WITH AN EMPHASIS IN SOMATIC INTEGRATION THERAPY

An immersive, 1-year online certification program

taught by Dr. Leanne Whitney and Shilah Sarkissian CPC, E-RYT 500

This program was born out of a desire to create an offering that reflected the importance of both an academic and embodied educational experience.

In our own roles in our respective professions, we have found that now is the time to bridge any gaps between mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual approaches.

We are both seekers and Yogis at heart, and with our combined backgrounds we have sought to create something that sits at the intersection of science and spirituality and synthesises the mental, emotional, physical and spiritual aspects of the human experience.

We also recognize the desire of serious students to want an outside body to provide accreditation to the program. This gives confidence not only in the curriculum but also to your future clients.

“Our bodies are constantly giving us clues to the unified field that we live in. We must relearn how to hear the language.”

— Dr. Leanne Whitney

Download the program guide to read an in-depth breakdown of the course structure, certifications, and what will be covered over the yearlong curriculum.

This is a multi-modality, 3-semester online program that will give students a comprehensive academic and embodied educational experience.

Upon successful completion of the academic year, internship, and one-on-one mentorship, students will be awarded three certifications:

1) Certified Transformational Coach

2) Somatic Integration Therapist

3) Certified Meditation and Breathwork Teacher

Hear from some of my past coaching clients and students:

  • "I strongly recommend Leanne for any individual seeking to gain a deeper understanding of themselves. I feel that her knowledge and understanding, paralleled by her strong healing abilities, in combination with her uniting philosophy, are essential for healing and the antidote to our world that is currently very divided."

    MM

  • "I engaged Leanne as a transformational coach to assist me in addressing some very specific and unique issues. I have engaged dozens, if not hundreds of consultants in my life. Leanne is A+!; she is highly skilled and gives 100%. It's very hard to find someone like that. I could not have imagined finding someone as good as she is, and the results were better than I could have imagined. She's extraordinary."

    As reviewed on LinkedIn

  • "Dr. Leanne Whitney has been tremendously instrumental in helping me regain focus on my dreams and goals. My emotional responses were getting the best of me when I was faced with adversity. However, through my work with Leanne I learned the importance of being able to validate my anger and pain without being the cause of additional anger and pain in the process. Once I was able to consistently implement that approach, the people I was having issues with finally had the energy to hear my side of the story."

    As reviewed on Facebook

  • "Dr. Whitney was an absolute Godsend! She is absolutely engrossed in sharing her gifts and medicine through her life work. She was crucial in the emotional development of myself and my partner. The wisdom and tools shared, the deep listening and profound questions for consideration, the guidance, teachings - all were critical in our having a healthier relationship today. Forever grateful. Thank you."

    As reviewed on LinkedIn

  • "I have been working with Dr. Leanne Whitney for 2 years now and I genuinely consider her a gift from The Universe. My personal transformation speaks to not only Dr. Leanne's skill set to listen to what is not being said, but also to her incredible insight on what it means to be human: our struggles, patterns, conditioning, as well as our soul's deep desire to BE in alignment with ourselves and the Universal Spirit. Her deep knowledge, understanding, and integration of the Yoga Sutras and Jung's depth psychology make her a powerhouse!"

    As reviewed on Facebook

  • "I very much enjoyed your presentation, particularly your delivery. It is remarkable how your pauses, metaphors, and anecdotes helped to make the teachings more accessible and understandable. Oftentimes, when you would pause and gesture with your hands to demonstrate pure consciousness—that was profound—and I could feel our collective understanding."

    Yoga Teacher Trainee, 2019

  • "Your passion and clear understanding of this subject and this work is so apparent and comes through so powerfully in your way of teaching. It isn't the most widely approachable or "popular" material, but the way you use metaphor and your physical body to teach is very engaging. Thank you. I look forward to learning more."

    Yoga Teacher Trainee, 2019

  • "First of all, your energy is infectious and so refreshing. I felt engaged from the start. Your ability to break down such heavy, often unfamiliar information and make it applicable to our current, everyday existence was awesome. Beyond the transmission of your extensive knowledge was your sincere passion for the work you're doing, which inspires me to approach this work with respect, curiosity, and appreciation. I so look forward to letting all of this integrate and see how my journey will improve + deepen because of it."

    Molly McMillin, RYT

  • "Leanne's online courses dive deep with information and insight, into the teachings of Jung and Patañjali. The setting is intimate, comfortable, and inclusive. I love that we all had the opportunity to ask questions and have dialogue, at any point during her presentations. Get ready—they're PACKED with facts, information, and recommended readings. Don't worry though, they're recorded, so you can listen to the audio again and again. Leanne is filled with knowledge, embodied wisdom, and genuine joy. She has a natural ability to make Pañjali's Yoga Sutras understandable, and to relate them to all aspects of our human experience. I've only touched the tip of the iceberg that is her offerings, yet I have no doubt that she will continue to be one of my greatest teachers."

    As reviewed on Facebook

  • "Dr. Leanne Whitney truly embodies what she teaches! Even after 45 years of meditation and of reading numerous renditions of Patanjali's Sutras, my taking her course recently on the Sutras has given me more clarity, understanding, and love of the Gift of Yoga. Her background in depth psychology blends perfectly with the ancient yogic wisdom; in fact, it makes her presentation so much more relatable to the Western 'thinker." Leanne is totally approachable & desires her students to ultimately realize Patanjali's treatise on Real Liberation, and live it. If only our ailing world could genuinely taste some of the wisdom transmitted in her wonderful 5 week interactive video course... Oh, and her book, CONSCIOUSNESS IN JUNG AND PATANJALI, is superb and perfect for those who aim to transform to the good.”

    As reviewed on Facebook

  • "This course was all that I expected and more. Bringing the wisdom of yoga, depth psychology, and affective neuroscience together with resources and grounding practices made for a very rich experience in a short 7 weeks time! Most importantly, Shilah and Leanne provided a welcoming and supportive safe space to allow and encourage the challenge of transformation to happen. I highly recommend this course for anyone ready and willing to take a deeper look into themselves and are open to change and grow, to curiosity and wonder."

    John Chovan

  • "Thank you for the wonderful class! It was full of so much information and I loved the Saturday morning classes. I’ve learned a lot about the mind/heart/gut connection, our nervous system and the subtle body, and how we can work with them to balance our bodies. I have a deeper connection to my body now and will use the tools I learned to further my exploration. I highly recommend this course to anyone who is looking to go within and feel supported in a loving community."

    Shelly Mead

  • "Before taking Behind the Asanas with Dr.Leanne Whitney, I didn’t understand what it meant to “go within.” Unfortunately, I was rushing through life and reacting to my environment without listening from within. Dr. Leanne’s teachings have helped me “go within.” I started to feel and listen to what my body and my heart was telling me. Now, I am learning that my body, heart and mind are connected. Certainly, I highly recommend taking any of her courses, as she comes from a heart centered place. Without any doubt, you will be able to receive the teachings and be transformed."

    Facebook review, 2021

The following are some of the concepts, theories and practices we cover in our training. Please note this is not the entire curriculum; it is meant to give an overview of the course by semester.

Semester 1

Education of Theory and Practices

  • Attachment Patterns and The Neurobiology of We

  • Jungian Concepts - Typology, Complexes, Archetypes of the Collective Unconscious, Shadow work and Synchronicity

  • Depth Psychological Work including Inner Work, Dreamwork and Active Imagination

  • Transpersonal and Spiritual Psychology

  • Myth and Story

  • Biology including modules on: The Awakened Brain & the Achieving Brain, Affective Neuroscience, & Polyvagal Theory

  • Embodiment & Emotional Regulation

  • Trauma & Healing Through Somatic Processing & Integration

  • The Tools of Somatic Therapy

  • Internal Resourcing

  • Yogic Philosophy & Practice

  • Meditation & Pranayama

  • Ecopsychology

  • The Effects of Rites of Passage and Ritual

  • Whole-Hearted Living and Narratives of Integration

  • Ancestral Healing and Rituals

Semester 3

Final Project

  • Each participant will submit a final project that demonstrates competency, creativity and integration of material learned.

  • The final project is self-paced with a 3-month window from initiation to submission and completion.

Semester 2

Applications of Education and Core Competencies

  • The Application of Depth Psychological Concepts in Coaching

  • The Application of Attachment Theory in Coaching

  • Core Competencies for Transformational Coaches

  • Core Competencies for Somatic Integration Therapists

  • Self Regulation as a Service Provider

  • Boundaries as a Service Provider

  • Transference and Countertransference

  • Leading Yoga Nidra

  • Creating and Leading Meditations

  • Building your Business

    • Creation

    • Curation

    • Ethical and Aligned Marketing and Growth

  • The step-by-step way to guide clients through the Center for Transformation and Integration’s The Somatic Integration Method

Semester 4 (Optional)

Additional Mentorship Modules

  • Coaching The Person Not The Problem

  • Deeper Listening

  • Strengthening Your Skills Through Practical Application

  • The Styles of Learning and Their Applications in Coaching

  • Dealing with Challenging Clients and Situations

  • 16 hours of Practice Coaching

  • Supervised Individual or Small Group Mentor Hours

Registration

Registration for the September 2026–September 2027 cohort opens soon.

If you would like to sign up for the waitlist and be notified once we begin accepting applications, please send us a message to indicate your interest and we will contact you shortly!