Nine Week Professional Practicum Training in MBSR

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2010
Melbourne July - Sept

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
- Practice teaching skills in the areas of communication, leading practices and mindful inquiry.
- 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)

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
http://www.dhamma.org/en/schedules/schbhumi.htm

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 four hour seminar with fellow trainees every week, a total of 66 hours of instruction.

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MELBOURNE PRACTICUM SEMINAR DATES:

Term 3

	Session	Date	Practicum Seminar	MSBR Class
	Class 1	Monday July 26	12.00 - 4.30 pm	6.30 - 9.00 pm
	Class 2	Monday Aug 2	12.30 - 4.30 pm	6.30 - 9.00 pm
	Class 3	Monday Aug 9	12.30 - 4.30 pm	6.30 - 9.00 pm
	Class 4	Monday Aug 16	12.30 - 4.30 pm	6.30 - 9.00 pm
	Class 5	Monday Aug 23	12.30 - 4.30 pm	6.30 - 9.00 pm
	Class 6	Monday Aug 30	12.30 - 4.30 pm	6.30 - 9.00 pm
	Long Day Intensive	Sunday Sept 5	9 am - 4 pm	9 am - 4 pm
	Class 7	Monday Sept 6	12.30 - 4.30 pm	6.30 - 9.00 pm
	Practicum practice day	Sat Sept 11	9.30 - 4.30pm	No Class
	Class 8	Monday Sept 13	No class	6.30 - 9.00 pm
	Practicum Finish	Monday Sept 20	1.30 - 6.00 pm	No class

Teachers: Karen Wright and Timothea Goddard

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The Venues
	Melbourne Venue: Hawthorn
The Teachers
	Timothea Goddard Timothea Goddard BA, Dip. Psychotherapy (ANZAP), PACFA Reg. Timothea works as a psychotherapist, educator and workplace trainer, having trained in humanistic, body-oriented, and psychodynamic therapeutic orientations. Her interest in mindfulness has been deepened by being a long-time student in the practices of Aikido, yoga, and meditation. She is an accredited MBSR teacher with the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Healthcare and Society, University of Massachusetts Medical School, USA, and maintains strong professional links there. She is the Director of Openground, a group which offers MBSR in health and workplace contexts in Australia. Karen Wright Karen Wright B.A (Applied Psych), B.Sc (Psych Hons), D.Psych (Health) - completing Karen is an experienced counsellor, health educator and advocate who has worked for many years in public hospitals, community mental health services, health promotion agencies and NGO's. She is also an experienced MBSR practitioner and teacher who has employed the applications of mindfulness in diverse areas such as mental health, chronic illness, addiction and trauma. Karen is currently working for a community agency supporting people who have a terminal illness and their families, and has a private counselling practice.
The Application Process
	Firstly, please click on your preferred course below to complete the online form: click here to enroll in Melbourne Term 3 Secondly, Please send your electronic application to Brenda, the Openground administrator at: info@openground.com.au Your application should include a cover letter and your CV, combined into a single document, with your name in title of the document. In your application, please detail your personal development, educational and career experience, as well as your meditation experience. Please include: years of meditation experience, regularity of practice, as well as the tradition(s) in which you practice and note all teacher-led, silent retreats you have attended. Address such issues as the meaning of practice in your life and work, what has drawn you to participate in this program, and your vision or intentions for integrating this into your work. You will be contacted by Timothea to arrange a phone interview - which will be conducted in person or by phone. If sending a cheque, please send to: Openground 3/71 Boronia Rd Bellevue Hill NSW 2023 You will receive confirmation of receipt of your application by email.
Applications Due:
	Melbourne Term 3: June 1st 2010
FEES
	Application Fee $100 inc GST non-refundable Tuition Fee $1850 inc. GST
Installments
	To be advised
REFUND POLICY
	Fees (less $50 administration fee) will only be refunded if participants withdraw no less than 14 days prior to commencement of the course. After this date no refunds will be made. With prior advice, substitutions are possible.
PAYMENT OPTIONS
	Fees may be paid by cheque or EFT (credit card facilities are not available at this time). Payment by EFT via internet banking details are as follows: Bank: ANZ BSB: 012-241 Account No: 4990-00818 Please email a PDF copy of your transfer receipt to Openground at info@openground.com.au and include your surname in the reference field
REPEATING THE PROGRAM
	The course can be repeated as a refresher for a fee of $440.
Please contact Timothea Goddard if you would like to discuss any aspect of the program in person.
	Telephone: 02 93875204 Email: tim@openground.com.au Website: www.openground.com.au
Pre-Reading
	Books Kabat-Zinn, Jon, Full Catastrophe Living, Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain and Illness, Delacorte Press, New York, NY, 1990. Santorelli, Saki, Heal Thy Self, Lessons on Mindfulness in Medicine, Bell Tower, New York, NY, 1999 Hanson, R., Buddha's Brain: The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love, and Wisdom, New Harbinger: 2009. An understanding of Buddhist psychology is an important base from which to teach MBSR effectively. Here are some starting places to explore if you haven't already. Thera, N., The Heart of Buddhist Meditation, Weiser, 1996. Koster, F., Liberating Insight: Introduction to Buddhist Psychology and Insight Meditation, Silkworm Books, 2004. Goldstein, J., Insight Meditation, Shambala, 2003 Kornfield, The Wise Heart: A Guide to the Universal Teachings of Buddhist Psychology, Bantam: 2009
Thank you for your interest in the Openground MBSR Practicum. We look forward to hearing from you. Timothea Goddard Director

APS endorsement The MBSR Practicum has been endorsed by the APS and will attract Specialist Continuing Professional Development hours for members of the following APS Colleges: Health & Counselling. Members of other APS Colleges and non-College members may claim the equivalent generalist hours. Nine Week Practicum - 62 hours Distance/Intensive Practicum - 72 hours Please note that the APS National Office does not accept or process Attendance Lists as responsibility for tracking and logging PD points rests with individual members.  We suggest that you log the points for this activity directly onto your log sheet.