Program Components

• Nine monthly Trainings.
• For the 2013-14 class: One 4 day residential Contemplative Care Retreat, October 17-Oct 20, 2013 at Garrison Institute.
• Monthly meeting with peers.
• 8 One-on-One supervision sessions.
• One hundred hours of volunteer contemplative caregiving at a clinical site (hospital or hospice).  Local students complete these hours at Beth Israel or VNSNY, non-local students can do their clinical hours local to where they live.
• Monthly assigned reading and written assignments.

Training

• History of Contemplative Care: applications and settings for spiritual care, engaged Buddhism.
• Contemplative Care Skills I: purpose and functioning of a caregiver, establishing spiritual care relationships, listening, spiritual counseling, verbal and nonverbal communication.
• Contemplative Care Skills II: spiritual assessment, ritual, collaboration with other professionals and disciplines.
• Buddhist practices related to contemplative care.
• Cultural competency in a multicultural world.
• Verbal and non-verbal communication.
• Use of Self; when to disclose and when not to, boundaries and ethics of conduct; personal safety; sexual feelings in spiritual care relationships.
• Interfaith and multi-faith ministry, religious directives.
• Creating and Leading Rituals: memorials, rites of passage, practice rituals.
• Ministry to death and dying, grief and loss.
• Critical Incidents: trauma, addiction, suicide, homicide, domestic violence. Elective Study.

To complement the training program, the New York Zen Center offers public talks, retreats, workshops, and other training programs. To view upcoming events, click here.

Location

Classes will be held at the New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care in New York City.

Scheduled Dates:

Trainings are held primarily on Saturdays, and occasionally on both Friday and Saturdays, September 2013 through May 2014

2013/14 Training Dates

2013:  September 13 and 14; October 4 & 5, *October 17-20th, Contemplative Care retreat at Garrison Institute, Garrison, NY (*required); December 6 and 7.  NOTE: Wednesday, September 11 will be orientation day only for those students volunteering at Beth Israel, NYC.

2014: January 4; ZEN SESSHIN: January 16-19 (Optional); February 1; February 28 -March 1 ; April 5; May 2 + 3

Guidelines for Enrollment

The training program is designed for people who have a committed and ongoing involvement with a Buddhist or another contemplative practice, teachings, and way of life. With this in mind, the guidelines for entering the program are the following:

• Completed application for the 2013-14 year will be due by June 21, 2013.
• Letter of recommendation from a Buddhist teacher or someone who knows your spiritual practice.
• Regular and committed Buddhist or contemplative practice and study for at least two years (or previous chaplaincy training).
• Two Buddhist retreats of one week or longer or the equivalent.
• An in-person interview.

Graduate Credits

This is a graduate level training that includes several self‐directed learning components. It does not certify you to become a chaplain. However, successful completion of the Foundations Program does make you eligible to apply for our Clinical Pastoral Education (C.P.E) training program. Also, once you are accepted to the Foundations Program, you have the option to register through our partner institution, New York Theological Seminary, to receive 8 Graduate Credits for this program. There is an additional charge, paid to NYTS for these credits. To learn more about NYTS and our relationship with them, please go here.

Continuing Education Credits

Social Workers

For professional social workers, National Association of Social Workers credit will be offered at an estimated 40 Social Workers Continuing Education contact hours for completion of this course.  A $25 Continuing Education Certificate fee will be added to the tuition cost. Confirmed approval number and final credits offered will soon be announced.

Nurses

For professional nurses, credit will be offered through the New Jersey State Nurses Association, at an estimated 100 Contact Hours, (Synergy CERP Category B, File number 00015861).  A $25 Continuing Education Certificate fee will be added to the tuition cost. Confirmed approval number and final credits offered will soon be announced. 

Tuition and Admissions

• The cost for the ten-month program is $3,400 (payable by check or credit card).
• A limited number of partial work-exchange scholarships may be available.
• Space is limited. Applications will be reviewed as they are sent in and are accepted year-round.

Application deadline for the 2013-14 class will be June 21, 2013.  Applications are received and accepted on a first come, first serve basis, so sending in your application early is advised.  To download the application, click here.