MA Programme : Mindfulness-Based Psychotherapeutic Practice - Two year Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Course

This post-qualification MA Course is an in-depth Training in Core Process Psychotherapy that builds on the foundation of the trainee's prior clinical experience and learning. It presents a mindfulness-based form of psychotherapy which assumes inherent core health within all aspects of human experience.

Core Process principles, models, clinical dharma skills and theoretical frameworks are built upon this foundation, which is applied to the psychotherapeutic relationship and viewed as a joint practice. Participants are rigorously trained in this approach in order to be able to demonstrate clinical competence.

The process of offering a contemplative approach to psychotherapy is facilitated through lectures and skills practice within the context of personal, interpersonal and group enquiry. Given that this Training emphasises the fundamental interconnectedness of our individual experience, one major learning vehicle comprises developing the skills to enquire jointly into relationship itself at depth. The training group learns to cultivate and deepen awareness as a primary psychotherapeutic and transformational tool.

The course content is structured so that basic contemplative and inter-relational practices and skills are developed alongside the unfolding theoretical Core Process developmental model of the self, placed within a wider Buddhist understanding of the non-separable nature of our experience and its illimitable source in pristine awareness. The taught component of this course comprises two years.

Year One

Concepts underpinning Core Process psychotherapy such as the relational field, the universal holding field, the nature of being and embodied presence are introduced in the context of basic Buddhist teachings on impermanence, the nature of suffering, the factors of personality and the interdependent nature or co-arising of experience. These form frameworks for beginning to enquire jointly in relationship into our selfstructures derived from early wounding in relationship and primary patterns of traumatization, and for building fundamental clinical skills of embodied open-hearted presence and compassionate responsiveness.

Year Two

Builds on these skills and concepts and integrates trainees existing clinical experience with Core Process frameworks for understanding and working with specific selfstrategies and patterns of relating. Trainees are expected to work with two Core Process clients during this year, when ready to do so, while building the cognitive and clinical requirements for graduation. An additional six months after course completion enables trainees to write their dissertation, thus completing all course requirements for graduation.

There are two clinical pathways for those undertaking this Course: either to work towards graduation which involves having two Core Process clients for six months; or working towards accreditation, which means undertaking a further Clinical Year postgraduation and building the required client hours for registration with U.K.C.P. The M.A. is awarded to all trainees at graduation.

This 30-month Training is held residentially at the Institute currently over 10 five-day seminars, divided into 2 one-year modules. There is also a 15 day Clinical Year for those wishing to prepare for Registration as a Core Process Psychotherapist with UKCP.

Criteria for Entry : a celebration of diversity

We accept students from a wide range of different backgrounds, both academic and non-academic, and from all spiritual and therapeutic traditions. One of the hallmarks of our courses is a stimulating diversity which makes up the learning community of each course group. We particularly welcome students from all kinds of minority groups. We are happy to support students working with dyslexia and also with disabilities.

Admission onto our training is by personal interview. Each candidate can submit a unique individual portfolio to demonstrate a range of competencies and relevant experience and training. They also need to show that they have the desire and ability to learn, further and deepend their current levels of competencies throughout the period of training.

We recognize that successful applicants will present diverse sets of skills and competencies, and we are not looking for a standardized application - each application is considered individually.

Tutors provide individual support where possible to encourage students to meet those aspects of the training which are particularly challenging for them.

Competencies can be demonstrated and evidenced in a range of ways, including:

-Documented Approved Prior Learning ("APL") and Approved Prior Experiential Learning ("APEL")

-An undergraduate honours degree and/or in-service qualifications in an appropriate related discipline

-Documented, relevant and substantial experience of working at an appropriate depth, either therapeutically, psychologically, physically or spiritually with contracted clients

-In-depth discussion during the personal interview

Potential applicants must demonstrate they have the capacity and the mental, physical and spiritual stamina to complete all the requirements of the training, including the written and clinical work and the requirement to be involved in professional supervision, group enquiry and personal psychotherapy.

Candidates should have the financial resources available to meet all the costs of the training, including payment for psychotherapy, supervision, travel and books, in addition to the stated course fees.

Psychotherapeutic and professional competencies include:

-The ability to work reflectively and contemplatively, within a spiritual understanding of self, other and relationship

A full list of the competencies is available on application

Karuna Institute

International Training and Retreat Centre

MA Programme : Mindfulness-Based Psychotherapeutic Practice - Two year Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Course

Year One

Year Two

course details