Dr. Melissa Lemons is expanding approaches to behavioral health in the community, helping to lead continuing education for spiritually integrated psychotherapy (SIP).

Dr. Lemons, an assistant professor in WilmU’s College of Social and Behavioral Sciences Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) Program, was one of three course leaders in the 30-hour training, presented in a hybrid live-and-virtual format at Unity Lutheran Church in Wilmington.

Dr. Elizabeth Adair, chair of the CMHC program, says Dr. Lemons has quickly become a valued member of the faculty. “She has wonderful ideas and is always introducing us to new concepts in the community,” she says.

SIP training is designed for licensed and pre-licensed mental health professionals, counselors, marriage and family therapists, pastoral counselors, psychologists and psychiatrists, social workers, psychiatric nurses, and addiction specialists.

Taking a multicultural, multidisciplinary approach, SIP draws upon diverse spiritual traditions and teaches mental health professionals to draw out clients’ beliefs so they can benefit from their spiritual perspectives. The event was presented in partnership with the Accreditation Council for Psychoanalytic Education (ACPE).