Ready to Expand Your Scope? Introducing an Integrative Mental Health Certification for Acupuncturists

A patient comes in for insomnia, but you find out anxiety is also an issue. Another seeks help for headaches and shares that work stress has been affecting their sleep. These concerns are increasingly common. A 2024 poll found that 28% of Canadians said mental-health symptoms were affecting their daily functioning, while 12% reported high anxiety.

As an acupuncturist, you already talk about mental and emotional health with your patients. Working with the concerns safely and confidently, though, takes more specialized training.

Starting in January 2027, CITCM will offer a new continuing education program for acupuncturists: the Advanced Certification in Integrative Mental Health Care with Chinese Medicine, created together with the American Institute of Mental Health in Traditional Chinese Medicine (AIMHTCM). This program builds on your clinical experience and combines Ben Shen theory and Chinese medicine with trauma-informed communication, neuropsychiatric basics, and the latest research. Patient safety, clear boundaries, and proper referral guidelines are always a focus.

This program is for practitioners who already have a solid clinical background and want to learn more about the mental and emotional aspects of patient care.

Over 122 contact hours and about 300 total study hours, you will take part in online courses, in-person classes, clinical observation, case discussions, and mentored practice. The program starts with theory and moves toward practical skills.

• Strengthen your understanding of integrative mental health care. Learn how the Ben Shen system applies to psycho-emotional health in Chinese medicine.
• Learn practical treatment strategies. Deepen your knowledge of acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, wellness practices, and supportive communication for the issues you already see in your clinic.
• Improve how you handle complex cases. Study current mental health research, evidence-based practice, clinical safety, and learn when to collaborate or refer patients.
• Put your training into practice with real clinical cases. You will take part in clinical observation, complete capstone case studies, and do 24 hours of mentored independent clinical work.

You will be taught by instructors who have decades of experience in both traditional Chinese medicine and mental health.

Professor Changqing (Joseph) Yang, PhD, L.Ac., founder of the Ben Shen (Rooted Spirit) clinical system, brings more than 40 years of clinical, academic, and research experience, including specialized training in psychiatry, to this program, where he serves as lead instructor. He currently serves as president of AIMHTCM.

Dr. Xia Cheng, PhD, Dr. Ac., founding director of CITCM, completed her Master’s Degree in Medicine and Acupuncture at Tianjin College of TCM in 1987 and earned her PhD in medicine from Chengdu College of TCM in 1990, specializing in Acupuncture and Chronomedicine. With more than 20 years of clinical experience as a physician, herbalist, and acupuncturist, she has taught at several institutions, worked extensively with international students, directs the BodyMind Synergy Health Centre, and serves as Vice President of the Alberta Association of Acupuncturists and Traditional Chinese Medical Doctors.

You already see mental and emotional health issues in your treatment room, often together with physical problems like digestive changes, ongoing worry, low energy, or trouble sleeping.

Advanced training helps you spot these patterns more clearly and decide which ones you can treat.

In this program, you will deepen your skills in Ben Shen observation and pattern recognition for psycho-emotional issues. You will also learn herbal strategies and acupuncture for mental health, lifestyle and wellness approaches based on Chinese medicine, trauma-informed communication, neuropsychiatric basics, current research, and how to spot safety concerns and know when to refer.

This training also helps you explain your role to other healthcare providers. When a doctor, psychologist, or counselor refers a patient to you, they will better understand how TCM fits into the patient’s care. You will also know when a concern is outside TCM’s scope and when to refer or work with other professionals.

If you want to address psycho-emotional concerns more intentionally in your practice, this training will help you feel more confident with complex cases and make it easier to work with other healthcare professionals.

This program is for acupuncturists and TCM practitioners who want to deepen their skills in psycho-emotional health and add specialized training to their practice.

Eligible applicants include Registered Acupuncturists, Registered TCM Practitioners, and Registered Doctors of Traditional Chinese Medicine in good standing. Regulated healthcare professionals authorized to practice acupuncture and final-year students in accredited acupuncture or TCM programs may also apply.

If your patients already come to you with stress, sleep problems, anxiety, mood issues, grief, or other emotional concerns, this program offers a clear clinical framework for addressing these topics.

The first group for CITCM’s Advanced Certification in Integrative Mental Health Care with Chinese Medicine starts in January 2027.

Find out more and apply now.