Antioch University Santa Barbara

08/31/2026

08/24/2026

Six years of “meaningful mess!”

Developed through the Undergraduate Studies programs of our West Coast campuses, Messy Conversations is a grassroots weekly conversation providing what organizers call “self-reflection, relearning of history, and relationships of support, anti-racist intention, and action.”

Explore Messy Conversations in the 2026 edition of Antioch’s Alumni Magazine:
https://at.antioch.edu/messy-conversations-2026-alumni-mag

08/18/2026

Mazyar Karandish, PsyD, a graduate of the PsyD Program in Clinical Psychology at Antioch University, published their dissertation in 2019, titled, “The Role and Effect of Mindfulness in Intimate Relationships.”

The abstract reads,

“Mindfulness practice, a present-centered approach to experience, has been shown to effectively enhance various dimensions of the human experience. Recent literature has explored how the practice of mindfulness meditation has provided benefits to practitioners seeking to enhance relationship dynamics. There are multiple examples of mindfulness-based relationship enhancement programs aiming to enhance the quality of intimate relationships in adults. This study utilizes a repeated-measures design to address whether a neutral mindfulness-based program, not geared at enhancing relationships, can significantly alter the quality of intimate relationships.”

Read the full dissertation here: https://aura.antioch.edu/etds/582/

08/15/2026

Today is !

Reducing screen time is a form of self-care. In a digital "world," it can be difficult to disconnect; doom-scrolling and putting too much pressure on ourselves to stay "informed" 24/7 can be harmful to our mental health, our social lives, and our overall self-image.

Take some time today to rediscover a new hobby, break out a cookbook, or go for a leisurely bike ride! What do you enjoy doing outside of screens?

08/12/2026

Lynn Houston has always forged her own path. At 17 years old, Lynn Houston left her home in Missouri to explore the world. Before finding her path to Antioch, she took on the roles of an actress, photographer, and both a small-engine and commercial pilot. After retiring, she enrolled at Antioch University, earning her undergraduate and MBA.

“Antioch seemed the best fit for me as I was interested in social justice. I had a diverse professional background and needed a university that was innovative and inclusive.”

Read Lynn’s journey to becoming an Antioch alum here:

Lynn Houston inspires through aviation and performance. Lynn Houston's '11, '16 (Santa Barbara, BA, MBA) path began at 17 years old when she left her home in Missouri to explore the world. She started as an actor working in both San Francisco and New Yo...

08/10/2026

Balance > burnout

Going back to school doesn’t mean you have to put your life on hold! Antioch University offers Bachelor of Arts completion programs that allow you to pursue your education without de-prioritizing the things that matter most.

With small cohorts, meaningful degree concentrations, and community projects versus tests, the Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies is designed with you in mind.

Take the next step toward your future: https://www.antioch.edu/academics/undergraduate-studies/liberal-studies-ba-ausb/

08/03/2026

Monday morning has arrived again, the start of a new week, new experiences, and new discoveries.

Take a second to breathe, welcome the day, and appreciate these beautiful campus views!

07/31/2026

As the mental health climate begins to progress, shift, and evolve, more and more clinicians are address the connection between mind, body, emotion, and nervous system health.

Antioch University’s Somatic Psychotherapy Certificate is designed for licensed therapists and helping professionals who want to deepen their clinical skills through body-based, trauma-informed, and experiential healing methods.

Guiding students through this work is Richard Lepore, a faculty member, psychotherapist, educator, and longtime practitioner of somatic psychotherapy.

Check out this Q&A with Richard, who was asked about the future of psychotherapy, the role of somatic awareness, and what students can expect from the Somatic Psychotherapy Certificate:
https://commonthread.antioch.edu/somatic-psychotherapy-certificate-at-antioch-university-a-qa-with-faculty-member-richard-lepore/

07/20/2026

Layla Farinpour, LMFT, a graduate of the MA in Clinical Psychology program, was selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who.

“Highly regarded for her work in running an addiction consult service and developing referral programs that provide access to care for vulnerable populations, Ms. Farinpour has led an exemplary career in behavioral health, substance use disorder treatment and clinical leadership at Cottage Health, where she has served with distinction for nearly two decades.”

Read more here:

June 30, 2026 -- Lili Farinpour, LMFT, is a distinguished leader in the psychiatry and clinical care sector with specialties in substance use disorder treatment and mental health services

07/18/2026

Michelle Greenspoon Barrett, PsyD, published her dissertation in 2016, titled “The Relationship Between Empathy and Humor Styles and Secondary Traumatic Stress in the Public Mental Health Workplace.”

“The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a relationship between both empathy type and humor type to secondary traumatic stress (STS) in individuals who work in a public mental healthcare setting….The survey consisted of a sociodemographic questionnaire, as well as questionnaires related to humor, empathy, and secondary traumatic stress. Non- clinical staff was more likely to endorse STS and to report significantly higher scores Personal Distress Empathy scale, in comparison to clinical staff.”

“Public mental healthcare workers who disparage either themselves or others were more likely to report psychological distress. Perhaps a clue to this finding can be found in Freud’s original theory of humor, in which he posited that humor is a therapeutic defense to one’s own distress.”

Read the full dissertation here:
https://aura.antioch.edu/etds/310/