That’s great! Every time I have asked (Tony the last time), I am told the next season (fall, winter, spring, etc.) it will be done. It seems as tho in the interim of working out these complex coding issues, you could just have a link to a page with the names, cities, and contact information! Is there a reason not to do that?
Hi, Gill. It actually is a bit more complicated that just publishing a flat file list, much as we would all like it to be that easy. For example, there’s ensuring the names are actually certified teachers. Then there’s getting accurate information for them: new emails, addresses, etc. And there’s also verifying with each person we have that they even want to be listed; some do not as they may not be interested in teaching, others do not as they’re not quite ready to teach yet. We also need to put processes in place for people to keep their information current, get added when they’re ready to teach, etc.
Lots of work just to put up a static page, without even touching coding (which, as a former IT professional, is actually relatively simple). We’re hip deep in much of these activities already of course, and are committed to delivering this; you can always check in with me on it, I’m happy to speak with you and everyone here online.
I appreciate your response. Of course, since you are the certifying agency, telling if they are certified seems obvious?
What I was told last fall (when the list was promised for spring) was that the problem was that they wanted some automatic way that the names were connected with other programming… and I got lost there.
The rest you have listed seems like a week’s work. Do you need a volunteer? ☺
Anyway, I certainly appreciate your thorough answer.
Gill
Gillian Hamilton M.D., Ph.D.
Administrative Medical Director
Hospice of the Valley
1510 E. Flower Street
Phoenix, AZ 85014
Phone 602-748-3692
Fax 602-636-6357
Hello, I’m wondering who I could talk to about the course work for the MBSR certification? I’ve taken the MBSR 8 week course in Chicago (which was led by a certified instructor) and I’m currently certified through Mindful Schools. (I completed their year long certification course and their fundamental courses) I’m trying to avoid taking course work I’ve already had elsewhere. Thank you.
Hi Anastasia,
Thanks for your inquiry. On the one hand, I can very much appreciate your
wish not to repeat work you have already completed. In this day and age
there is just so much to do! On the other hand, it seems to me that each
opportunity to immerse in mindfulness training is precious, both for our
own practice and for our development as professionals who teach it.
All that said, the simple fact is that we do not currently have any
equivalency process with the Mindful Schools program.
The MBSR teacher education program is quite unique, really focused in
practicing mindfulness deeply, over time, and in learning the MBSR
approach. Those who wish to be certified by the Center for Mindfulness are
required to successfully complete the full pathway.
It is possible, though, to take our trainings individually, so if you are
simply interested in training with us to develop your existing skills,
rather than obtaining certification from us, that may be a good option for
you.
As our profession gets more well established, methods of determining
equivalency may be developed. We are not at that stage yet.
Hope this helps you chart your course. If you have other questions about
engaging with our teacher education program, please reach out again.
Kind regards,
Eowyn
I have a question about the silent retreat requirement. I have been to the website Oasis provides. I am signed up for a 5 day silent metta retreat
at IMS. I know that I was told vipassina retreats qualify in the category of
silent retreats. Is this also true of the metta retreat which helps to more deeply support vipassina? I need to know immediately as I am signed up
for this metta retreat and would have to change it immediately if only
vipassina retreats qualify. I quess I also need to know if it is true that
vipassina silent retreats qualify. THanks, Sharmane Simard
Hi Sharmane,
I hope my response is timely enough for you to make your plans - life is
full here!
Thanks for your thoughtful comments about the relationship between metta
and vipassana, as well as your question regarding our pre-requisite
requirements.
For those who are entering the path of retreat practice simultaneous with
their interest in our Oasis training program, we ask that either
mindfulness and/or vipassana retreats come first. More often now,
mindfulness retreats in the MBSR tradition are becoming available. You can
find those here. (And, in fact, if you look at that page, you will see that
I teach some of those.)
That said, occasionally, if someone comes to Oasis with many past
mindfulness retreats, we might negotiate and agree that a
metta/lovingkindness retreat is most skillful for their practice
development now.
I do not know your situation, but if you would like to send me a private
message to discuss the details, please feel welcome to.
And, it is worth taking a moment to say that, course requirements aside,
these practice skills develop together, just like an animal grows two arms
at the same time. It is to organize the cognitive learning content that we
put mindfulness retreats first, not because we value one over the other.
Kind regards,
Eowyn
Hello,
I’am thinking of undertaking the training in MBSR. I read that I will have to follow the DM-100 MBSR in Mind-Body Medicine. In it’s description it says “It is a unique opportunity for physicians and other healthcare professionals to train intensively in mindfulness meditation…” Does it mean you have to belong to thoses categories to attend the course ?
Thanks for helpful comments
Jerome