This innovative program combines the wisdom and compassion of Buddhism with the knowledge, skills and best practices of healthcare. It prepares people from all walks of life to compassionately serve the needs of family members and patients while building resilience for themselves.
The Contemplative Caregiver Course (CCC) engages individual, family, and professionals caregivers in contemplative practices & care methods through 11 months of coursework. A team of core and guest faculty guide students in an integral learning experience, incorporating contemplative, didactic, creative and experiential elements to cultivate the skills of contemplative care.
Our goal is to offer a transformative learning experience that prepares people from all walks of life to serve the needs of those who are aging, frail, and dying needs in our communities in whatever capacities they are called. The course uniquely utilizes the mindfulness teachings of Buddhism to reawaken a caregiver’s original sense of purpose and, also, give them the resiliency training they need to provide effective, empowering and dignified care.
The CCC is suitable for healthcare practitioners and administrators of all disciplines as well as individuals caring for family members in their homes, or when they are placed in assisted living facilities, hospitals, hospices, and other places where excellent care is needed. Participants from all walks of life are welcome.
Upon completion participants receive a certificate as a Contemplative Caregiver.
The Contemplative Caregiver Course is a collaboration between Jennifer Block, founder of Beyond Measure School for Contemplative Care and San Francisco Zen Center, with Susan O’Connell, Vice President as the primary vision holder. This curriculum will inform the Zen-inspired senior living community currently being developed by San Francisco Zen Center and Northern California Presbyterian Homes and Services.
Click the links below for details, or view the same information here in PDF format.
Components
A. Education Sessions
Students and faculty gather in person for lectures, group discussion, case studies, guest speaker presentations, and experiential learning activities.
B. Practices
Each term, students learn a particular practice to develop competence in contemplative care: 1) mindfulness meditation, 2) contemplation on aging & dying, and 3) compassion cultivation. Instruction and mentoring are provided. Practices include meditation, reading, and reflective writing. Previous meditation experience is not required.
C. Caregiving Practicum
The practicum includes direct caregiving practice in one’s workplace, home, or community and virtual supervision. This is one of the most important components of the course. It allows our students to put into practice what they learn in class. Students can define the best form for their caregiving practicum: volunteer, family, community, professional, etc. For some, it may be their work in a hospital or service agency, for others it may be in caregiving to a family member.
D. Mentor Meetings
Between each Education Session, students meet with one of the faculty. These are times to for support, guidance and reflections on one’s successes and challenges during the course.
E. Supervision Groups: between sessions, via conference phone calls.
The purpose of these meetings is to continue the learning process through peer discussion and supervision with a faculty member.
Our approach is one of multi-modal education, always reaching for the balance of engaging the body as well as the mind and spirit, so that our students may learn to their greatest capacity, while having useful skills and tools with which to serve others. Engaging in the multiple components of the course enhances skill, understanding, empathy, authenticity, and synchronization of body, speech, and mind. This approach promotes an exciting learning environment and encourages individual ways of knowing.
Completion/Certification
Participants who attend all sessions and retreats, and complete written and practicum components of the program will receive a Certificate as a Contemplative Caregiver. No academic credit is awarded at this time.
Continuing Education Units
130 Continuing Education Units are available for this course. There is a $15 administrative fee for CEUs, payable at time of registration. More information is here.
Zen Foundations
- Zen Way of Life
- Deep Interconnectedness
- Meeting aging, sickness & death
- Stillness, Silence & Presence
- Beginner’s Mind
Contemplative Care
- Mindful Attunement
- Turning towards, not away
- Appropriate Response
- Honoring Change
- Bearing Witness
- Rituals of Contemplative Care
Being Within
- Compassion Cultivation
- Listening Inward
- Personal Resilience
- Meeting our own losses and aging
- Curiosity as well as expertise
Being With Others
- The Circle of Giver, Receiver & Gift
- Skillful Means & Advocacy
- Guiding with Competence & Humility
- Caregiving Myths & Realistic Expectations
- Stillness within Activity
Faculty
The Contemplative Caregiver Course is led by a core faculty comprised of leaders from caregiving institutions and contemplative communities, with adjunct faculty who are prominent healthcare leaders, educators, and scholars. They all share a dedication to caring for people who are aging, frail, and approaching the end of life. From their decades of intensive monastic, religious, and clinical practice, we offer you trainings crafted from our personal, direct experiences of caregiving from a contemplative perspective.
Jennifer Block is a Buddhist chaplain, educator and counselor who has developed education programs for Zen Hospice Project and the Sati Center for Buddhist Studies based on Buddhist teaches and caregiving.
Robert Cusick is a mindfulness practitioner and instructor who has studied many schools and practices of Buddhism, including Vipassana, Zen, Insight and Concentration.
Linda Ruth Cutts is a Soto Zen teacher who serves as Abiding Abbess of Green Gulch Zen Center, leading many retreats and classes is the Way of Zen.
Fu Schroeder is a Soto Zen teacher who directs the Children and Family programs at Green Gulch Farm Zen Center and serves on the board of the Marin Community Foundation.
Peter van der Sterre is a Soto Zen teacher who teaches the Way of the Cook, in addition to being the proprietor of a residential construction and development business.
Who Attends
Engaging in contemplative caregiving begins with you, with a sense of longing or calling that you may have experienced. Perhaps you have an inner knowing that training in this type of care is relevant to your current or future life situation. Perhaps you are already a caregiver, and yearn for a new approach to your profession.
Our programs are designed for people who care for others, in whatever form that is personally or professionally relevant. Individuals in this course retain and deepen their personal spiritual perspectives, while also expanding their capacity to serve others within a contemplative framework that is rooted in Buddhist teachings. Our students come from a diverse range of backgrounds—from nurses to yoga instructors to family caregivers to psychologists. All who attend share the intention to develop greater skill and confidence in caring for people who are aging, sick, and dying. These include:
- Individuals caring for family members in their homes, or when they are placed in assisted living facilities, hospitals, hospices, and the like.
- Healthcare workers such as nursing attendants, mental health workers, social workers, hospice personnel, nurses and physicians, clergy, therapists, integrative and holistic medicine practitioners, emergency responders, and community service workers.
- Managerial and executive personnel from the health and social services sector who seek innovative strategies in developing and implementing progressive strategies for mission integration, systemic change, and staff training based on our curriculum.
2013 Dates
Term 1:
Session 1: January 24, 25, 26
Session 2: March 14, 15,16
Session 3: May 2, 3, 4
Term 2:
Practicum: June 1 – July 31
Term 3:
Session 4: August 8, 9, 10 & 11
Session 5: September 26, 27, 28
Session 6: November 14, 15, 16
Terms may be taken separately, but only sequentially. Participation in Term 1 is a pre-requisite for Term 2, Terms 1 & 2 are prerequisites for Term 3. Upon completion of Terms 1, 2 & 3, participants receive a certificate as a Contemplative Caregiver.
Times
Sessions 1-3, 5 & 6 run from Thursday late afternoon to Saturday lunch. Session 4 runs from Thursday late afternoon to Sunday lunch and is an overnight event at Green Gulch farm.
Location
Sessions 1-3, 5 & 6: the San Francisco Zen Center, in San Francisco, CA.
Session 4: Green Gulch Farm Zen Center, Muir Beach, CA.
Practicum: from home and in one’s workplace/community.
Overnight accommodations and meals are not provided, though arrangements can be made to stay overnight at SFZC City Center for an additional fee. There are also several hotels in the area within walking distance. More information/a list of area hotels, will be provided upon registration.
Assistance/access for disabled participants can be arranged with prior arrangement.
Travel
Students are responsible for their own travel arrangements and costs, including airfare and ground transportation. Suggested travel times and details will be sent to students in advance to assist in travel preparation.
Fees Effective May 1, 2012
Tuition: $3,000.00
Application fee: $50.00
Travel and accommodations are not included
- Tuition can be made in 3 payments: 1 upon enrollment, 1 in June, and 1 in August. We are unable to provide any other payment plans.
- All cancellations will incur a $100 cancellation fee. If you must cancel, call the office and follow your call with a written refund request. We cannot refund cancellations received less than 3 days prior to the start date.
Work Exchange
A 30% reduction off the tuition fee is available for a limited number of participants who cannot afford to pay the entire tuition. No full scholarships are available for this program. In exchange for reduced tuition, Work Exchange participants are expected to perform duties such as administrative work, marketing assistance, making phone calls, direct mailings and other jobs as needed. Work Exchange Applications are due December 15, 2012. Decisions will be made by January 2, 2013 and will be based on financial need.
There are no education requirements per se for admission. Everyone has the capacity to embrace the suffering of another person and the ability to provide compassionate care to another. We welcome applicants of diverse backgrounds.
A written application is required for enrollment. Its purpose is two-fold:
1) To help our faculty understand the applicant’s readiness and motivation
2) To clarify one’s own intentions and motivations for enrolling
In addition to basic contact information, the application contains reflective questions about intention, motivation, caregiving, and related experiences. Unlike a job or college application, applicants need not worry about having specific skills, qualifications, or standing out from others. Most applicants are accepted into the program. The most common reason for declining an applicant is his or her lack of readiness or inability to fully participate in all aspects of the CCC.
The CCC is designed for people who are called to take care of others, in whatever form that is personally or professionally relevant. This includes, but is not limited to: healthcare, social work, psychotherapy, religious services, caring for aging parents or disabled family members, and others. Professionals working in the fields of medicine, human and social services, as well as students and trained volunteers who engage in direct care, leadership, or administration are encouraged to apply.
People’s whose lives are enriched by other academic studies, extended periods of travel, or major life transitions such as weddings, divorces, births, grave illness, moving homes, and the like, are advised to carefully consider if they have time and energy to engage in the course.
Advice about Enrolling
We appreciate that some people need support in discerning if the CCC is appropriate for them at this time. Indeed, choosing to enroll in a program such as this is a considerable investment of time and resources. We are available for discernment about enrolling, at no charge.
Application & Deadline
Application Fee: $50.00
Deadline: January 15, 2013
Download the application here.
Applications are received and accepted on a first come, first serve basis, so sending early application is advised. Subsequently, candidates will be contacted to arrange for a mutually convenient interview, either in person or virtually.
Who should take the CCC? This program is designed for people who care for others, in whatever form that is personally or professionally relevant. All who attend share the intention to develop greater skill and confidence in caring for people who are aging, sick, and dying.
What is the cost of the program? Tuition is $3,000.00. Payment can be made in 3 installments. There is no financial aid available. A limited number of work exchange opportunities are available.
Where does the training take place?
Sessions 1-3, 5 & 6: the San Francisco Zen Center, in San Francisco, CA.
Session 4: Green Gulch Farm Zen Center, Muir Beach, CA.
Practicum: from home and in one’s community.
Terms may be taken separately, but only sequentially. Participation in Term 1 is a pre-requisite for Term 2, Terms 1 & 2 are prerequisites for Term 3. Upon completion of Terms 1, 2 & 3, participants receive a certificate as a Contemplative Caregiver.
Do I need to have caregiving experience? No. This program program is open to all. Each of us has the capacity to embrace the suffering of another person and the ability to provide contemplative care to another.
How many people are in the course? The course is limited to a maximum of 20 participants. This will ensure a relaxed, intimate environment with a high level of interaction between faculty and other participants, and ample opportunity for dialogue and questions. There will also be opportunities to engage in meditative practices together.
Will this training qualify me for a full-time job as a professional caregiver? No. Professional caregivers are trained and credentialed by several organizations, and most employers require this credential. This training, however, can serve as preparation and discernment for people considering a career in professional caregiving.
What if I am not a Buddhist? No problem. We welcome applications of all races, classes, sexual orientations, gender identities, ages, disabilities, cultures, ethnicities, religions, and other social identities. Read our Diversity Commitment here.
Can you tell me more about the meditation training aspect of this course? First, you do not need to know how to meditate to join the training. We will teach you. Second, students practice regular meditation and mindful activity between each session. This is the primary ‘homework’ for participants, in addition to reading and writing. More information is here.
Can I get Continuing Education Units? Yes. Continuing Education Units are provided through our partnership with San Francisco Zen Center. There is a $15 administrative fee for CEUs, payable at time of enrollment. More information is here.
Can I get academic credit? No, it is not possible to receive academic credit at this time.
How do I enroll in the program? Acceptance into the CCC is based on a written application and interview. There is an application fee of $50. Applications are due January 15, 2013. In-person interviews are scheduled as applications are received. Skype or phone interviews may be conducted for long-distance applicants.
The “being” mode emphasized in mindfulness practice is a good compliment or counterbalance to a task-oriented approach to caregiving. Training in mindfulness is a primary method through which contemplative care can be achieved and skills developed.
Participants in our classes and courses receive instruction in mindful awareness practices in order to cultivate the capacity of being present in the moment and to deepen their understanding of the principles of contemplative care. Woven into the fabric of the curriculum are practices that include sitting meditation and mindful activity practices such as cooking and healing touch. The depth of insight and concentration reached through engagement with meditation alters the very landscape of giving and receiving care.
Contemplative care qualities developed through mindfulness training include openness, self-awareness and insight; enhanced speaking and listening skills; the sharpening of insight; and an appreciation of the world’s diversity and richness. From this self-understanding comes equanimity and an ability to appreciate the value of another’s perspective.
About Mindfulness Meditation
Mindfulness Meditation is a way to quiet and calm the mind by paying non-judgmental attention to your moment-to-moment experience. The purpose of mindfulness is to simply observe the ever-changing nature of experiences in a nonjudgmental way without analyzing, interpreting, or reacting to the experiences.
It involves maintaining an appropriate amount of distance from one’s experiences that allows one to create the mental space needed to non-judgmentally observe your thoughts and feelings as they arise, while still being aware of and connected to your feelings. Mindfulness meditation includes examination of the nature of mind, consciousness, and the moment to moment flow of experiences (i.e., bodily sensations, thoughts, and feelings). Attention is focused, yet permitted to shift to what arises and disappears in the field of awareness. This type of awareness enables one to be fully present in the here and now without dwelling on the past or worrying about the future.
In addition, scientific studies have proven that meditation helps restore and maintain a sense of personal balance and develop the skills to avoid emotional and physical depletion. This is important not only for persons who are facing stress-related conditions, but also for persons who want to avoid physical or professional burnout. We need to care for ourselves as we attend to the needs of our clients. In fact, learning to balance the emotional demands of caregiving with other personal and professional pressures is central to contemplative care and vital to health and longevity.
The Contemplative Caregiver Course is far more than a training aimed at simply educating people in how to care for others. Knowledge of and compassion for oneself are essential to the ability to provide contemplative care.Thus a structured format for deep self-reflection and personal development is also part of the training. Students have the unique opportunity to explore their own understanding about giving and receiving care, its contemplative dimension, and how they relate to life and those they care for.
In this way, training in contemplative care is not so much a matter of acquiring information, understanding something new, or taking on a role. Rather, the skills built in this training clear the way for one’s natural caregiving capacities. Participants become uniquely attuned to a deeper understanding of what it means to be present with suffering and thereby are able to respond more effectively and appropriately to the needs of those in their care.