Somatic Psychology

Concentration

Matured trees line a walking path and bend overhead providing shade on a sunny dayMatured trees line a walking path and bend overhead providing shade on a sunny day

Concentration Description

The Somatic Psychology concentration emphasizes coursework aligned with professional practice in contexts such as somatic education, psychotherapy practice, health and wellbeing coaching, employee wellness programs. The approach to learning somatic psychology at Meridian University is rooted in the transformative learning paradigm at the heart of Meridian’s programs, with a particular emphasis on embodied approaches to teaching and learning.

Embodied pedagogy draws on the scholarly research in education that understands the lived experience of the body as a legitimate but marginalized source of knowledge, and the cultivation of deeper access to embodied knowledge as an opportunity for students to develop a locus for authoritative knowing embedded in their own bodily experience. Because the body features prominently in the articulation of social difference, helping students become more attentive to the embodied interactions in the classroom also supports them to be more skillful in the navigation of power differentials in relationships with others.

Practices, methods, ideas, and topics engaged within this concentration’s courses, by way of example, include: Body metaphors, nonverbal felt experience, embodiment, historical trauma.

"... for that called Body is a portion of the Soul as discerned by the five Senses..."
William Blake
Meridian Students

Sample Courses

  • Leadership and Embodiment
  • Foundations of Somatic Psychotherapy
  • The Poetic Body
  • Approaches to Somatic Psychology
  • Cultivating the Senses
  • Movement Practices and Cognitive Development
"We’re living in a time where the reset button of history has been hit. Radical social, economic and environment changes are becoming the norm and creating a rapidly changing world that demand new patterns of thinking, being and doing for our own personal development, as well as for collective well being."
— Jean Houston Chancellor, Meridian University
Meridian StudentsMeridian Students
two young men study outside on sunny daytwo young men study outside on sunny daytwo young men study outside on sunny day

Academic Structure

Meridian’s academic structure gives students the flexibility to navigate the University’s curricular architecture in ways that match their passions, professional goals, and other life commitments.

The structure is designed to serve a diverse student body, who live around the globe, have varied cultural and clinical visions for their careers, and are at different stages in their professional journey.

Students enroll in a degree program, can elect a concentration, and register for one or multiple courses each quarter. In addition to core courses for the specific degree program and anchor courses that represent the Transformative Learning intent of Meridian’s curriculum, students select elective courses that align with their Meridian concentration, background, and career path.

Learn More
Learning Format Intro

Learning Formats

Meridian's graduate degree programs are offered in two formats, Hybrid and Online. Each quarter, students take one or multiple seven-week online courses. This schedule provides students with time between quarters to rest, engage, and prepare.

The University's multiple format options are designed to enable students to pursue their graduate education at a flexible pace, combining asynchronous coursework via the University's custom social learning platform, live course video calls with faculty, synchronous student community engagement, and optional onsite or online Transformative Learning Labs in-person.

Students can optionally select Transformative Learning Lab dates, locations, and formats based on their learning style, personal interests, and professional aspirations, if they choose to, based on availability of offerings.

Online Format Learning Format
Online Format Learning Format Icon

Online Format

In Meridian's online learning format, students can complete 100% of their coursework degree requirements online, via Meridian’s unique online learning platform and faculty-led learning model. Meridian’s online format is designed to be highly engaging and deeply human. Students build connections with faculty and fellow graduate students while taking advantage of the flexibility built-in to the University’s online courses model.

Online Transformative Learning Labs are also optionally available (often multiple times a year), sometimes as a 3+ hour live class, and sometimes over multiple days.

Hybrid Format Learning Format
Hybrid Format Learning Format Icon

Hybrid Format

Meridian’s hybrid learning format combines online courses with optional onsite Transformative Learning Labs which are one-week or less. By combining Meridian’s innovative online education methodologies with rich video calls and deep onsite connections, the hybrid format enables students to contribute locally and perceive globally.

When offered, Onsite Labs take place at Meridian’s San Francisco Bay Area Center and other University Centers, based on student interest and availability.

Introducing Unique Impact Scholarships

Available to Meridian University students worldwide, Meridian University's Impact Scholarships represent the University's commitment to supporting graduates to take transformative action in the fields of Business, Education, Leadership, and Psychology.

  • The Meridian Social Entrepreneurship Scholarship
  • The Meridian Developmental Coaching Scholarship
  • The Meridian Collective Trauma Transformation Scholarship
Contact An Advisor
young man and woman sit behind laptop and book outside on college campusyoung man and woman sit behind laptop and book outside on college campus
Meridion Celebrate 30 YearsMeridion Celebrate 30 Years Mobile

Submitting

Stay Updated

Sign up below to learn more and stay updated regarding Meridian University's graduate and public programs.

yoman sits on bed working on laptop

San Francisco Bay Area Center

47 Sixth Street
Petaluma, California 94952
+1 (707) 765-1836

Los Angeles: Water Garden Campus

2450 Colorado Avenue
Santa Monica, California 90404
+1 (310) 876-2001

Athens Center

Ermou 56
Athens 10563, Greece
+30 21 1199 0060

Berlin Center

Greifswalder Strasse 226
10405 Berlin, Germany
+49 30 16637734

Johannesburg Center

Atrium on 5th 9th Floor
5th St, Johannesburg, 2196, South Africa
+27 31 822 9032

Shanghai Center

501 Middle Yincheng Road
29/F, Shanghai Tower
Shanghai 200120, China
+86 10 5940 7141

Meridian University Logo