New hybrid format expands access to embodied mental health training beginning Summer 2026

In response to the national rise in demand for trauma-informed mental health care, Naropa University will launch a low-residency format of its Clinical Mental Health Counseling: Somatic Counseling concentration in Summer 2026. As the nation’s leading institution for contemplative higher education, Naropa is eager to provide one of the only accredited Somatic Counseling programs of its kind in the U.S. The offering enables aspiring therapists to pursue licensure-track training in body-centered counseling through a combination of online coursework and in-person retreat intensives held in Colorado.

The new low-residency modality mirrors the on-campus degree path in both curriculum and academic rigor. It is designed to serve working professionals, caregivers, and geographically distant students who seek access to Naropa’s established counseling training but cannot relocate to Boulder for the existing on-campus format. Students will complete asynchronous and synchronous online coursework while attending required in-person retreat intensives in Colorado, typically held twice annually. These intensives provide direct experience in movement practices, touch ethics, and somatic-based clinical skills in supervised group settings.

Graduates are typically eligible for licensure as professional counselors, depending on state requirements. Students enrolling in the Summer 2026 cohort may also remain eligible for Graduate PLUS loan forgiveness under current federal repayment plans, ahead of proposed U.S. Department of Education policy changes that may affect future borrowers.

"This expansion is about meeting the moment in a time when more people are facing the challenges of trauma, disconnection, and burnout,” said Heather Sutton, core faculty member in Naropa’s Somatic Counseling program. “Somatic counseling meets those challenges not just with insight, but with presence and recognition of the wisdom of the body. With this new low-residency format, we’re honoring the integrity of our training while making it possible for more students to step into this healing work, no matter where they live."

Meeting the Growing Need for Somatic Therapists

According to a 2024 report by Coherent Market Insights, the global somatic therapy market is projected to grow from $4.01 billion in 2025 to $12.40 billion by 2032. This anticipated 210% increase is driven by rising demand for integrative, trauma-informed care. Despite that growth, few graduate programs in the U.S. provide accredited training in somatic modalities.

Rooted in contemplative education and embodied practices, Naropa’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling: Somatic Counseling concentration trains students in body-based therapeutic methods alongside clinical mental health counseling, equipping them to work with trauma, grief, addiction, and related challenges through evidence-informed and experiential techniques.

Amidst the shifting landscapes of higher education and mental health care, Naropa’s low-residency Somatic Counseling concentration offers both practical flexibility and spiritual depth for those who may have never had access to this type of education and program before. To learn more or apply for the low-residency cohort, visit: https://www.naropa.edu/programs/graduate-academics/clinical-mental-health-counseling/somatic-counseling/

About Naropa University

Naropa University, nestled in Boulder, Colorado, was established in 1974 by Tibetan Buddhist teacher Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche. Drawing its name and inspiration from the teachings of the 11th-century Indian Buddhist sage Naropa, this private university stands out distinctly among America’s higher education landscape in its effort to integrate eastern wisdom with traditional western scholarship. Recognized as the pioneering force behind contemplative higher education and the start of the modern mindfulness movement, Naropa University is the sole institution to integrate a university-wide contemplative pedagogical approach. At Naropa, education transcends the ordinary; the institution embraces the entirety of its students—mind, body and spirit—augmenting traditional methodologies with practices like meditation. Since receiving its accreditation in 1986, Naropa University consistently upholds the exacting standards for quality and accountability set by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Learn more at naropa.edu.

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