day Live Seminar in Goiania, Brazil for healthcae providers who want to learn about and experience Spiritist healing/treatments in Spiritist Psychiatric Hospitals and Community Centers. 35 CEs or CMEs available.
IMHU Featured Content
Take advantage of our FREE resources to learn more about spiritual emergence & integrative mental health.
Books by
Emma Bragdon, PhD
Dr. Emma Bragdon is the Founder and Executive Director of Integrative Mental Health University and a pioneer in body-mind-spirit wellness for 50 years. She has written 7 books and co-produced two documentary films on topics related to mental health and healing.
Volunteer with IMHU
At Integrative Mental Health University (IMHU), we believe that no one should have to face a spiritual crisis alone.
We are currently looking for volunteers to join us in our mission to improve mental health and wellbeing.
Explore Integrative Mental Health & Deepen Your Knowledge
Learn more about integrative mental health topics, issues and available therapies through our bundled course collections for curious seekers.
How to Effectively Support Someone in a Spiritual Emergency
IMHU's flagship course! More individuals are spontaneously awakening to expanded states and need support to make sense of it. 5 online webinars with expert + online LIVE meetups every other week for discussion. Helpful for yourself and supporting others. 10.5 CEs available.
How To Manage Spiritually Transformative Experiences
Are you or your clients in an awakening process, expanding consciousness, aka spiritual emergence? This bundle describes what may be happening and give you some resources to cope with the disorientation that may occur. First step: understanding!
When Meds Aren't Working
Psych Meds don't work for everyone. In this 4-course bundle learn about the risks with psych meds. Explore new effective therapies. Be inspired — there are highly effective alternatives to psych meds. Meet leaders in the field. Get resources and referrals.
Creating Wellbeing
A 5-course collection that introduces Integrative Mental Health and includes useful meditations for wellbeing and a survey of medication alternatives.
Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy
Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy is proving to be extraordinarily effective vs depression, PTSD, and anxiety. This 5-course bundle covers several different types of therapy including Ketamine, Ibogaine and Ayahuasca.
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