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Sydney 2009
5 May - 30 June
Professional practicum training in MBSR
The Practicum is a nine week seminar program in which participants explore the theory, methodology and the practical application and integration of MBSR in a variety of 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 an MBSR program prior to beginning the Practicum
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 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.
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.
The Practicum training involves weekly attendance as a participant/observer in the MBSR class as well as a three and a half hour seminar with fellow trainees every week, a total of 64 hours of instruction.
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