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Courses taught at Saybrook University (Humanistic & Clinical MA & PsyD programs, 2022-2026)

Applied Positive Psychology

Clinical Interventions I

Group Processes & Group Therapy

Meaning Centered Counseling and Therapy

Psychology, Religion and Spirituality in their Cultural Contexts

Psychopathology and Diagnosis

Social Psychology

Systems of Psychotherapy

Transpersonal Psychology

Personality Theory

MA Project Advisor

Dissertation Chair, Reader, Methodologist

Courses taught at The Michigan School of Psychology (Humanistic MA & PsyD programs, 2008-20018)

Clinical Skills

Core Concepts in Humanistic Psychology Existential & Phenomenological Psychology

Foundations of Couple and Family

Foundations of Psychopathology

Fundamentals of Research

Group Process

Identity and Family

Key Processes in Psychotherapy

Practicum Seminar

Thesis Advisor

Dissertation Chair, Reader, Methodologist

Courses taught at Oakland Community College (2001-2003) Two years

Intro to Psychology

Abnormal Psychology

Psychology of Adjustment

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Michigan School of Professional Psychology Outstanding Service Award (2018)

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Michigan School of Professional Psychology Outstanding Service Award (2018)

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For outstanding service and contributions to the Michigan School of Professional

Psychology, commitment to teaching and training, and reflections of the principles of

humanistic psychology

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Dissertations:

1.        The Development of Eating Disorders as a Maladaptive Coping Mechanism to the Strong Black Woman Schema. Narrative Inquiry. (Chair)

2.        Creating A Culture of Belief: A Case Study on the Influences of Societal Beliefs on Traditional Women College Students’ Perceptions of College Reporting Strategies and Feelings of Safety on Campus.  Narrative Inquiry. (Chair)

3.        How do pregnant women experience prenatal healthcare? Narrative Inquiry. (Chair)

4.        Examining the Mental Health Impacts of Disability (Chair).

5.        Queer Transpersonal Identity Formation & Enactment Through Involvement in Social Liberation Movements. Narrative Inquiry. (Chair).

6.        Navigating Acceptance: A Qualitative Study on the Lived Experience of Mexican Parents Raising Gay Son(s). Heuristic Inquiry. (Methodologist).

7.        The Parallels Between Traumatic Bonding and Addiction. An Inductive and Deductive Thematic Analysis. (Methodologist)

8.        The Lived Experience of Yoga, for People with Mood Disorders. Narrative Inquiry. (Reader).

9.        Assessing Effort in Non-English Speaking, Limited English Proficiency, and English as a Second Language People’s During the Psychological Portion of a Social Security Disability Evaluation. A Thematic Analysis. (Reader) Stephen Sprague

10.  Gay Men’s Lived Experience With Substance Use Disorder. Narrative Inquiry. (Chair)

11.  What is the Clinicians experience of Animal-assisted Psychotherapy? A Transcendental Phenomenological Investigation. (Reader)

12.  What is the Adult Woman’s Experience of the Death of Her Mother Due to Illness During Her Middle Childhood? A Heuristic Inquiry. (Reader)

13.  Re-Imaging Masculinity: The Sacred Masculine Archetype as Revealed in Four Cultural Artifacts. A Cultural Hermeneutic Investigation. (Reader)

14.  Examining the Use of False Identities in Online Dating. A Consensual Qualitative Research (Reader)

15.  The New Mother’s Experience of Modern-Motherhood. A Heuristic Inquiry. (Reader)

16.  Apprehending Nature and the Responsibility to Care in a Time of Climate Change: A Mixed Methods Study. (Reader)

17.  How Do Clinicians Experience Their Own Mental Health Challenges While Providing Treatment? A Heuristic Study (Reader)

18.  The Experience of Burnout in Early Career Psychologists. A Transcendental Phenomenological Investigation. (Reader)

19.  The Single Mother’s Experience of the Empty Nest: The Liberated Mother. A Transcendental Phenomenological Investigation. (Reader)

20.  Long Term Recovery in Men. A heuristic inquiry. (Reader)

21.  The Experience of Coming out as an Atheist. A heuristic Inquiry. (Reader)

Theses & MA Capstones

1.        The Experience of foster care workers interacting with the Department of Human Services. A heuristic inquiry. (Chair)

2.        The Therapist’s Experience of Psychotherapy with Someone with Alzheimer’s Disease. A Transcendental Phenomenological Investigation. (Chair)

3.        How Does a Psychotherapist Experience Altruism? A Heuristic Inquiry. (Chair)

4.        The Experience of Living with Psychogenic Non-epileptic Seizures. A Transcendental Phenomenological Investigation. (Chair)

5.        The Experience of Recovery for Adult Children of Alcoholic and Dysfunctional Families. A Heuristic Inquiry. (Chair)

6.        A Surgeon’s Experience of the Process of Addiction and Recovery. A Heuristic Inquiry. (Chair)

7.        A mother’s experience of the “empty nest”. A Heuristic Inquiry. (Chair)

8.        The Need For Veterinary Therapists: A training curriculum. (Chair)

9.        We Know Better, Why Don’t We Do Better? Accommodations in Higher Ed: An advocacy primer. (Chair).

10.  The Development of Eating Disorders as a Maladaptive Coping Mechanism to the Strong Black Woman Schema. A literature review. (Chair)

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(2025) Residential Learning Event - Saybrook University

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Selected Lecture - Critical Conversations: Social Justice and the Role of the Psychologist Advocate

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Selected Lecture - Critical Conversations: Social Justice and the Role of the Psychologist Advocate

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(2025) Residential Learning Event - Saybrook University

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Selected Lectures - 1) Djembe as a Justice, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (JEDI) Tool 2) This is Your Brain on Djembe: Neuropsyc & Psychospiritual Benefits of Hand Drumming

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Selected Lectures - 1) Djembe as a Justice, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (JEDI) Tool 2) This is Your Brain on Djembe: Neuropsyc & Psychospiritual Benefits of Hand Drumming

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King, B., Krippner, S., & Morningstar, S. (in press). Interaction of Rhythmic Stimulation and Non-Ordinary Consciousness

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Book Chapter -  Interaction of Rhythmic Stimulation and Non-Ordinary Consciousness

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Book Chapter -  Interaction of Rhythmic Stimulation and Non-Ordinary Consciousness

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Abstract

Predating complex language, rhythm stands as one of the most pervasive and enduring elements of human life. Percussion instruments, chanting, and vocalizations formed core aspects of early human communication. This chapter explores the ways by which rhythmic patterns such as drumming, chanting, and other repetitive auditory and kinesthetic stimuli facilitate entrance into non-ordinary consciousness, positioning rhythmic entrainment as a fundamental pathway to consciousness alteration and its specific capacity to induce hypnotic and trance conditions deserves examination. Drawing from neurophysiological research, anthropological evidence, and experimental studies, it further discusses the use of rhythm in shamanic practices and Indigenous technologies such as prayer and meditative chants, suggesting that rhythmic stimulation creates shared neurophysiological experiences that have therapeutic, spiritual, and social applications from ancient shamanic practices to contemporary clinical interventions. Finally, this chapter addresses the place of rhythm in contemporary times, demonstrating that the human affinity for rhythm is here to stay, even amidst rapid advancements in artificial intelligence and technology (Nayak et al., 2022).

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King, B. & Lac, V. (2026) Existential-Humanistic Animal-Assisted Psychotherapy.

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Integrating existential-humanistic psychology into existing frameworks of animal-assisted psychotherapy requires us to apply a relational- and process-driven modality to an historically task-oriented methodology. This chapter offers an overview of the historical and current practices of animal-assisted psychotherapy and introduces existential-humanistic Animal-Assisted Psychotherapy as an emergent perspective that includes the relational ethics and welfare of both human and animals.

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Dr. Betz King is a clinical psychologist and full professor in Saybrook's Clinical Humanistic Psychology program. With over two decades of clinical experience, her research focuses on the intersection of existential-humanistic psychology, human-animal interactions and seasonal spiritual wisdom.

Dr. King's notable contributions include

🐾 research on the correlation between dog park membership and life satisfaction

🐾 the development of an existential-humanistic animal-assisted psychotherapy model featured in the Handbook of Humanistic & Existential Psychology (2026).

🐾 the creation of a canine-assisted psychotherapy model.

She is a frequent presenter regarding the emotional support animal designation and the human-animal bond.

Dr. King's current scholarly work explores the application of German philosopher Martin Buber's I-Thou philosophy to human & companion animal relationships.

As a founding member of Saybrook's Animal Care, Rescue, Education & Dignity (SACRED) Learning Community, Dr. King continues to advance the field through her research, publications, teaching, and clinical practice, establishing herself as a respected authority in both psychological and animal welfare domains.

She shares her heart and home with her husband and their three canine companions.

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King, B. (2021) Conducting Canine Assisted Therapy  

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Book Chapter: Conducting Canine Assisted Therapy  

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Book Chapter: Conducting Canine Assisted Therapy  

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(Excerpt) Canine-assisted psychotherapy (CAP) involves the addition of a canine co-therapist, or therapy dog, into the therapy session (Jones, Rice, & Cotton 2019). Bodhi and I see 4-5 people on a typical day. I bring a client back to my office, and Bodhi greets them.  If the client chooses to sit on “the dog couch”, Bodhi will - if invited - lay next to them.  Then the client and I will talk about their therapeutic goals and progress.  CAP suggests that clients have a goal the canine co-therapist can assist them with (Stewart, Chang, Parker & Grubbs, 2016).  CAP goals can be animal-led (Bodhi licks someone’s face when they’re crying), facilitator-led (I ask Bodhi to take his brush to a highly anxious client and ask the client to brush him as a mindfulness exercise), or participant-led (the client invites Bodhi to sit on the couch to take silly selfie photos she can look at when she is feeling sad). (Jones, Rice, & Cotton 2019)

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King, B., McGlinn, M., & Duberstein, A. (2023). Mutuality and well-being: The human-animal bond

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Research Study - Mutuality and well-being: The human-animal bond

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Research Study - Mutuality and well-being: The human-animal bond

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There are over 800 dog parks in America's 100 largest cities (Trust for Public Land, 2018). Dog "parents" who join dog parks for the well-being of their dogs also experience their own biopsychosocial benefits (Jackson, 1995). A convergent parallel mixed-methods design was used to collect, analyze, and interpret quantitative and qualitative data. Qualitative interviews (n = 11) were conducted using Moustakas's (1992) heuristic research process, "an organized and systemic form for investigating human experiences" (p. 9). Participants (n = 44) also completed the Pavot and Diener (2013) Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS). Diener et al. (1985) developed the SWLS to measure global life satisfaction. The SWLS is a five-item self-report measure with good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha .82) and strong temporal stability (test-retest correlation = .87) The mean score for the current study was 26.32, with a standard deviation of 5.56 and a range of scores between 12 and 35. The data gathered indicated that dog-park members endorse "high satisfaction" with life and experience the dog park as a supportive social environment that benefits their physical and mental health and the well-being of their dogs. The 60+ age group (n = 4) reported feelings of life satisfaction almost 7 points over the total respondent average, placing them in the "highly satisfied" range. Five qualitative themes were identified: canine well-being; community; mental health benefits; physical health benefits; and fights, falls, and frustrations. The findings suggest the need for further research into the well-being that can occur within the intersectionality of canine-human interactions, outdoor spaces, social interactions, and age.

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(2025) Residential Learning Event - Saybrook University

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Selected Lecture - Treatment Planning as a Humanistic Intervention

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Selected Lecture - Treatment Planning as a Humanistic Intervention

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1998- Present: An existential humanistic practice.

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(2024) Residential Learning Event - Saybrook University

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Selected Lecture - Getting a doctoral degree is a full time job

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Selected Lecture - Getting a doctoral degree is a full time job

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Duberstein, A., King, B., & Johnson, A. R. (2023). Pit bulls and prejudice. The Humanistic Psychologist, 51(2), 183-188.

King, B., McGlinn, M., & Duberstein, A. (2023). Mutuality and well-being: The human-animal bond. The Humanistic Psychologist, 51(2), 133-141.

King, B., Johnson, A., & Stewart, L. (2021). Emotional support animals: Important considerations for mental health providers. Human-Animal Interaction Bulletin.

King, B., Ames, A., Coleman, J., Cross, E., Drescher, K., Duberstein, A., Johnson, A., Kogan, L., Miller, C., Nitkin, P., Robino, A., Runge, N., Tucker, L., & Winsor, K. (2020). Emotional support animal position statement. APA Division 17, Section 13 Human Animal Interactions Ethics Workgroup.

Johnson, A., Eccles, E., Jenkins, M., Miller, C., Kogan, L., Erdman, P., Gupta, M., Schaefer, K., Marshall, P., Schroeder, K., King, B., Trevathan-Minnis, M., VanFleet, R., & Zenithson, N. (2020). Position statement on animal welfare in animal assisted interventions. APA Division 17, Section 13 Human Animal Interactions Ethics Workgroup.

Johnson, A., VanFleet, R., Stewart, L., Crowley, S., DePrekel, M., Eccles, E., Hey, L., Howie, A., Johnson, C., King, B., Runge, N., Snyder, S., & Trevathan-Minnis, M. (2019). Summary of considerations for APA ethical standards competencies in animal-assisted interventions. APA Division 17, Section 13 Human Animal Interactions Ethics Workgroup.

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King, B. (2012). Inspiration and invocation: Creating a ritual with the triple-goddess Brigid. In P. Monaghan & M. McDermott (Eds.), Brigit: Sun of womanhood. Goddess Ink.

King, B. (2011). Kuan Yin: Compassion embodied. In P. Monaghan (Ed.), Goddesses in world culture. Praeger.

King, B. (2016). On mothering and being mothered. In L. Hoffman, M. Moats, & T. Greening (Eds.), Our last walk: Using poetry to grieve and remember our pets. University Professors Press.

King, B. (2013). Of goddesses and fools. About Place Journal, 2(2). Black Earth Institute.

King, B. (2011). Following the spirit of the law, in spirit. In P. Monaghan (Ed.), Can a person be spiritual but not religious? In World religions: Belief, culture, and controversy. ABC-CLIO. http://religion2.abc-clio.com/

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(2024) Society for Humanistic Psychology Conference, Atlanta GA

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Select Presentation - Toward a Decolonial Seasonal Psychology in Humansitic Practice

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Select Presentation - Toward a Decolonial Seasonal Psychology in Humansitic Practice

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(2024) Michigan State University Animal Law Conference

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Selected Presentation - Existential Etymologies: Redefining Linguistic Approaches to our Animal Companions

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Selected Presentation - Existential Etymologies: Redefining Linguistic Approaches to our Animal Companions

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(2023) Parliament of the World's Religions

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Selected Presentation - Goddess Speaks: Our Earth has a Voice

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Selected Presentation - Goddess Speaks: Our Earth has a Voice

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(2023) Parliament of the World's Religions, Chicago, IL.

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Selected Presentation - A Christian and a Pagan walk into an animal shelter: Multifaith thoughts on interspecies justice [Panel presentation with Rev. Sarah Bowen]. 

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Selected Presentation - A Christian and a Pagan walk into an animal shelter: Multifaith thoughts on interspecies justice [Panel presentation with Rev. Sarah Bowen]. 

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(2025) Community Learning Event. Saybrook University

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Conference Poster - Theoretically Toward a Decolonialized Seasonal Psychology

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Conference Poster - Theoretically Toward a Decolonialized Seasonal Psychology

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(2024) American Psychological Association Annual Conference, Seattle, WA.

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Conference Poster - Creating a Community Interest Group: A Humanistic Approach to the Human/Non-Human Animal Connection

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Conference Poster - Creating a Community Interest Group: A Humanistic Approach to the Human/Non-Human Animal Connection

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Conference Poster - Tails from the Dog Park

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Conference Poster - Tails from the Dog Park

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(2019) Animal Summit @ American Psychological Association Annual Conference, Chicago, IL.

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(2019) International Society of Anthrozoology Annual Conference, Orlando, FL.

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Selected Presentation - "I Need a Letter for my Dog": Multidisciplinary Considerations of Emotional Support Animal Certification.

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Selected Presentation - "I Need a Letter for my Dog": Multidisciplinary Considerations of Emotional Support Animal Certification.

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(2025) Community Learning Event - Saybrook University

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Conference Poster - She Bit Me for no Reason!  Demystifying Visual Communication Between Cats and Humans​

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Conference Poster - She Bit Me for no Reason!  Demystifying Visual Communication Between Cats and Humans​

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(2019) American Psychological Association Annual Conference, Chicago, IL.

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Conference Poster - Pitbulls & Prejudice

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Conference Poster - Pitbulls & Prejudice

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(2023) Residential Learning Event - Saybrook University

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Selected Lecture - Working with Spiritual (But Not Religious) Clients: Treatment Planning and Interventions

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Selected Lecture - Working with Spiritual (But Not Religious) Clients: Treatment Planning and Interventions

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(2015) ]. EcoJustice & Activism Conference, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI.

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Conference Poster - The Value of a Dog's Life

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Conference Poster - The Value of a Dog's Life

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A full professor is the highest academic rank, signifying extensive expertise, leadership, and significant contributions in teaching, research, and university service, achieved after years of distinguished work beyond the assistant and associate levels, often with tenure, and involves mentoring, major projects, and leadership roles like department chair. The term "full" distinguishes them from junior ranks, though all faculty (assistant, associate, full) are technically professors, with "full" indicating the pinnacle of the standard career path.

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The Center for Humanistic Studies in Detroit, where both my master's thesis (Magnum Opus: Honoring the Call to Serve) and my doctoral dissertation (Bodyhood and Being-With: Women's experiences of embodied spiritual empowerment) were grounded in the intersectionality of psychology and spirituality.

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October 2024 - King & Associates Supervision

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Selected Supervision Lecture - Archetypes & Shadow in Supervision: Reflection & Dialogue for Experienced Psychotherapists

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Selected Supervision Lecture - Archetypes & Shadow in Supervision: Reflection & Dialogue for Experienced Psychotherapists

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(2022) Residential Learning Event - Saybrook University

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Selected Lecture - Creativity in the Therapy Hour

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Selected Lecture - Creativity in the Therapy Hour

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Student Evaluations - Systems of Psychotherapy

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Student Evaluations - Systems of Psychotherapy

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Student Evaluations - Core Concepts in Humanistic & Clinical Psychology

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Student Evaluations - Core Concepts in Humanistic & Clinical Psychology

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Student Evaluations - Group Processes: Theory & Practice-MA

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Student Evaluations - Group Processes: Theory & Practice-MA

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2017 3rd PSYC 571 Group Processes Theory and Practice-King

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Student Evaluations - Existential and Phenomenological Psychology

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Student Evaluations - Existential and Phenomenological Psychology

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2018 PSYC 525 Existential and Phenomenological Psychology-King

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Conducting Research at Farmington's Bark in the Park

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Conducting Research at Farmington's Bark in the Park

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APA Division 32 Annual Conference, Boulder, CO.

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Select Presentation - #ustoo: An Experiential Uniting Through the Pain of America's Rape Culture [Panel presentation].  

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Select Presentation - #ustoo: An Experiential Uniting Through the Pain of America's Rape Culture [Panel presentation].  

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Conference Poster - Existential Humanistic Animal-Assisted Psychotherapy: A Relational Approach to Human-Animal Therapy

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Conference Poster - Existential Humanistic Animal-Assisted Psychotherapy: A Relational Approach to Human-Animal Therapy

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King & Associates Psychotherapy - Ribbon Cutting

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King & Associates Psychotherapy - Ribbon Cutting

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Farmington RavenCrow Festival - 1st place winner

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Farmington RavenCrow Festival - 1st place winner

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Detroit Institute of Arts Ofrenda Exhibit (2014)

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Detroit Institute of Arts Ofrenda Exhibit (2014)

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Detroit Institute of Arts Ofrenda Exhibit (2014)

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This ofrenda represents the tragic death of our beloved canine companion Morgaine, who died after a surgeon cut her intestine in half and did not reveal it to us. We learned a great deal about veterinary negligence, and while the cost of Morgaine's death process was reimbursed, chattle laws considered her a possession rather than a sentient family member, and the veterinarian's license was only given a fine and minor probation.

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Marjorie Scott Scholarship of Excellence (1st recipient, 2006)

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Marjorie Scott Scholarship of Excellence (1st recipient, 2006)

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Marjorie Scott Scholarship of Excellence - A $1,500 awarded to a graduating PsyD

student at Commencement (July 2006)

The Marjorie Scott Scholarship for Excellence was established in January 2006 to honor Dr.

Scott, Faculty Emerita and former Program Director, for her commitment to academic

excellence. This scholarship is presented at commencement to a graduating student from

each program who has best achieved excellence in academics, clinical work, and

research. Eligibility criteria:

• Successful fulfillment of all degree requirements.

• Outstanding academic achievement throughout the program.

• Active participation in the MSP community.

• Demonstrated excellence in academic performance, presentations, clinical training,

scholarly projects, publications, and professional behavior.

• PsyD graduates – demonstrated excellence in dissertation.

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Thank you letter from the City of Philadephia

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Thank you letter from the City of Philadephia

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Honoring Sid

Posted on August 5, 2022 by betzking

Dear Sid,

You are off to the Summerland, and I find myself using all the things I’ve learned from you to grieve the loss.

I check in with my body to locate the grief. It is in my heart, and not as heavy as I imagined because the torch that you lit from your own is there as well.

I ask my three-day headache what it has to say, and it answers, “big shoes to fill and my feet are so sad.”

I note my ever-present self-talk, how easily the either/or creeps in, and I bring the word ‘and’ to the table. This word ‘and’ – I got it from you, so so long ago. It is the foundation of my love for venn-diagrams as the perfect teaching tool, something I’m now known for but really belongs to you.

As I create my fall syllabi and courses, I’m making room for the first person “I” in papers because (everyone say it aloud with me here….) ‘the academic IS personal’.

A client brings a dream, and I invite her to ‘be’ the various parts, to give voice to the grandfather clock, the rubber boots, the crying blue-jay.

I re-configure the two-chair method for the virtual screen and repeat “you’re being awfully hard on yourself” when I see the top-dog trying to bully the underdog.

This last week, just to feel close to you, I used one of my favorite teachings of yours with every single client – the one where you taught us that the end of any sentence a client speaks contains an arrow pointing to where to go next. It still works.

In the first semester of my MA program at The Center for Humanistic Studies, I met you at a ‘special topics’ on gestalt dream work, where I naively shared a dream involving Alice (of Wonderland) and a parade. Sounds innocent enough, but we all know what happened in about 8 minutes flat.

After graduation I had some of the best therapy of my life with you – a boot camp of self-compassion and integration.

After that, we kept in touch and had breakfast one day (Village Grill on Orchard Lk Rd) and you mentioned hoping I would return to CHS for my PsyD. You said “I’m going to retire eventually, and I’d like to know I’m leaving good clinicians behind”. I’m pretty sure I decided to go in that very moment, which granted me….

….four more years of doctoral studies with you!! So many classes!! There was one where you told me you didn’t think I was operating on the most current version of myself, (now there’s a therapy nugget I’ve used with myself and others more than once). When you referred a client to me while I was still a student, I remember absolutely panicking –‘who does he think I am?!?’… It turned out to be a great fit, a great piece of therapy, because it turned out you saw the most current version of me even when I didn’t.

Somewhere in there you and Kay came to my wedding, and you taught my husband how to do the hustle! Just one more way that you live on in the hearts of your students.

My fondest memories will be those where I guest lectured for you… you guest lectured for me… the gradual role reversal as you did less and I did more… the pride and love I felt every single time you came to class and made magic.

Did you know that Blackstock and I had a running tab of how long it took for your demonstrations to ‘get real’ with a student? Did you know I kept orange juice for you in my office in case your blood sugar dropped? You were the first person I saw at my 50th birthday surprise, I was so overwhelmed I simply hugged you. Having you in my home was so sweet.

I was going to post something about how the world has lost a bright light, but upon closer inspection I have decided that’s not true. I know how many of your students carry you in their hearts and work, I know how we professors are sharing your wisdom with the next generations.

There is plenty of Sid-light shining. But we all have lost a teacher, mentor and friend, so we’re going to be sad for a little while.

Don’t worry, we’ll be sure to locate it in our bodies and ask it what it wants to say.

I love you Sid. Thanks for everything.

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Psi Chi International Honors Society Membership

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Psi Chi International Honors Society Membership

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Student "Thank You" note, complete with "You rock dude" closing :) 

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Student "Thank You" note, complete with "You rock dude" closing :) 

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President Nathan Lang & Dr. Betz King discuss Humanistic Psychology and being "seen for who you are".

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https://youtu.be/ljfy254uAEI