I am a clinical psychologist with over 27 years in
clinical practice. I serve as the
Coordinator of Clinical Training for the Masters in Clinical Psychology Program
and Co-coordinator of the Mindfulness in the Helping Professions Certificate
Program. I primarily teach in the
undergraduate program in psychology and several courses in the Mindfulness
Studies Concentration. I also teach Practicum and Internships Courses and
Introduction to Mindfulness in the Helping Professions to graduate students. My main interest area is mindfulness and its
effect on emotional and social well-being.
I am involved in several research projects which explore how mindfulness
develops emotional and social learning, which leads to better adaptation and higher
achievement in school.
I enjoy teaching at GSU. I take a practical and engaged approach to
teaching in which I encourage student involvement in the learning process. I like to get to know students and relate to
them as people. The courses that I teach
allow for me to help students apply what they are learning to their own lives. I believe that a good education helps a
student to grow as a person and not just in cognitive knowledge. Teaching
mindfulness oriented courses is especially rewarding. I have the opportunity to see students
gradually learn how to calm themselves and work with difficult emotions and
situations. Students often reflect how mindfulness makes a change in themselves
which in turn makes a big difference in how they experience their education and
their lives.
In the community I am also involved in projects
oriented to foster contemplative insight and wisdom. When a person decides to
seriously take up meditation it is important to have a group to attend to
encourage continued practice and development.
To help make this possible, I serve as a coordinator of a group of people
which provide free meditation every Tuesday in Matteson. We practice from the
Shambhala Meditation Tradition, which is Tibetan based lineage. Students, staff, and faculty from GSU are
welcomed to join and many do.
Similarly, my wife Karen and I are involved in the
World Community of Christian Meditators. We help to facilitate weekend retreats
and support meditation groups. We are in the process of designing and leading a
weekend on meditation, emotions, and self-knowledge. In our travels, we have the opportunity to
meet meditators throughout the U.S. and abroad. Like my experience at GSU, we are enriched
by the cultural diversity. I value
having my cultural assumptions challenged and experiencing the common human
ground from which we all can connect.
It is privilege to teach at GSU. I am glad to be a part of the learning
community. If you have not yet joined
us, I hope you will!
To view Dr. Pedigo's vitae, click here.