When: Friday, April 5, 6, 7, 2019

Where: La Fonda on the Plaza, Santa Fe
Special Room Discount $179 until March 1st 2019- Hotel Reservation:  505-982-5511
Further conference Information: 505-982-4183 / info@lifetransition.com

Time:    Friday & Saturday, 8 am to 5 pm & 6 pm to 9 pm
               Sunday  8 am to 5 pm
               Lunch  12 noon to 1 pm

Full Course (4 Classes)-

24 Continuing Education Units NM Counseling Therapy Practice Board
Cost: $497
Student Rate: $397 with proof of enrollment and student ID. 

Group Rate: Call to inquire

                          Student and group registration, call 505-982-4183

 
Individual Classes- 
6 CEUs NM Counseling Therapy Practice Board
Cost: $155
Student Rate:  $108 with proof of enrollment and student ID. 

                          Student registration only, call 505-982-4183

Scroll down for course descriptions and more information.  

NO REFUNDS after February 19th

Purpose of the Courses:

To assist professionals in developing personal skills to manage their body, speech and mind,
maintaining health despite stressors, preventing “burn out” through the use of innovative tools for self-care.


The courses are based on the Buddhist teachings of the Abhidhamma (Buddhist Psychology) and offer an introduction to the direct experience of meditative states of mind. It is suitable for professionals who wish to investigate meditation as an adjunct to psychotherapy and healthcare. For experienced meditators, this course can help explore the interface of various meditation practices. 

 

Part I  - Creating a Psychological Framework Using Buddhist Concepts 6 CEU

Friday  8am until 5pm

Emphasizes the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path, which includes twelve primary skills. A variety of meditation techniques will be taught, with an emphasis on breath work and deep inquiry into sense of self. Questions about the appropriateness of blending psychotherapy, professional medical practice and meditation will be addressed; as well as the most effective ways of doing so. Participants will build foundational skills (concentration/tranquility) allowing them to gain deeper insight into themselves and will learn to work with subtle energies. This class will offer a practice path towards optimum wellness.


Objectives:

1. Translate understanding of The Four Noble Truths as they apply to the medical mode
2. Examine the Eightfold Path as a method of building consistency in healthy behaviors for self and patients.
3. Develop understanding of sense of self and how to “be with” and manage self.
4. Relate The Four Noble Truths and how they assist in management of one’s “self”/behavior/health.
5. Investigate life and death through a Buddhist lens as either side of the same coin.
6. Distinguish subtle differences between concentration and insight.
7. Formulate understanding of the various qualities of meditation and how these are more than only skills and techniques.
   

 
To Receive Credit: Participants must have 100% participation in all contact hours including group discussions and exercises. Participants must complete required evaluation forms.

 

Part II - Practical Application of Buddhist Psychological Skills 6 CEU

 
Friday & Saturday      6pm until 9pm

Emphasizes the Four Bases of Power and the Four Foundations of Mindfulness, which include eight primary skills. A variety of meditation techniques will be taught, with an emphasis on breath work and deep inquiry into sense of self. Questions about the appropriateness of blending psychotherapy, professional medical practice and meditation will be addressed; as well as the most effective ways of doing so. Participants will build foundational skills (concentration/tranquility) allowing them to gain deeper insight into themselves and will learn to work with subtle energies. This class will offer a practice path towards optimum wellness.

 
Objectives:  

1. Categorize the basic components of what is known as Body, Speech and Mind
2. Cultivate one’s subtle body energy
   
3. Illustrate how The Four Bases of Power serve to get through difficulty and overcome personal struggle; a “rive” for rough terrain.
   
4. Validate the stages of unfinished grief as a natural ongoing process of any loss. 
   
5.  Discuss The Four Foundations of Mindfulness as the frame of reference for the self-examination.
   
6.  Compare and contrast when one has skillful vs. unskillful concentration. 
   
   

To Receive Credit: Participants must have 100% participation in all contact hours including group discussions and exercises. Participants must complete required evaluation forms.

 

Part III - Buddhist Skills for the Enhancement of Spiritual Development 6 CEU

Saturday 8am until 5pm

Emphasizes the Four Right Exertions; the Five Facilities and Strengths; and Absorption Concentration which includes eighteen primary skills. A variety of meditation techniques will be taught, with an emphasis on breath work and deep inquiry into sense of self. Questions about the appropriateness of blending psychotherapy, professional medical practice and meditation will be addressed; as well as the most effective ways of doing so. Participants will build foundational skills (concentration/tranquility) allowing them to gain deeper insight into themselves and will learn to work with subtle energies. This class will offer a practice path towards optimum wellness.


Objectives:

1. Identify the goals of Self Regulation: Peace, Joy and Balance
2. Formulate an understanding of the faculties and strengths as a set of skills for Self management.
3. Develop awareness of skillful qualities and accepting responsibility for one’s actions.
4. To relate the importance of cultivating and working with Right View.
5. Define the Four Right Exertions and their utilization in defining the “right thing to do”. (Right Action) 
6. Discriminate when to use: visualization, one point-focusing, sound, color, breath, or meditation skills in relation to the concept and skill of Mindfulness
7. Relate the importance of mindfulness of breath for enhancing the parasympathetic nervous system.

 

To Receive Credit: Participants must have 100% participation in all contact hours including group discussions and exercises. Participants must complete required evaluation forms.

 
 
Part IV - Buddhist Skill for Awakening To Inner Peace 6 CEU

Sunday 8am until 5pm 

Emphasizes the Seven Factors to Enlightenment/Awakening and the Four Sublime States, which include eleven primary skills. A variety of meditation techniques will be taught, with an emphasis on breath work and deep inquiry into sense of self. Questions about the appropriateness of blending psychotherapy, professional medical practice and meditation will be addressed; as well as the most effective ways of doing so. Participants will build foundational skills (concentration/tranquility) allowing them to gain deeper insight into themselves and will learn to work with subtle energies. This class will offer a practice path towards optimum wellness.


Objectives:                 

1. Verbalize understanding of healthy and unhealthy feedback loops within the self.
2. How the seven factors can bring calmness and how to encourage them.
3. Develop an awareness of “skillfulness” as it can be applied to life’s transitions.
4. Formulate an awareness of subtle body energies within the self and the interplay between insight and healing.
5. Evaluate when the mind and heart are at peace.
6. Relate the importance of cultivating and working with the appropriate attention and loving kindness. 
7. Determine when to use: language, visualization, intuition or all of these skills. 
   

To Receive Credit: Participants must have 100% participation in all contact hours including group discussions and exercises. Participants must complete required evaluation forms.

 

Learned Therapeutic Meditation Skills:

All courses will include three to eleven minutes of two to four breath meditation practices.

Objectives:

• Calming the intensity of thoughts and images
• Relax the body
  
• Reduce the intensity of discomfort
  
• Turning noise into sound and embracing it
  
• Deepening one’s concentration
  
• Understanding of insight
  
• Cultivating the elevation of depression
  
• Enhancing sleep and rest of body and mind
  
• Enhancing wise speech
  
• Decreasing anxiety
  
• Using breath base meditation practices to assist in healing from addiction
  
• Deepening one’s insight into the physical and subtle bodies
  
• Discriminating between sensations  and feelings
  
• Noticing one’s behavioral pasterns
  
• Understanding the power and effects of intention

Course Materials

In order to keep the price of these courses as low as possible the course materials are included in an electronic format.  A month before the conference, the materials, including the Day Agenda, will be emailed to you in pdf format (approximately 85 pages per-course). You can decide to print them or keep them on your device.  

If you would prefer to have us print & bind it for you, there will be a $60.00 charge for the materials for all four courses. 

To Receive CEUs: Participants must have 100% participation in all contact hours including group discussions and exercises. Participants must complete the required evaluation forms.

 

Registration: 

For the student rate please call 505-982-4183
​

Ralph Steele, M.A., L.M.F.T., S.E.P., I.S.P. has in-depth training and experience in Buddhist psychology, religious studies, family systems, cultural psychology, somatic experiencing practitioner, and integral somatic psychology.  He assists  Dr Raja Selvam, PhD, PhD, in advanced trauma training to healthcare professionals. He is the guiding teacher of the Life Transition Meditation Center, www.lifetransition.com, the non-profit organization supporting this event. 

INTRODUCTION TO
BUDDHIST PSYCHOLOGY PARTS I-IV

PO Box 9286, Santa Fe, NM 87504

​​​505-982-4183