From Caroline Brazier:
October Registrations
New Course Handbook
Distance Learning
Welcome to New Staff
Eco-Therapy
France
Somatic Therapy
New writing
Travels and Talks
Conferences
Welcome to the Amida Courses News Letter. This newsletter comes at the end of a busy summer in France, in which we have run more events than ever before. A full seven weeks of five day events has brought a variety of experiences: Buddhist retreats and teachings, non-violent communication, Other-Centred Psychotherapy, ecotherapy, bio-dance and theatre. We are already looking forward to a similar, and probably extended programme next year.
This week, however, we are also looking forward to the new academic year. We have a good number of applications for therapy training programmes already in process. New applications are coming in daily for both attendence based and distance learning programmes. If you are interested in applying, or simply want to know more, this newsletter will keep you updated. If you need any more information on anything in it, please feel free to contact me or Susthama on courses@amidatrust.com.
- Caroline Brazier (course leader)
October Registrations
Now is the time to apply for the Psychotherapy Training Programme if you have not already. Full information is on the web at www.buddhistpsychology.info. You can download the course prospectus at http://www.buddhistpsychology.info/courseprospectus.pdf and the course handbook is also available as a download on the site. The course programme consists of three levels, the Foundation Certificate (130 contact hours) the Advanced Certificate (320 contact hours plus to years Distance Learning) and the Diploma (300 contact hours). The Advanced Certificate meets current counsellor training levels in the UK and the Diploma, which can be taken as a post-qualification award, enhances this training, taking the student to psychotherapist level. We also offer a Post-Qualifying Certificate (150 contact hours) for those qualified therapists who want a less demanding experience of our methods. The course can be accessed at any of the course blocks, but starting with the October Block (http://www.buddhistpsychology.info/caloct10psy.htm) probably gives the best introduction. It is also when most of the 2010/11 Cohort start.
New Course Handbook
We are currently finalising the latest edition of the course handbook. This new edition will bring the course into line with the latest BACP recommendations for training programmes. The revision, in addition to being a regular update, is intended to place us in a position where we can, if necessary, look for registration with BACP. In the past this has not been necessary and our students have successfully taken individual paths to accreditation, but with statutory regulation a possibility for the profession in the UK, we have decided to reconsider our previous policy of maintaining independence. At present the changes in the programme will amount to an increase in the number of practice hours at Advanced Certificate level from 100hours to 150hours (plus 50 hours professional development time) and a new professional studies module in the Distance Learning course. Other changes are more procedural and will hopefully affect staff more than students. As the process goes on it is possible that other small adjustments may be necessary, but it seems unlikely that these will be substantive. Students already enrolled on programes will have a choice of whether to switch to the new regulations or not (their certificates will reflect what they actually do) but students enrolling in October will come under the new system as advertised in the 2010 handbook.
Distance Learning
The two year Distance Learning Programme in Buddhist Psychology starts again in October. For details see http://www.buddhistpsychology.info/dl.htm. This programme can be taken on its own or as part of the main attendance based training programmes. Year one focuses on theory and uses Buddhist Psychology and Zen Therapy as its core texts. Year two focuses on practice and uses Other-Centred Therapy. Other Amida distance learning courses include Vow 22, the ministry development programme of Amida Trust http://amidatrust.typepad.com/amidashu/2006/10/vow_22_training.html, and the free on-line Pureland Introductory Course http://www.amidatrust.com/plbintr00a.html
Welcome to new staff
The Amida Training Programme is delighted to welcome a number of new staff members. Michael Whan, a UKCP registered Jungian analyst, who was previously our external advisor, Liz Burnham a UKCP registered therapist who spacialises in work with children and young people, and Simon Williams, a registered Art Therapist and supervisor and full time member of the Amida community will all be joining the team and contributing to the programmes in various ways. They join the existing team of myself, David Brazier, Gina Clayton, Mike Fitter, and Sally Ridgway under the efficient and creative guidance of our administrator Susthama Kim.
Eco-Therapy
This summer Sundari (Gina) and I ran a week of eco-therapy at our centre in France. This five day event was something of a ground-breaker (if that isn't too much of a poor joke) bringing together work which we have done many times over the years. Work with the environment is particularly well informed by other-centred models, which give a framework for thinking about different aspects of this healing work http://amidatrust.ning.com/profiles/blogs/environment-and-other-centred. Integrating both the spiritual and the psychological in a seamless encounter with life in its myriad forms, therapeutic use of the outdoors is a field which we intend to use increasingly alongside our regular programmes. In consequence I intend to be increasingly based at our centre in France in between my teaching commitments.
France
The Amida french centre is a small farm in the Berry region, which is in central France http://amidatrust.typepad.com/france/. The buildings are simple and we have thirty acres of land which offers a rich diversity of habitats and a wonderful wealth of wildlife. In the summer groups such as the eco-therapy and the bio-dance workshops made particular use of this land, taking participants into fields and woods, meditating in the bamboo grove, and sleeping out under the stars around the campfire. We grow many of our own vegetables in our organic gardens and have facilities for the arts. You can read more about these experiences on my blog on http://amidatrust.ning.com/profiles/blog/list?user=1dx3jbxr6csqs. This year I will be spending more time in France, offering individual retreats and therapeutic stays as well as a few events. If you are interested in joining me as a volunteer, working on the land, please get in touch.
Somatic Therapy
The first weekend of the Somatic Therapy series will take place in November, tutored by Sally Ridgway. http://amidatrust.ning.com/events/moving-through-change TThis weekend ofers an opportunity to discover work with the body. It is the first of three workshops, but can be attended separately.
New writing
Both David and I are currently writing. David is writing about Buddhist practice and I am writing about ecotherapy. You can read extracts from our work on our blogs at http://amidatrust.ning.com
Travels and Talks
Both David and I will be travelling extensively this year. David will be visiting Ontario, Korea and India this autumn. I will be visiting California and Hawaii as well as France and probably Belgium and Netherlands. If you are interested in inviting either of us, or other members of the Amida Order to give talks or workshops, please contact us.
Amida Conferences
Please put the Amida Conference next May in your diaries. We look forward to seeing you there. http://lotusinthemud.typepad.com/culturallyengagedbuddhism/
If you are in North America and UK seems too far, We hope to see you at the First International Conference on Other-Centred Approach in Berkeley in February http://www.shin-ibs.edu/icoca.php
AMIDA SCHOOL
http://www.amidatrust.com
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