Download an application and reference form for the 2011-12 Foundations in Buddhist Contemplative Care Training Program.

Continuing Education Credits are available for Nurses and Social Workers for this program.  See below for details.

Academic Year: September 2011-June 2012

Are you ready to train in contemplative care skills for year with other like-minded people? Our Foundations in Buddhist Contemplative Care Training Program is designed to meet the needs of people in a variety of ways:

Building a community of caregivers interested in integrating caregiving with contemplative practices.

Beginning training for those interested in becoming volunteer or professional caregivers in your local community, hospitals, hospices, and other places where spiritual care is needed.

Basic training in spiritual care: attending the sick and dying, performing ritual, and offering spiritual direction.

Program Components

• Ten monthly Trainings.
• One 4 day off-site contemplative care retreat, September 29-Oct 1, 2011 at Garrison Institute, in a triple room. Extra charges apply for a single or double room, and can be paid at retreat check in.
• Monthly meeting with peers.
• 8 One-on-One supervision sessions with a core faculty member.
• One hundred hours of volunteer contemplative caregiving.
• Monthly assigned reading and written assignments.

Areas of Training

• History of Contemplative Care: applications and settings for spiritual care, engaged Buddhism.
• Contemplative Care Skills I: purpose and functioning of a caregiver, establishing spiritual care relationships, listening, spiritual counseling, verbal and nonverbal communication.
• Contemplative Care Skills II: spiritual assessment, ritual, collaboration with other professionals and disciplines.
• Buddhist practices related to contemplative care.
• Cultural competency in a multicultural world.
• Verbal and non-verbal communication.
• Use of Self; when to disclose and when not to, boundaries and ethics of conduct; personal safety; sexual feelings in spiritual care relationships.
• Interfaith and multi-faith ministry, religious directives.
• Creating and Leading Rituals: memorials, rites of passage, practice rituals.
• Ministry to death and dying, grief and loss.
• Critical Incidents: trauma, addiction, suicide, homicide, domestic violence. Elective Study.

To complement the training program, the New York Zen Center offers public talks, retreats, workshops, and other training programs. To view upcoming events, click here.

Location

Classes will be held at Village Zendo, 588 Broadway, Suite 1108, in New York City. The Zendo is centrally located in Soho between Houston and Prince Streets.

Scheduled Dates:

Trainings are held primarily on Saturdays, and occasionally on both Friday and Saturdays, September 2011 through June 2012.

2011/12 Training Dates:

2011: September 9 + 10, September 29-October 2 Contemplative Care Retreat, November 5, December 2 + 3.

2012: January 7, February 4, March 2 + 3, April 14, May 5, June 1 + 2.

Guidelines for Enrollment

The training program is designed for people who have a committed and ongoing involvement with a Buddhist or another contemplative practice, teachings, and way of life. With this in mind, the guidelines for entering the program are the following:

• Completed application.
• Letter of recommendation from a Buddhist teacher or someone who knows your spiritual practice.
• Regular and committed Buddhist or contemplative practice and study for at least two years (or previous chaplaincy training).
• Two Buddhist retreats of one week or longer or the equivalent.
• An in-person interview.

Graduate Seminary Credits

This is a graduate level training that includes several self‐directed learning components. It does not certify you to become a chaplain. However, successful completion of the Foundations Program does make you eligible to apply for our Clinical Pastoral Education (C.P.E) training program. Also, once you are accepted to the Foundations Program, you have the option to register through our partner institution, Institute of Buddhist Studies, to receive 6 Graduate Seminary Credits for this program. There is an additional charge, paid to IBS for these credits. To learn more about IBS, please go here.

Continuing Education Credits

NURSES


For professional nurses who would like to build their continuing education credits, this program has been approved by the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) for 100 Contact Hours, Synergy CERP Category B, File number 00015861. A $25 Continuing Education Certificate fee will be added to the tuition cost.

SOCIAL WORKERS


For professional social workers who would like to build their continuing education credits, this program is verified by the National Association of Social Workers (Approval # 886535357) for 40 Social Workers Continuing Education contact hours. A $25 Continuing Education Certificate fee will be added to the tuition cost.

Tuition and Admissions

• The cost for the ten-month program is $3,400 (a $100 processing fee will be added if paying by credit card).
• A limited number of partial work-exchange scholarships may be available.
• Space is limited. Applications will be reviewed as they are sent in and are accepted year-round.

Application deadline is May 21st, 2011.  Applications are received and accepted on a first come, first serve basis, so sending in your application early is advised.   

Download an application and reference form.