DIPLOMA IN BUDDHIST PSYCHOLOGY

www.buddhistpsychology.ning.com

 

“DIPLOMA IN BUDDHIST PSYCHOLOGY”
A FOUR & A HALF SEMESTER PROGRAMME

Course leader: Dr David Brazier

Tutors: Dr Iris Dotan Katz (Israel), Dr Yaya de Andrade (Canada, Brazil), Kimiko Nita (Japan), Nati Menendez (Spain)

 

A unique and in many cases life changing learning experience working with a highly talented team, to develop skills and knowledge and to contribute to the on-going development of applied Buddhist psychology.

 

Theme: Buddhist Psychology has been developing over the past 2500 years. This unusual independent programme presents this wisdom in a form accessible to modern people. The programme based primarily upon the work of Dr. Brazier, has been developing over three decades and has been run in Korean, Spanish and English, It is continuously revised and updated in the light of changing circumstances (covid, zoom, etc.), student experience, and new research and studies. The 2024 intake will be the third run of the current iteration of the course and students will have some interaction with those who are one or two years ahead of them.

 

The programme presents Buddhist teachings as a psychological medium. This is not a course on using Buddhist techniques to assist Western style therapy, but rather an in-depth examination of Buddhist wisdom applied as psychology:  the spiritual path from a psychological point of view and  psychological work from a spiritual perspective. It imparts important, liberating, interpersonal skills, personal insight and develops Buddhist compassion.

 

Format: 

• Study Material: theoretical and stimulus material, mostly text, but also including audio and video items, is presented on dedicated web pages with associated experiential exercises for students to perform and report back on.
• Co-operative Learning - students see and comment on each other's work.
• Seminars by zoom every two or three weeks led by staff with time for student inter-action.
• Individual Tutorials.
• Peer Learning  Groups. A vitally important part of the course.
• On-line Weekend Workshops three times per year (January, June & October) with lectures, case presentation, experiential groupwork and topic discussions.
• Summer School: A one week optional in-person summer school is  offered in August in France

The course is divided into six week units called "Classrooms". Spring Semesters (February-July) contain four "Classrooms".  Autumn Semesters (September-January) have three Classrooms. Each Classroom contains three topics for study. There are 16 "Classrooms" altogether.

 

Content: The study materials introduce the major Buddhist teachings common to most schools of Buddhism presented as psychology, showing their applications in personal practice, interpersonal work, psychotherapy and society. The material is quite extensive and requires a minimum of three hours per week. There are no grades, but there are deadlines.

Suitable for: This is a programme for therapists who want to deepen their understanding of the Buddhist perspective,  for Buddhist practitioners wishing to learn a therapeutic and inter-personal way of applying the Buddhist teachings, and for all wishing to deepen their insight into their own lives and relationships with others.

 

Time Zones: Students come from many countries and zones. Seminars are generally repeated morning and evening European time so as to provide options.

 

Pre-Entry: We are aiming to start the next intake in February 2024 if there is a viable cohort of students registered. Students who book early may start to attend seminars from their date of enrolment but will not receive course materials until the intake date.

Staff: 

Dr David Brazier, psychotherapist and Buddhist teacher, author of  sixteen books including Zen Therapy and many other writings. Co-editor of the Oxford Manual of Meditation. English, living in France.

Dr. Iris Dotan Katz, clinical psychologist with a private practice in Tel Aviv has many years of experience in Zen and Pureland Buddhism and in socially engaged action and peacemaking.

Dr. Yaya de Andrade, a Canadian retired psychologist, originally from Brazil, lived and worked in Vancouver for more than 40 years. She has  special interest working with refugees, indigenous peoples, and other groups recovering from traumatic circumstances, wars and major disasters around the world. She currently lives near Toronto.

Kimiko Nita, clinical psychologist, specialises in work with children and young adults, has a private practice for adult clients in Tokyo, and a special interest in Naikan therapy. 

Natividad Menendez, counsellor and focussing practitioner, based in Spain.
Dr. Priti Vaishnav, from India, who has extensive experience in working in areas of social distress around the world offers administrative support

Fees:  £225 per semester (equivalent to £1025 for the whole course over two years and three months).

 

To Register an Interest: Please write to Jisshas <[email protected]>
giving: Full name, Date of birth. Street address. E-mail address. Details of your background in Buddhism (if any). Details of your background in psychology/therapy (if any). Your reasons for interest in the course.