Research Interests

Health Psychology, Stress Physiology, Psychosocial Determinants of Health, Meditation,  Behavior Change, Complimentary and Integrative Health.

Biography

Professor Megan Lipsett, Ph.D., M.A., RYT, NBC-HWC, is department chair of Integrative Health Studies, where her focus in on training integrative health professionals in socially- and ecologically-informed integrative behavioral health interventions. Megan holds a Ph.D. in Social Health Psychology from the University of Oregon, an M.A. in Integrative Health Studies from CIIS, and was a predoctoral research fellow of Clinical and Translational Research at Oregon Health Science University’s School of Medicine. Megan is also a qualified instructor of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). Her research interest is in complimentary and integrative health approaches to prevention of chronic illness and co-morbid psychosocial distress, with a special interest in mindfulness-based interventions for groups that experience higher rates of adversity, stigma, and health inequities. Drawing from health psychology, social psychology, clinical psychology, contemplative science, and health neuroscience, she aims to contribute to translational research that identifies biopsychosocial factors of stress resilience and ultimately impacts policy and social change. She explores how socialized beliefs influence emotion regulation and health-relevant behaviors and is interested in the role of adversity, belonging, and self-concept in health outcomes and goal-attainment. She collects noninvasive biomarkers in order to understand how contextual social and environmental factors influence psychological well-being and health. Additionally, she is interested in social-ecological approaches to community-based health promotion.

Megan has a thriving integrative health coaching practice and is the founder of COPIA Health, a company dedicated to teaching integrative, mindful, and sustainable lifestyle practices for individual, community, and environmental flourishing. She has done program development and facilitation for diverse organizations, including integrative medicine centers, transitional women's homes, social worker training centers, environmental awareness groups, benefit corporations, and health and wellness centers.

Megan's courses focus on both experiential and scientific knowledge, supporting students in establishing meditative practices, integral lifestyle practices, social and cultural awareness, personal and community empowerment, social equality, and wellness entrepreneurship. She teaches Mindfulness and Stress Physiology, Sustainable Health and Ecological Resilience, and the Wellness Entrepreneurship. Read more about these courses on the Master's in Integral Health program page.

Education

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Social Psychology, University of Oregon, Social Affective Neuroscience Lab, 2024

Certificate in Human Investigations, Oregon Health Sciences University’s School of Medicine & Oregon Clinical and Translational Institute, 2024

Master of Arts (M.A.), Integrative Health Studies, California Institute of Integral Studies, 2011

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Summa Cum Laude, Psychology, University of Colorado at Boulder, 2006                            

Awards & Distinctions

Predoctoral Research Fellowship, Clinical and Translational Research (TL1 equivalent), (Expected completion Spring 2023), Oregon Health Sciences University’s School of Medicine & Oregon Clinical and Translational Institute GEC Award for Positive Change, University of Oregon, 2022

Grant from the Center for Science Communication Research, School of Journalism and Communication, University of Oregon: “Preventing Type 2 Diabetes through using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Principles to Target Illness Perceptions and Controllability Awareness in Educational Materials”, 2020-2022

GEC Research Award, Graduate School, University of Oregon, 2019

Courses

Mindfulness and Stress Physiology

Sustainable Health and Ecological Resilience 

Contemporary Topics in Integrative 

Health Integrative Seminar

Publications

Lipsett, M., Berkman, E., & Creswell, D. (in review). Habits of Mind: Mindful Awareness from a Habits Framework, APA Books.  

Lipsett, M., & Berkman, E. (in prep). Psychological Determinants of Diabetes Prevention and Management Behaviors and Related Distress: The Key Role of Controllability Awareness and Psychological Flexibility.  

Lipsett, M., Mendes, S., Wyant-Stein, K., Berger, E., Zalewski, M. & Cioffi, C., (in prep). Dissemination Strategies to Address Stigma and Improve Quality of Care for Parents with Substance Use Disorders, Frontiers in Psychiatry - Addiction Disorders.  

Lipsett, M., Smith, B., Mantell, B., Berkman, E., (in review). Psychological, behavioral, and neural adaptations following self-regulatory errors and their relationship to dietary behavior, Frontiers in Human Neuroscience.

Lipsett, M. & Creswell, D. (in prep). Mindful Response to Adversity: A brief Stress Resilience Training.