If you want to help your patients or clients manage conditions or symptoms such as pain and anxiety, this specialization will provide the knowledge and skills needed. In these five courses, you will explore integrative therapies, including herbal medicine, guided imagery, aromatherapy, and mindfulness. For each therapy studied, you will gain skills to: Assess if a therapy is appropriate, Educate patients or clients about benefit and risk, Administer or advise on use, and Evaluate if the therapy was useful (our AEAE approach).
By the end of this specialization, you will be familiar with application methods, mechanisms of action, and the research evidence for specific therapies, as well as safety and quality considerations. In short, you will be ready to partner with patients on developing a plan of integrative care that fits their needs and preferences. Note that while the primary focus is on working with patients or clients, the information is also immediately applicable to your own health and wellbeing.
Applied Learning Project
Each course in this specialization includes a peer-reviewed project that applies integrative therapies to a specific situation. To begin, you will analyze what is needed to bring integrative therapies into your workplace or other setting. In later courses, you will research the benefits and risks of specific herbal medicines and essential oils for specific patients or clients; create a guided imagery recording; and make recommendations based on evidence and patient preferences for herbal medicines, aromatherapy, guided imagery, and mindfulness practice. Throughout, the focus will be on assessing patient needs and educating and advising patients in clear, simple, and patient-centered language.
