Certificate in Wholebeing Positive Psychology
- Presenter: Megan McDonough
- Presenter: Joan Borysenko
- Presenter: Stephen Cope
- and more…
Course Overview
Note Registration for the course includes all online learning through Wholebeing Institute (9 modules over 9 months) and two 1-week immersions at Kripalu. The immersion part of this course is still bookable up until March 4th. Please call to register.
For everyone, including coaches, business leaders, therapists, parents, teachers, entrepreneurs, and lifelong learners.
Whether you want to improve your home life, better your workplace, grow personally or professionally, or start a new career, the Certificate in Wholebeing Positive Psychology offers you in-depth study, world-class faculty, and transformative experiences. This course extends the dimensions of Positive Psychology with a rare whole-person approach. Rather than a cognitive-only perspective on the science of well-being, you follow the SPIRE methodology.
Through a series of online modules and on-site immersions, you experience an integrated exploration of the science and direct application of Wholebeing Positive Psychology.
Apply the whole-person approach personally and professionally in leadership, counseling, coaching, parenting, or teaching in order to
- Bring about lasting change in individuals and organizations
- Create healthy personal and professional relationships
- Build positive emotions and the resilience to deal with painful ones
- Develop constructive self-regard and grounded optimism.
Leave with the tools, practices, and research to support an increased capacity for health, resilience, deeper mindfulness, and greater levels of overall well-being.
Note Continuing education credits are pending for coaching (ICF).
Find out more about continuing education credits.
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What You Experience
- Online modules that include prerecorded video lectures by leading experts; live video webinars with core faculty and special guests focusing on the practice of positive psychology; reading assignments and homework; forum discussions and small-group work
- On-site immersions that bring together faculty, leading experts like Joan Borysenko and Stephen Cope, and students from around the world for personal interaction, dynamic exercises, and a peaceful yet powerful gathering of community
- Ongoing interaction with small groups of fellow students in an atmosphere of support and collaboration
Program Dates
The curriculum consists of nine modules, including seven online modules through Wholebeing Institute and two onsite immersions at Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health. Each immersion is five days, starting on Sunday evening and ending Friday afternoon. The first immersion runs March 10–15, 2019, featuring guest faculty Joan Borysenko. The second runs September 15–20, 2019, with guest faculty Stephen Cope. Students will be able to begin Module 1: Introduction to Wholebeing Happiness within two weeks of registering for the course, providing a self-directed foundation before the entire student body begins together with Module 2.
About the Immersion
Engage in-person with lead faculty and guest faculty, Joan Borysenko and Stephen Cope while learning the SPIRE aspects of whole person well-being while you experience living it at Kripalu. SPIRE was codeveloped with Positive Psychology thought-leader and Wholebeing Institute’s cofounder, Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar.
Spiritual: Cultivate mindfulness and meaning through optional yoga and meditation classes before and after course sessions, or by enjoying the gorgeous grounds and walking paths.
Physical: Explore the joy of Kripalu YogaDance®, the pleasure of clean, healthy eating, or the gentle restoration of Kripalu Healing Arts.
Intellectual: Dive into the research and content from the learning sessions and expand your understanding with the selections available in the Kripalu Shop.
Relational: Connect with others through small group work and dyads, using the network to deepen the application of the science.
Emotional: Use gratitude and appreciation of beauty during all of the above excursions, and practice positivity boosters during the training to elevate and engage an upward spiral of well-being.
About Online Learning
After you register, you will receive an email with instructions to get into the virtual classroom, a private, student-only area. This is your learning space for the whole journey. You’ll find everything you need here—from the forum to connect with staff and peers, video lectures, webinar material, and all the resources used in the course. Track your progress as you go, checking off each learning goal as you reach it.
What Students are Saying
“Absolutely groundbreaking to see how the structure of support was maintained throughout the year, leading to a deep understanding that connection is crucial to well-being. It’s not just about the tools and practices.”
“Wholebeing Institute offers deep science and deep human connection—a genuine sense that each of us matter. This is rare and very special.”
“Being a part of the Certificate in Positive Psychology allowed me to design the life I always dreamed of. Using the tools, I am a better father, husband, and professional.”
“The focus on building community is a differentiator for Wholebeing Institute. By keeping us connected, we become ambassadors for each other and the work.”
“The Certificate in Positive Psychology helped me define who I want to be as a contributor—I found my voice. It helped me make sense of who I am at my best. It gave me the clarity and the tools to make change—to act on what I learned.”
Team Teaching
You have a teaching team to support your learning experience, integrating expert advice in an organized and methodical way.
Connect with lead faculty in weekly video lectures, expand that content through interviews with featured experts. We also invite featured experts to join the live webinars. Between in-person immersions, live webinars, and recorded lectures and interviews, you’re exposed to many voices and perspectives within a consistent and cohesive learning experience.
Lead Faculty Megan McDonough, Maria Sirois, Lynda Wallace, Phoebe Atkinson, and Karen Whelan-Berry
Immersion Guest Faculty Joan Borysenko and Stephen Cope
Featured Experts Barbara Fredrickson, Sara Algoe, Patty Van Cappellen, Megha Nancy Buttenheim, Kristen Lindquist, and many more
Cost
Tuition $4,800 + 10 nights housing and meals; total cost based on accommodations choice. Please call to register 866.200.5203
Program at a Glance
Wholebeing Happiness and the SPIRE Approach
Presenter(s)
Megan McDonough is the Global Director of Growth for the Women President's Organization and the founder of Wholebeing Institute, a leading organization in the field of positive psychology.
Full Bio and ProgramsJoan Borysenko, PhD, is a Harvard Medical School-trained biologist, a licensed psychologist, a New York Times best-selling author, and a pioneer in mind-body medicine.
Full Bio and ProgramsStephen Cope, MSW, Kripalu's Scholar Emeritus, is the best-selling author of The Great Work of Your Life and Yoga and the Quest for the True Self.
Full Bio and ProgramsMaria Sirois, PsyD, is a positive psychologist and seminar leader who teaches with wisdom, authenticity, and humor at the intersection of resilience and flourishing.
Full Bio and ProgramsLynda Wallace, MBA, is one of the country’s most highly sought-after coaches and teachers, and author of the best-seller A Short Course in Happiness.
Full Bio and ProgramsPhoebe Atkinson, LCSW-R, psychotherapist and coach in private practice, uses experiential training methods to help groups and individuals gain personal insight and effectiveness.
Full Bio and ProgramsKaren Whelan-Berry, PhD, a positive psychology scholar and practitioner with extensive corporate and higher education experience, focuses on research and practice at the intersection of ideal self, teams, and performance excellence.
Full Bio and Programs