Driving Systemic Change: Nikole R. Jiggetts on Shaping the Future of Integrated Behavioral Healthcare

Nikole R. Jiggetts, a licensed clinical social worker and current Doctor of Behavioral Health (DBH) student at Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies, is a Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor, Certified Trauma Practitioner, and author with over two decades of experience serving children, adolescents, and families. She holds an MSW from Virginia Commonwealth University and specializes in expressive therapies—including play, art, and yoga—to support healing and growth. In addition to her clinical practice, Nikole serves as an adjunct professor, life coach, parenting consultant, and Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT). She delivers professional training to mental health clinicians both locally in the Virginia tri-state area and virtually nationwide. In this interview, Nikole discusses her commitment to equity and access in healthcare, her decision to pursue the DBH, and how the program has deepened her expertise in evidence-based practices and quality improvement strategies aimed at transforming the healthcare system.

How has the DBH program influenced your approach to behavioral health?

My interest in becoming a DBH was due to frustration with how our healthcare systems are not fully meeting the needs of patients. In my research, many core reasons have been identified for this system not working. As I look further into the statistical reports of patient outcomes, addressing healthcare equity becomes essential in my work. My view has been more focused on how healthcare should become more integrated and consider the patient’s intersectional identities, the prevalence of potential mechanisms of depression, and social health determinants that contribute to the chronic health conditions linked to mental health to increase treatment outcomes and treatment adherence. Addressing the rising healthcare costs, eroding education, inadequate housing, and food insecurities are just some of the social determinants of health that prevent all people from receiving equitable care.

What are your future career goals, and how do you envision the DBH program contributing to your success?

My professional goals align with my academic interest as courses focus on health equity, quality in healthcare, and the mind-body connection, addressing treating the patient holistically. In my career, encouraging patients to advocate for their health concerns during their healthcare visit places more responsibility on the patient and not as much on the physician or system to change. Shifting the responsibility to be shared begins with the physician’s approach to treating patients, starting with their assessment of the patient. Emphasis on asking assessment questions about the social determinants of health and health equity is the driving force in supporting patients with medical advice adherence and lifestyle behavioral changes. By focusing on early education and health literacy, I aim to shape the attitudes of future providers, helping them recognize the critical role of behavioral health in holistic patient care before they begin treating patients. This shift could be foundational in creating a culture that values collaboration and comprehensive care across disciplines.

The goal would be for future physicians to seamlessly integrate behavioral health concepts into their practice, prioritizing them as part of comprehensive patient care. The objective measure of success will be when patients experience unfragmented but cohesive healthcare, where their physical and behavioral health needs are treated as interconnected, not separate.

Can you share an experience that shaped your understanding of integrated behavioral healthcare?

A memorable moment on my DBH journey was when my abstract was accepted for a digital poster presentation for the ICICI25 (International Conference on Integrated Care). Acceptance into an international integrated conference is validating and confirming that my interest in helping to revamp our healthcare system is relevant and necessary. The poster presentation is Rooting Resilience: Cultivating Mental Health and Physical Health to Safeguard Kidney Function. This topic is close to home as not only did I have a family member who suffers from chronic kidney disease, but I have also had friends who suffer from kidney failure, and we’re fortunate to receive a kidney transplant. Some of their medical conditions were genetic and unavoidable, but many of the patients with chronic kidney disease also have Co-occurring chronic illnesses that are preventable. The goal would be to educate physicians, generalists, internists, pediatricians, and GYNs on screening and recognizing the beginning symptoms of chronic diseases as fundamental in detecting the start of chronic kidney disease.

What fuels your passion for advancing integrated behavioral health, and how do you stay motivated?

Often, the occurrence of comorbidity of mental and physical symptoms is not as recognizable in medical settings, and changes in assessment approaches are needed to improve patient prognosis. Over the last year as a DBH-C, my motivation has increased as I am more involved with my patients and have proven some success. My interest in the patient’s health disparities drives me to be more involved in their healthcare, not just their mental health. Providing psychotherapy over a decade after working in multidisciplinary teams has afforded me to be hands-on in the best practice for patients. Encouraging patients to sign releases for collaboration with their physicians, psychiatrists, pediatricians, and even school personnel (for younger patients) has proven effective in treatment, aside from encouraging the patient to self-advocate. Although this is not an integrated approach, it is a collaborative approach that is a step away from being siloed.

What innovative approaches or strategies do you believe can revolutionize the behavioral health landscape?

My approach to revolutionizing healthcare has two parts. The first part is providing quality care by using patient outcomes based on aftercare surveys on provider care, and the second is providing education to medical providers on utilizing patient outcomes to improve quality care to meet the needs of the patients efficiently. Research shows that it is necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of communication between the patient and provider. Without evidence-based practices and systematic reviews, the definition of quality cannot be measured. With the current system where physicians focus on how to “fix” the patient, we will continue to stumble upon the same issues. Disrupting this pattern of problem-focus to strength-based holistic care is the goal. Delivering efficient and relevant provider education, successful patient outcomes, improving patient-provider communication, and increasing access to healthcare through health literacy are some ways that I can transform healthcare.

What are your future career goals, and how do you envision the DBH program contributing to your success?

My vision is to go beyond an advocate for my patients, and instead of calling team meetings, as we all work in silos, work in hospital systems, family practice, or a pediatrician’s office to bring more of an integrated approach systematically. The other option is to remain an entrepreneur and continue instructing on the collegiate level to bring more DBHs to the integrated healthcare field while contracting with healthcare systems delivering provider education and quality improvement projects to transform the healthcare setting.

What advice would you give to prospective students or professionals considering the DBH program?

The advice I would have to offer fellow students and professionals who are interested in the DBH program would be to understand that there is great responsibility in becoming a disruptor of the healthcare system and without the coursework and encouragement to shift my silo thinking into an integrative approach, it would have been more challenging to make the impact of which I feel our system is in dire need. Our role as a DBH is more than just focusing on integrated behavioral healthcare within primary care; it is also focusing on all issues in life stressors that arise and impact our patients. Many of my colleagues in my cohort are clinicians, ABAs, nurse practitioners, and educators in the school, and collective backgrounds are required to make an impact on employing evidence-based practices and quality improvement approaches to disrupt our healthcare system.

Nikole R. Jiggetts exemplifies the profound impact that integrative, person-centered care can have in reshaping our healthcare landscape. With a steadfast commitment to equity, innovation, and collaboration, she is not only addressing complex behavioral health challenges but also paving the way for systemic transformation. Her work reminds us that disrupting the status quo requires both courage and compassion—qualities she brings to every facet of her professional life. As she continues to lead with vision and purpose, Nikole stands as a powerful example of how Doctors of Behavioral Health can bridge gaps in care, advance health equity, and build a future where holistic, integrated care is not the exception but the standard.

Connect with Nikole R. Jiggetts

Instagram: @replay_counseling
Linkedin: Nikole Jiggetts
Website: replaycounselingcenter.com

Nikole Shares Her Commitment to Integrated Behavioral Healthcare

Nikole Shares Her Vision for the Future After Earning Her DBH

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