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About Dr. Nicholas Cummings

Bio

Nicholas A. Cummings, Ph.D., Sc.D. (1924 – 2020)

Dr. Nicholas A. Cummings was a visionary who, for half a century not only was able to foresee the future of professional psychology, but also helped create it. A former president of the American Psychological Association (APA) as well as its Divisions 12 (Clinical Psychology) and 29 (Psychotherapy), he formed a number of national organizations in response to trends. Since organized psychology resisted these inevitable changes, Dr. Cummings blazed the way, expecting others would follow. He launched the professional school movement by founding the four campuses of the California School of Professional Psychology that established clinicians as full-fledged members of the faculty. As chief of mental health for the Kaiser Permanente health system in the 1950s, he wrote and implemented the first prepaid psychotherapy contract in the era when psychotherapy was an exclusion rather than a covered benefit in health insurance. He wrote what is known as the freedom-of-choice legislation that requires insurers to reimburse psychologists along with psychiatrists, and he conducted the medical cost offset research showing that psychological interventions save medical/surgical dollars.

Foreseeing the industrialization of healthcare, and particularly behavioral healthcare, he founded American Biodyne, the nation’s first and only psychology-driven managed behavioral health organization (MBHO), to be emulated so that the profession could own managed behavioral care before it fell into the hands of business interests. For two years he limited enrollment to 500,000 covered lives, but when the professions of psychology and psychiatry ignored the model, he took his foot off the brake, and the number of covered lives soared to 14.5 million in the next 5 years and to 25 million shortly thereafter. Other organizations he founded included the National Academies of Practice (the 150 most distinguished practitioners in each of dentistry, medicine, nursing, optometry, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, pediatric medicine, psychology, social work, and veterinary medicine), the National Council of Professional Schools of Psychology (NCSPP), the San Joaquin County Psychological Association, and the American Managed Behavioral Healthcare Association (AMBHA). With others he co-founded the California Psychological Association, the San Francisco Bay Area Psychological Association, and the Council for the Advancement of the Psychological Professions and Sciences (CAPPS).

In the early days of the technical revolution, Dr. Nicholas Cummings was invited as the CEO of American Biodyne to attend a luncheon where he would meet innovators and entrepreneurs of Silicon Valley, including Bill Gates and Steve Jobs. Dr. Cummings was inspired by the brilliance of these entrepreneurs, and was struck by a similarity he noticed among the group: a particularly high college dropout rate. The tech giants of Silicon Valley had either enrolled in college and quickly dropped out after learning they knew far more than any of the faculty, or never enrolled at all; choosing instead to spend all of their time inventing the new technologies that would absolutely revolutionize our lives. Dr. Cummings realized that what healthcare needed was a similar revolution, and he saw an opportunity to teach behavioral health providers to disrupt the ineffective, fragmented healthcare system from within. There was only one problem: no university existed that was out-of-the-box enough to create both the curriculum and the environment that would stimulate the kind of innovation that healthcare needed. The choice was clear.

In 2014, Dr. Cummings along with his daughter, Janet L. Cummings, Psy.D, created the Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies to fill the educational gaps for innovative and entrepreneurial healthcare professionals wishing to disrupt healthcare from within or for those looking to launch new ventures. Drs. Cummings designed the DBH program at CGI to address three critical needs behavioral health providers would need to be successful in this aim: medical literacy, efficient and effective delivery of behavioral health interventions in medical settings, and entrepreneurship and innovation in the healthcare marketplace.

Accolades

In spite of being controversial all of his life, Dr. Nicholas Cummings was the recipient of numerous awards, including psychology’s highest, the APF Gold Medal for Lifetime Achievement in Practice. Dr. Cummings received his bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of California at Berkeley, his master’s degree in psychology from Claremont Graduate School, and his doctorate in clinical psychology from Adelphi University. He has been awarded five honorary doctorates for his innovations in such diverse fields as education and the Greek classics. Along with his professional, scientific and educational contributions, he has been feted as the foremost entrepreneur in psychology.

Dr. Cummings was a member of President Kennedy’s Mental Health Task Force and President Carter’s Mental Health Commission. He was an advisor to the Health Economics Branch of the then Department of Health, Education and Welfare, the Senate Subcommittee on Health (Senator Edward Kennedy, Chair), and the Senate Finance Committee (Senator Russell Long, Chair). He has testified before the Congress of the United States 18 times. On behalf of the Health Care Financing Administration, he conducted the 7-year Hawaii Medicaid Project that prompted the federal government to overhaul the way Medicaid was being delivered. Dr. Cummings passed away June 8, 2020 in Reno, Nevada surrounded by the one love of his life, Dorothy Mills Cummings and his family.

Read CGI’s dedication to Dr. Nicholas A. Cummings.

Publications

Dr. Nicholas Cummings has written over 450 book chapters and journal articles, along with 51 books, and 10 with his daughter, Dr. Janet Cummings.

Belo are two seminal articles by Nicholas Cummings that demonstrate his expertise in healthcare integration and cost savings.

Twenty Years of Kaiser Experience with Psychotherapy and Medical Utilization:Implications for National Health Policy and National Health Insurance

Impact of Managed Care on Employment and Training: A Primer for Survival

The following is a partial list of publications, showing representative publications in chronological order from 1967 through the present.

  • Follette, W.T. & Cummings, N.A. (January-February 1967). Psychiatric services and medical utilization in a prepaid health plan setting I. Medical Care, Vol. 5, No. 1, pp. 25-35.
  • Cummings, N.A. & Follette, W.T. (January-February 1968). Psychiatric services and medical utilization in a prepaid health plan setting II. Medical Care, Vol. 6, No. 1, pp. 31-41.
  • Cummings, N.A. (October 1969). The California School of Professional Psychology: One alternative to the extinction of professional psychology. Journal of Clinical Issues in Psychology, Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 8-10
  • Cummings, N.A. (September 1977). The anatomy of psychotherapy under national health insurance. American Psychologist, Vol. 32, No. 9, pp. 711-718.
  • Cummings, N.A. (1977). Behavioral health in primary care: Dollars and sense. In N.A. Cummings, J.L. Cummings, & J.N. Johnson (Eds.). Behavioral health in primary care: A guide for clinical integration (pp. 3-21). Madison, CT: Psychosocial Press.
  • Cummings, N.A. (December 1979). Turning bread into stones: Our modern anti-miracle. American Psychologist, Vol. 34, No. 12, pp. 1119-1129.
  • Cummings, N.A. (1991). Arguments for the financial efficacy of psychological services in healthcare settings. In J.J. Sweet, R.G. Rozensky, & S.M. Tovian (Eds.). Handbook of clinical psychology in medical settings (Chapter 8, pp. 113-126). New York, NY: Plenum Publishing Corporation.
  • Cummings, N.A. & Follette, W.T. (1991). Medical cost offset: A reprinting of the seminal research conducted at Kaiser Permanente, 1963-1981. Reno, NV: Context Press. Cummings Foundation for Behavioral Health: Healthcare Utilization and Cost Series, Vol. 1
  • Cummings, N.A., Dorken, H., Pallak, M.S., & Henke, C. (1993). Medicaid, managed behavioral health, and implications for public policy: A report of the HCFA-Hawaii Medicaid Project and Other Readings. Reno, NV: Context Press. Cummings Foundation for Behavioral Health: Healthcare Utilization and Cost Series, Vol. 2.
  • Cummings, N.A., Dorken, H., & C.J. Henke. (1994) Medical costs, Medicaid, and manage mental healath treatment: The Hawaii Study. Managed Care Quarterly, Vol. 2, No. 2, pp. 64-70.
  • Cummings, N.A. (Ed.) (1995). The impact of the Biodyne Model on medical cost offset: A sampling of research projects. Reno, NV: Context Press. Cummings Foundation for Behavioral Health: Healthcare Utilization and Cost Series, Vol. 4.
  • Cummings, N., & Sayama, M. (1995). Focused psychotherapy: A casebook of brief, intermittent psychotherapy throughout the life cycle. New York, NY: Brunner/Mazel (now Brunner/Routledge, a subsidiary of Taylor and Francis).
  • Cummings, N.A., Pallak, M.S., & Cummings, J.L. (Eds.) (1996). Surviving the demise of solo practice: Mental health practitioners prospering in the era of managed care. Madison, CT: Psychosocial Press (an imprint of International Universities Press).
  • Cummings, N.A., Cummings, J.L., & Johnson, J.N. (Eds.). (1997). Behavioral health in primary care: A guide for clinical integration. Madison, CT: Psychosocial Press (an imprint of International Universities Press).
  • Cummings, N.A. (Summer 2000). The next phase in the evolution of behavioral care and its re-empowerment of the practitioner. The Independent Practitioner, Vol. 20, No. 3; Bulletin of he Psychologists in Independent Practice, a Division of the American Psychological Association.
  • Cummings, N.A. & Cummings, J.L. (2000). The essence of psychotherapy: Reinventing the art in the era of data. New York, NY: Academic Press.
  • Cummings, N.A. & Cummings, J.L. (2000). The first session with substance abusers: A step- by-step guide. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass (now John Wiley).
  • Cummings, N.A. (2001). A new vision of healthcare for America. In N.A. Cummings, H. Dorken, M.S. Pallak, & C.J. Henke (Eds.). Integrated behavioral healthcare: Prospects, issues, and opportunities (Chapter 2). New York, NY: Academic Press.
  • Cummings, N.A., O’Donohue, W., Hayes, S.C., & Follette, V. (Eds.). (2001). Integrated behavioral healthcare: Positioning mental health practice with medical/surgical practice. San Diego, CA: Academic Press.
  • Cummings, N.A. & Wiggins, J.G. (2001). A collaborative primary care/behavioral health model for the use of psychotropic medication with children and adolescents: The report of a national retrospective study. Issues in Interdisciplinary Care, Vol. 3, No. 2, pp. 121-128.
  • Wright, R. & Cummings, N. (Eds.). (2001). The practice of psychology: The battle for professionalism. Phoenix, AZ: Zeig, Tucker & Thiesen.
  • Cummings, N.A., O’Donohue, W.T., & Ferguson, K.E. (2002). The impact of medical cost offset on practice and research: Making it work for you. Reno, NV: Context Press. Cummings Foundation for Behavioral Health: Healthcare Utilization and Cost Series, Vol. 5.
  • Cummings, N.A., O’Donohue, W.T., & Ferguson, K.E. (2003). Behavioral health as primary care: Beyond efficacy to effectiveness. Reno, NV: Context Press. Cummings Foundation for Behavioral Health: Utilization and Cost Series, Vol. 6.
  • Cummings, N.A., O’Donohue, W.T., Duckworth, M., & Ferguson, K.E. (2004). Early detection and treatment of substance abuse within integrated primary care. Reno, NV: Context Press. Cummings Foundation for Behavioral Health: Healthcare Utilization and Cost Series, Vol. 7.
  • Cummings, N.A., O’Donohue, W.T., & Naylor, E.V. (2005). Psychological approaches to chronic disease management. Reno, NV: Context Press. Cummings Foundation for Behavioral Health: Healthcare Utilization and Cost Series, Vol. 8.
  • Cummings, N.A. (2005). Resolving the dilemmas in mental healthcare delivery: Access, stigma, fragmentation, conflicting research, politics and more. In N.A. Cummings, W.T. O’Donohue, & M.A. Cucciare (Eds.). Universal healthcare: Readings for mental health professionals. Reno, NV: Context Press. Cummings Foundation for Behavioral Health: Healthcare Utilization and Cost Series, Vol. 9.
  • Cummings, N.A., O’Donohue, W.T., & Cucciare, M.A. (2005). Universal healthcare: Readings for mental health professionals. Reno, NV: Context Press. Cummings Foundation for Behavioral Health: Healthcare Utilization and Cost Series, Vol. 9.
  • O’Donohue, W.T., Byrd, M.R., Cummings, N.A., & Henderson, D.A. (Eds.). (2005). Behavioral integrative care: Treatments that work in the primary care setting. New York, NY: Brunner-Routledge (Taylor and Francis Group).
  • Wright, R.H., & Cummings, N.A. (Eds.). (2005). Destructive trends in mental health: The well-intentioned path to harm. New York, NY: Routledge (Taylor and Francis Group).
  • O’Donohue, W.T., Cummings, N.A., Cucciare, M.A., Runyon, C.N., & Cummings, J.L. (Eds.). (2006). Integrated behavioral healthcare: A guide to effective intervention. Amherst, NY: Humanity Books (an imprint of Prometheus Books).
  • O’Donohue, W.T., Cummings, N.A., & Cummings, J.L. (Eds.). (2006). Clinical strateties for becoming a master psychotherapist. San Diego, CA: Academic Press (Elsevier).
  • Cummings, N.A., Cummings, J.L., & O’Donohue, W.T. (2008). We are not a healthcare business: Our inadvertent vow of poverty. Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy.
  • Cummings, N.A. & O’Donohue, W.T. (2008). Eleven blunders that cripple psychotherapy in America: A remedial unblundering. New York, NY: Brunner Routledge.
  • O’Donohue, W.T. & Cummings, N.A. (2008). Evidence-based adjunctive treatments. San Diego, CA: Elsevier (an imprint of Academic Press).
  • Cummings, N.A., O’Donohue, W.T., & Cummings, J.L. (Eds.). (2009). Psychology’s war on religion. Phoenix, AZ: Zeig, Tucker, and Theisen.
  • Cummings, N.A. & O’Donohue, W.T. (Eds.). (2011). Understanding the behavioral healthcare crisis: The promise of integrated care and diagnostic reform. New York, NY: Routledge.
  • Cummings, N.A. & O’Donohue, W.T. (Eds.). (2012). Restoring psychotherapy as the first line intervention in behavioral healthcare. Dryden, NY: Ithaca Press.
  • Walker, L.E., Cummings, D.M. & Cummings, N.A. (Eds.). (2012). Our broken family court system. Dryden, NY: Ithaca Press.
    • Cummings, N.A. & Cummings, J.L. (2013). Refocused psychotherapy as the first line intervention in behavioral health. New York, NY: Routledge)

[Translated into Mandarin, 2014, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Press.]

  • Cummings, N.A. (2016). Psyche’s prophet: The selected writings of Nicholas A. Cummings. New York, NY: Routledge (Taylor and Francis Group and World Library of Mental Health).

Interviews

Nicholas Cummings Ph.D. ’58: Unblundering Psychology Practice

Testimonials

“As a member of the AAPI community, I’m very familiar with the barriers to mental health services and the need to break through the glass wall of cultural stigma that prevents many from receiving potentially life–saving treatment. I was the only Asian American person in my master’s cohort, the only Asian American person in many of my clinical work settings, the only Asian American person to walk into many of the professional settings that I pushed myself to show up to. In my current practice, I’m constantly reminded by my patients of how difficult it is to find an Asian American mental health provider, though this reminder constantly informs me that more needs to be done for my community. Day after day, I read stories of Asian American people who die by suicide as a consequence of our culture’s avoidance of mental health topics. As a DBH, my biggest goal is to use my expertise in whole–person care to amplify the conversation around mental health and help my community understand that mental healthcare is not a privilege that we are not entitled to, it is a crucial part of our healthcare that will manifest differently in us than what many Western psychology or psychiatry textbooks will describe, and that our unique experience of mental health issues are valid, important, and is time to be part of the larger conversation.”

Willam Chum, LMHCDBH Candidate, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - September 16, 2022

“The DBH represents something that I've always embraced in my professional career. And that's collaboration and working across a lot of different disciplines to make sure you’re delivering the best care for the patient. Everything is about being patient centered about finding innovative ways and creative ways to collaborate with other professionals.”

CDR Sean K. Bennett, LCSW, MSWAC, BCDDBH Candidate, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - October 10, 2023

“This program will change how you present to the world, not just as a professional but as an individual. Understand this is work but the work is worth it and the journey is undeniably transformative. If you are seeking a doctorate for the title, this is not the program for you. If you are seeking a doctorate to interrupt and disrupt the course of healthcare, then this is the program for you. You won’t find a more supportive program with professors who are dedicated to your success and your education. This program is not about the regurgitation of information. It is about the appropriate applied application of knowledge and information to push forward and become an advocate for equitable and quality care for all.”

Brandy K. Biglow LMHC, CCTP, QSDBH Candidate, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - February 5, 2024

“The Doctor of Behavioral Health (DBH) program has definitely transformed my understanding of behavioral health. Understanding the links between physical and mental health has taught how to make better treatment decisions. The DBH program has also given me insights that otherwise would not be possible and allows me to view individuals through a lens that I was previously ignorant of. This program has helped me grow into a more confident individual, provider, and parent.”

Cory H. Cannady, BCBA, LBADBH Candidate, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - March 13, 2024

“The DBH program has been a pivotal turning point in my understanding and application of behavioral health principles. Recently, the concept of ‘whole person health’ has gained widespread attention in healthcare circles, becoming somewhat of a buzzword. Like many others, I embraced this term, believing in my capacity to deliver comprehensive care.

Prior to my engagement with the program, my approach, albeit well-intentioned, lacked an appreciation for the intricate interplay between physical and mental health. More importantly, the role of unmet social needs as a catalyst for health disparities was a dimension I had not fully integrated into my practice. The DBH program illuminated these connections, offering me a robust framework to understand and address the multifaceted needs of individuals, especially within marginalized communities.

Additionally, the confidence I have gained through the DBH program extends beyond theoretical knowledge. My role as a connector and advocate for these individuals has become more pronounced, driven by a deep-seated commitment to fostering accessibility, equity, and comprehensiveness in care.”

Michelle Stroebel MA, NCC, LCMHC, NADD-CCDBH Candidate, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - June 12, 2024

“I have worked in behavioral health for the entirety of my professional career starting with college internships up to my current role as Deputy Executive Commissioner of Behavioral Health for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. While I have years of experience in the field, the DBH program at Cummings has framed my perspective as leveraging therapy as a first line of intervention. As a public servant, much of the work I do is usually in the aftermath of crises or when the system is being forced to respond to a service gap. However, the DBH program takes a much more proactive and integrative approach to health. This perspective/approach has the potential to positively shape policy in Texas in my role as a public servant charged with addressing the safety net needs of the most vulnerable constituents in Texas.”

Trina K. Ita, MA, LPCDBH Candidate, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - July 10, 2024

“CGI feels like a community of long-lost cousins that finally met as adults and we realized that we share the same goals. The support from the faculty and classmates have been nothing short of amazing. I can reach out to my advisor at any given time to discuss course work, career endeavors, or to just vent about life. There is a feeling of closeness and belongingness at CGI that is just unmatched. I am very happy to be a member of the family and will continue to spread the word of how great this DBH program is.”

Michelle Francis, LCSW/LICSW-QSDBH Candidate, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - September 10, 2024

“The DBH program’s mission, purpose, and objective say it all: We strive for intentional care outcome improvement practices that exemplify whole person-centered integrated healthcare advanced competency. The program of study drives insights and awareness of the ever-changing patient population and multidisciplinary practice environments to change how the world experiences healthcare. This is further reinforced by the pillars of medical literacy, integrated behavioral health intervention, and entrepreneurship skills and expertise. Development growth is needed to prepare the aspiring DBH for the future of the shifting healthcare marketplace through international networking in a growing community of disruptive innovators and an evolving movement toward systemic healthcare change. I feel that I will be positioned alongside a fellowship of like-minded professionals trying to improve the quality of healthcare service delivery value and outcome sustainability.”

Jose Mathew, LCSW, LAC, ACS, EMDR-T, CCTP-IIDBH Candidate, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - October 8, 2024

“The DBH program has reinforced my vision of viewing behavioral health (BH) as an integrated component of the healthcare system rather than a siloed service. As a practitioner in the focused BH realm of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, I observe on a regular basis how identifying and serving SUD patients is often missed, ignored and stigmatized in primary healthcare, despite the fact that early intervention at these check-points often has the potential to intervene earlier and lessen the negative SUD outcomes frequently seen by the time a patient reaches specialty SUD services. Reinforcement received in my DBH program has motivated me to promote integration as a leader in my workplace and is a primary factor in considering the long-term trajectory of my individual career path.”

Kenneth L. Roberts, MPS, LPCC, LADCDBH Candidate, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - November 5, 2024

“By becoming a DBH, I have found that I am able to have different conversations with different people. Before having my doctorate degree, I was able to speak to certain items in behavioral health, but was only seen as a licensed therapist where as a doctor, I am able to speak to the changemakers and policy makers in a more collaborative manner which then allows us as a group to enhance the services we are providing. I also found that as a DBH, my confidence in the treatment room has improved immensely and cases that may have been more difficult for me before are no longer as difficult due to the training I have received in the program.”

Dr. Allison Earl, DBH, LPC-SDBH Alumna, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - November 13, 2024

“I think the DBH is quite groundbreaking, it allows you to study from anywhere in the world. The support is fantastic, and you can make out of the DBH what you want. Unlike standard professional doctorates, the DBH was trying to break new ground, not trying to go over just old ground. It greatly encourages its students to be those people who break new ground.

As a person who actually has a disability, I found CGI staff to be very supportive, very accommodating. If I need extensions, they are always there. In fact the staff will reach out and check on you, if they haven’t heard from you in a very short period of time. Which I have never had from any other university.

I find the community of fellow DBH students absolutely wonderful, we reach out across numerous social media platforms, we email each other. Doesn’t matter where I am in the world or where they are in the world, everyone is supportive. Its support, support and encouragement with the DBH.”

Jason P. Sargent, B Policing, GDip Psych, MSW, JPDBH Candidate, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - December 10, 2024

“Graduating from the DBH program has influenced and enhanced my approach to addressing behavioral health challenges and making a difference in the field by preparing me to become a serious business owner. Through the DBH program, I understand now that becoming a business owner not only assists me in reaping the financial benefits of working for myself, but the program also offers me a sense of freedom to make a difference in an individual’s life.”

Dr. Rebecca K. Wright, DBH, LBA, BCBA, QBADBH Alumna, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - December 18, 2024

“I have always wanted to pursue a higher degree but never found a program that met my needs. When I investigated the DBH program, I can honestly say I was excited. It was a program that would expand my knowledge in behavioral health but also how it relates to physical health. The philosophy of treating the whole person was exactly what I was looking for.”

Elizabeth Nekoloff, M.Ed., LPCC-S, NCCDBH Candidate, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - January 16, 2025

“Prior to obtaining my DBH, I practiced behavioral health within the boundaries of behavior analysis. The DBH degree has given me the ability to broaden my scope of competence allowing me to provide a higher quality of care to my clients through a person-centered approach, while still staying within my scope of practice. I was in the beginning stages of opening my business when I enrolled in the DBH program which set my trajectory towards being a stronger leader. The program equipped me with essential healthcare leadership and entrepreneurial skills, allowing me to ensure high-quality services for my clients and foster a supportive work environment for our staff. It has also given me the confidence to expand my business and pursue other healthcare ventures, reaching a broader range of patients in need.”

Dr. Pauline Tolentino Pablo, DBH, BCBA, IBADBH Alumna, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - January 21, 2025

“Although I have worked with many patients who have mental health diagnoses, or behaviors which make managing their medical diagnoses and day to day life difficult, the DBH program at CGI is broadening that knowledge and providing a deeper understanding of behavioral health and how best to help these individuals manage their health and improve their quality of life. This will allow me to provide and advocate for more meaningful and seamless integrated care, providing new tools for my intervention toolbox, and the confidence and skills to collaborate within and lead whole person focused interdisciplinary teams. I also anticipate building upon my knowledge as a nurse case manager and long time caregiver, as well as my personal passions and professional vision, learning about processes and operations, to be in position to start up and lead my own company one day, offering the services and care I know every person should have access to.”

Hollie Wilson, MSN, RN, CCMDBH Candidate, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - February 11, 2025

“The Doctor in Behavioral Health (DBH) program has changed my understanding of the subject and career path. Before this academic journey, my knowledge of behavioral health was primarily theoretical, including essential ideas and methods. However, the DBH curriculum combined intense academic research with practical application, helping me understand behavioral health from multiple angles. Recognizing mental health as part of total health changed my perspective. The biopsychosocial model, which showed how biological, psychological, and social variables affect mental health, was stressed in the DBH curriculum. This comprehensive approach made me realize how complex human behavior is and how important it is to address mental health issues. Effective interventions must target the individual’s surroundings, relationships, and life experiences, not just symptoms. The curriculum also gave me enhanced evidence-based practice training to execute successful solutions. Studies methods and data analysis classes improved my critical thinking and allowed me to evaluate and apply behavioral health studies. This gave me the confidence to contribute to the field’s knowledge base through practice and research.”

Dr. Rhea Hill, DBH, LPCDBH Alumna, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - February 17, 2025

“The DBH program will open opportunities for me to contribute to healthcare system innovation, particularly through trauma-informed care and integrated behavioral health settings. I will be better positioned to advocate for and implement holistic care models that improve health outcomes for underserved populations. Ultimately, this program will help me transition into higher-level roles, such as a director or consultant in behavioral health, where I can influence broader system changes and contribute to the future of healthcare delivery.”

DeKyn Rashad Peters, MPH-CHES,BSW/BA,APCDBH Candidate, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - March 4, 2025

“The DBH program has been integral in preparing me for leadership roles by providing a solid foundation in both the theoretical and practical aspects of leadership within the behavioral health sector. Through coursework, case studies, and hands-on experiences, I have learned to lead with empathy, data-driven decision-making, and strategic planning. The program has also honed my skills in organizational development, communication, and policy advocacy, equipping me to effectively lead teams, drive impactful change, and foster environments that promote positive behavioral health outcomes. With this training, I am confident in my ability to lead initiatives that address systemic barriers and improve care delivery.”

Dr. Jerrika Henderson, DBH, CMHCDBH Alumna, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - March 18, 2025

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