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Overview of Practicum Training in MBSR
The Practicum training will provide both practical and conceptual understandings of MBSR. We will explore the theory, methodology and the practical application and integration of MBSR in a variety of settings. The Practicum program is for people who already have an ongoing meditation practice including retreat experience, and the process will invite the integration of personal practice and professional application that is central to MBSR teaching.
Participation in the Practicum program is recognised as a valid and valuable MBSR training experience within Australia, and when applying for similar courses around the world.
The Practicum is run in two formats:
Nine week Seminar Practicum
In Sydney the practicum is run as a nine week seminar program which involves weekly attendance as a participant/observer in the MBSR class as well as a 3.5 hour seminar with fellow trainees every week, a total of 62 hours of instruction. Out of our past experience in the Practicum, we are now strongly recommending that all practicum students attend an MBSR course before they commence the Seminar Practicum program. This prior experience will mean that practicum students already share an immersion in the way the four foundations of mindfulness are taught in an MBSR context, the shape of the program and the group process. We hope this will contribute to greater depth of discussion and skill development in the nine week professional Practicum program. Preference will be given to suitable applicants who have already attended an MBSR class or equivalent. Please contact Timothea to discuss this if you have questions or difficulties in meeting this recommendation.
Five Day Intensive Practicum
For people in other cities, the practicum is offered as a Five Day Intensive residential program, (next one January 27th –February 1 , 2009) with participants having already attended an 8-week MBSR course or equivalent in their city. They too will therefore have the opportunity to participate in and observe the unfolding process of the MBSR course prior to the Intensive.
Orientation to training
Openground has based its Practicum model on the Center for Mindfulness' (CFM) Practicum which was initiated in 1981 at the UMass Medical Center, Worcester, USA, to provide health care professionals and others with a practical and conceptual understanding of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program.
In line with the orientation at the CFM, we believe that qualification for teaching mindfulness based groups involves development in two areas of learning:
Inward-oriented learning is aimed at refining one's intrinsic capacities for meditation, contemplation, self-reflection, and self-knowledge. This approach to learning is directed toward the cultivation of wisdom through the on-going development of innate qualities such as non-judgmental observation, active listening, flexibility, presence, insight, and compassion.
Outward-oriented learning is targeted toward the understanding and attainment of well-defined technical skills and competencies in all curricula associated with MBSR and an ability to apply these core methods and skills in diverse situations and settings.
Learning objectives
Practicum participants...
- Explore in detail our approach to instructing people in MBSR
- Develop an understanding of the theoretical, philosophical, pedagogical, and scientific underpinnings of MBSR
- Examine, through the lens of MBSR, the emerging field of mind-body medicine
- Refine and deepen personal meditation practice
Pre-requisites
Applicants are required to:
- engage regularly in a personal meditation practice and have retreat experience. This retreat experience needs to be a silent, 7 - 10 day residential, teacher-led retreat - preferably in the Theravadan tradition.
- have a professional background which involves working with people (in a clinical, educational or communications area)
- have attended an eight week MBSR program or equivalent (ie MBCT eight week program, MBSR in Mind-Body Medicine 7 day Training retreat)
Retreat Experience
Regarding retreat experience for MBSR teachers, the Center for Mindfulness, UMass., advises:
Because wonder and inquiry into the nature of the self and reality is an essential practice for MBSR teachers, your engagement in a daily practice of mindfulness meditation and on-going participation in silent, teacher-led retreats is critically important. We recommend attendance at retreat centers that emphasize Theravadan Buddhist teachings because the spirit, practices, and attitudes of MBSR are reflective of this tradition. Other consciousness disciplines that include many days of silence, interaction with a meditation teacher, and practice in a style of meditation that encourages spaciousness and introspection may be acceptable.
We are lucky that there are many opportunities in Australia to undertake a silent, teacher-led retreat. Below are a few websites which give some info about retreats. Please contact Timothea Goddard (tim@openground.com.au ) if you wish to discuss the different styles of retreat.http://www.dharma.org.au
Please note: The Stillness in Action retreats and the Insight Dialogue retreats are very worthwhile and would certainly contribute to your learning but they are not silent. http://www.meditation.asn.au http://www.dhamma.org/en/cnc/centers-anz.shtml
Attending the Practicum is just one aspect of training in MBSR.
The others include:
Personal and professional development arising out of:
- a strong background and immersion in mindfulness practice including ongoing
retreat experience
- training and experience in a body-based awareness practice (yoga, Tai chi,
Feldenkrais etc)
- personal psychological inquiry and self-reflection
- “people skills” training and experience, and
- teaching experience and expertise
(Obviously all of these competencies do not have to be well established at the
outset of training, but can be developed over time.)
Supervision of your teaching MBSR classes.
Attending the 7 day Professional Training with Saki Santorelli and Jon Kabat-Zinn – which will be offered in Australia by the CFM in 2009.
Attending the Teacher Development Intensive – an eight day training for those who have already taught a few MBSR classes. We hope that the TDI will be offered in Australia by senior CFM teachers in 2010.
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