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Compassionate Presence:
An Intensive Mindfulness Retreat for Mental Health Professionals

offered by

The Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy
in collaboration with the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies

May 6, 2008, Tuesday, 5:30 PM thru May 11, Sunday, 2:00 PM

Barre Center for Buddhist Studies
149 Lockwood Road
Barre, Massachusetts, 01005

COURSE DESCRIPTION
The value of mindfulness meditation practice for counseling and mental health professionals is becoming ever more apparent, with benefits posed for therapist and patient alike. Mindfulness practice can deepen self- acceptance, which both fosters a sense of mental and emotional well-being in the person of the therapist, and deepens qualities of therapeutic presence such as empathy and equanimity.

This course is intended to provide an opportunity for learning and deepening mindfulness and compassion practices. We will begin at 5:30 PM on Tuesday with dinner, overview of the course and initial meditation instructions.

Wednesday through Friday will consist of periods of sitting and walking meditation in the mornings and evenings, with didactic presentations and group discussion and exercises in the afternoons. Saturday will be a full day of silent mindfulness practice (with instruction) and an opportunity for individual or group meetings. Participants will (1) learn how mindfulness enhances therapeutic presence, 2) learn lovingkindness practices for enhancing empathic attunement, and 3) understand the nature, function and limitation of the self from an experience-near Buddhist psychological perspective.

Twelve (12) CE credits are offered to psychologists, social workers, mental health counselors and nurses for the didactic part of the weekend. The course will be led by Bill Morgan, PsyD, Susan Morgan, CNS, Ron Siegel, PsyD and Jack Engler, PhD.

PROGRAM

Tuesday, May 6th
5:30 PM Registration opens
6:00 Dinner
7:30 Orientation, introduction, meditation instruction
9:30 Silence begins

Wednesday, May 7th
Morning- Compassion practice; Sitting and walking meditation
Afternoon- Bill and Susan Morgan- Didactic presentation and discussion
Evening- Sitting meditation and evening talk

Thursday, May 8th
Morning- Concentration practice; Sitting and walking meditation
Afternoon- Ron Siegel- Didactic presentation and discussion
Evening- Sitting meditation and mindfulness talk

Friday, May 9th
Morning- Mindfulness practice; Sitting and walking meditation
Afternoon- Jack Engler- Didactic presentation and discussion
Evening- Sitting meditation and noble silence talk

Saturday, May 10th
Full day of silence
Sitting and walking meditation
Individual/group meetings

Sunday, May 11th
9:00 AM Silence ends
9:30-12:00 Closing meditation, clinical talk and discussion
12:00 Lunch; informal discussion

CONTINUING EDUCATION
This course will be taught at a level appropriate for post-graduate training of doctoral level psychologists. The course will be limited to 20 psychotherapists.

Psychologists: The Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy is approved by the American Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. This course offers 12 hours of credit. Although the program is cosponsored with the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies, the Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy maintains responsibility for the program.

Social Workers: Application for continuing education credit has been made to the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers. Credits pending.

Nurses: This course meets the specifications of the Board of Registration in Nursing (244 CMR) for 12 Contact Hours.

Licensed Mental Health Counselors: The Institute is recognized by the National Board for Certified Counselors to offer continuing education for National Certified Counselors. We adhere to NBCC Continuing Education Guidelines. This program is approved for 12 contact hours, Provider #6048, and is applicable for Commonwealth of Massachusetts Counseling/Allied Mental Health and PDP accreditation.

FACULTY

Bill Morgan, PsyD is in private practice in Cambridge and Braintree MA. Over the past 30 years he has done long retreats in all three of the major Buddhist contemplative traditions: Vipassana, Zen and Tibetan. His doctoral project focused upon what it means to make progress in meditation. He has led weekend retreats since 1987.

Susan Morgan, MSN, RN, CS is a clinical nurse specialist in private practice in Cambridge. She has meditated in both Christian and Buddhist traditions for the past 20 years. Susan and Bill spend one week each month in silent retreat at the Forest Refuge.

Ron Siegel, PsyD is a clinical psychologist in private practice in Lincoln, MA, an Assistant Clinical Professor in Psychology at Harvard Medical School where he has taught for over 20 years, and a long-term student of mindfulness meditation. He is a coauthor of Back Sense: A Revolutionary Approach to Halting the Cycle of Chronic Back Pain and a co-editor of Mindfulness and Psychotherapy.

Jack Engler, PhD teaches and supervises psychotherapy trainees at Harvard Medical School, and has a private practice in Cambridge, MA. A former board member of BCBS, he is the co-author of Transformations of Consciousness with Ken Wilber and Dan Brown.

REGISTRATION

Fee: Entire program, including accommodations and meals: $475.00.

What to Bring: Students staying on the BCBS campus should bring their own sheets and towels. Meditation equipment is provided. Please refrain from using scented products.

Directions to the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies: Route 2 west to Gardner; Route 68 south through Hubbardston center; Route 62 west to Barre center; across the common, right on Route 122 north, then bear right immediately on Pleasant Street; 2 miles up the hill, right on Lockwood Road (dirt road). BCBS is at the end of the road.

Please send your registration form (below) and fee to:

Barre Center for Buddhist Studies
149 Lockwood Road Barre, MA 01005

TEL: (978) 355-2347 • FAX: (978) 355-2798
Website: dharma.org/bcbs • Email: bcbs@dharma.org

Compassionate Presence Form
Complete form and print page to mail/fax to the Barre Center for registration.