MA Programme: Post-Qualification Training in Mindfulness-Based Psychotherapeutic Practice

This post-qualification MA Course, validated by Middlesex University, is an in-depth training in Core Process Psychotherapy. For the first time this training is being offered in Scotland.

It aims to build on the foundation of the trainee's prior clinical experience and learning.

It presents an in-depth mindfulness-based model of psychotherapy derived from profound insights of Buddhist Psychology.

The taught component of this course comprises two years with an additional six months after course completion enabling trainees to write their dissertation and complete all course requirements for graduation.

Participants are rigorously trained in the Core Process approach in order to be able to demonstrate clinical competence. There are two clinical pathways for those undertaking this Course, either to; work towards graduation alone which involves having two Core Process clients for six months; or work towards accreditation, which means undertaking the Clinical Year after year two and accruing the required client hours for registration with U.K.C.P.

The M.A. is awarded to all trainees at graduation. All students are required to apply to graduate within six months of completing year two.

Core Process Psychotherapy is an innovative psychotherapeutic approach which integrates the Buddhist understanding of mindfulness and the intrinsic health of our true nature with developments in neuroscience, western psychology and psychotherapeutic approaches.

Within this wide perspective there is a deep appreciation of the significance of inner experiencing and the importance of relationship, in the earliest developmental ‘holding environment’ and attachment experience, and the therapeutic alliance between therapist and client.

Core Process recognises that, particularly throughout childhood, but also at all stages of the life cycle, we all benefit from and need reflective and enriching developmental and learning opportunities.

This training in a contemplative approach to psychotherapy is facilitated through lectures and intensive 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 is the development of 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.

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 enquiring jointly into our inherent health and resources, our self-structures derived from early wounding in relationship, and into the primary patterns of overwhelm and traumatisation,

The course also promotes the development of fundamental clinical skills of embodied open-hearted presence and compassionate responsiveness. The course content is structured so that contemplative and inter-relational practices and skills are developed alongside the unfolding theoretical input about the Core Process psychotherapeutic developmental model of the self.

Format:
Years 1 and 2 of the course each consist of five 4-day non-residential training modules in Edinburgh, and one 5-day training module at the Karuna Institute in Devon.

Venue:

St Andrew’s Children’s Society
7 John’s Place
Leith
Edinburgh
EH6 7EL

For more information, visit www.karuna-institute.co.uk

"Increasingly as Eastern spiritual traditions have influenced Western society, 'mindfulness' as a term has flowed into common usage. Aspects of mindfulness have been integrated into various counselling and psychotherapeutic approaches.  This training is based on mindfulness and ‘mindfulness within relationship’ to help people access their intrinsic health and promote profound transformation."
Maura Sills

Maura Sills, Co-founder and Director of the Karuna Institute is an Honorary Fellow of UKCP and has played a significant role over many years in the promotion of high professional standards within Psychotherapy training and post accreditation frameworks to support both clients and practitioners.