Do you find that people naturally gravitate to you seeking solace? Do people tell you how supported they feel by your presence? Do you have a flair for listening? This course is an opportunity to refine this affinity with greater attunement and skill to be of benefit to others.
The course is a unique one following a mindfulness based approach and focusing on the inner listening paradigm. The course is experiential and practical with just sufficient theory to supplement an experiential understanding of what it means to hold space for another. To be there for another, we need to encounter ourselves deeply and so the course design includes self-reflection, engagement in non-sectarian mindfulness practices, personal sessions with experienced counsellors/listeners and peer sessions. Inner listening and self-care are key components of the course.
This is a one year part-time PG diploma open to all who would like to offer a listening space to people with Mindfulness as a base.
The Program is offered in two formats:
- Join the program in a fully online format
- Join the program in a hybrid format- both in-person and/or online format
Course Highlights:
- Practical & Experiential
- Personal Work & Mindfulness practice
- Basic theory of counselling
- 630 hours of coursework
- Individual and group supervision from experts
- A mix of in-person and online sessions
- A total of 27 credits awarded at the completion of the course
- Group work
Spread over a year, it involves a mix of training sessions & group supervision sessions.
The first three months involve three-day sessions once a month, after that we alternate every month, between once-a-month three-day training sessions and two-day sessions for group supervision, sharing, and feedback.
Dates :
Pre-Program Mindfulness Practice begins June 24th, 2023
- Module 1 - August 4-6 2023
- Module 2- September 1-3 2023
- Module 3- October 6-8 2023
- Mid-term Evaluation- 26th November 2023
- Supervision 1- November 18-19 2023
- Module 4- December 1-3 2023
- Supervision 2- January 20-21 2024
- Module 5- February 2-4 2024
- Supervision 3- March 16-17 2024
- Module 6 - April 5-7 2024
- Final Evaluation- 2ne June 2024
Eligibility Criteria:
Graduation in any discipline and a willing heart to hold a listening space.
At the end of the course you can offer listening sessions and/or counselling sessions (if you have a psychology background) to benefit the community either on an individual basis or as a part of the organization.
This course is also suitable for those already in the field of counselling.
Please note:
Participants without an academic background in psychology/social work will be certified in Mindfulness Based Listening with Embodied Presence. Those with a psychology or social work background will be certified in Mindfulness Based Counseling: Listening with Embodied Presence
Program fee is Rs. 55,000 + 18% GST
The training is in paying attention moment to moment to various layers and dimensions within oneself, the other, the relational field and the larger field of awareness and to respond and support from an attentive and attuned space. Participants learn to engage in this process that is fluid, dynamic, present, supportive and empowering.
- Module 1: Attentiveness in the listening space
- Module 2: Compassion and Empathy in the listening space
- Module 3: Listening for insight and from a field of awareness
- Module 4: Group Process Work
- Module 5: Applications of Counselling to Specific Groups
- Module 6: Ethical Issues in Counseling
The training sessions during the module will be supplemented by the online supervision sessions. They will receive feedback on their work during the online supervision sessions as well as on their submitted reports (that includes written and audio recorded sessions).
Participants are required to receive and offer counselling sessions in between the in-person sessions, thereby adding dimensions to the listening process as they go along.
During the course, participants learn:
- To be attentive
- to what is going on within themselves,
- with the person who’s talking to them
- and in the listening space
- To authentically respond to what they are paying attention to in a way that is supportive to the client’s process.
- To draw the attention of the speaker to their own inner process such that an inherent wisdom and wholeness is uncovered
- To remain open and inviting in the face of whatever is encountered and meet people with an open, warm heart of love, grounded and centered.
- To deeply attune to in the moment processes as well as orient in wholeness and basic goodness.
- To include body awareness and somatic resonance.
- Participants would also learn to know when there might be a need for some specialized help and respond accordingly.
Course work:
The course work is about 630 hours that includes in person training sessions at the Center, mindfulness practices, online supervision sessions, personal counselling sessions, peer exchanges, conducting individual and group sessions.
Attendance and completion requirements:
Participants need to attend all sessions. In case sessions are missed, it will need to be covered up with a trainer either in person or online at an additional fee. In addition to attending in person and online group supervision, participants are required to complete the following as part of the coursework:
- 240 hours of mindfulness practice
- Conduct 25 individual counselling sessions with others
- Conduct 25 individual sessions with peers
- Conduct 4 two hour group sessions, one of which is conducted in class with peers and three other sessions in other organizations and groups
- Receive 3 Individual Supervision Sessions*
- Receive 6 personal counselling sessions with recommended counsellors & listeners*
Diploma will be granted only if all course completion criteria is met. Those without a psychology or social work background will be certified in Mindfulness Based Listening with Embodied Presence. Those with a psychology or social work background will be certified in Mindfulness Based Counseling: Listening with Embodied Presence
*Not included in the course fee; to be borne by the participant separately.
Sandy Dias Andrade
Lead facilitator and designer of the course
A gifted psychotherapist, trainer and workshop leader with 19 years of experience in the field, she has primarily trained in Mindfulness based interventions like Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) and Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT), Integral Somatic Psychotherapy (ISP), Biodynamic CranioSacral Therapy (BSCT), Focusing Skills Certification and is equipped in skills in cognitive, affective, somatic works as well as trauma resolution.
Sandy Dias Andrade is a psychotherapist in mindfulness and presence and founder director of Just Being, Pune. She is also a trustee at Connecting, an NGO involved in suicide prevention work. She was responsible for initiating the helpline service and has trained and mentored over hundred volunteers in ‘Mindfulness Based Active Listening’ as well as mentored other organisations and individuals in setting up listening systems.
Harini Raval
Co-Facilitator
Harini is an associated counselor with Just Being and holds individual as well as Group therapy spaces. She facilitated Grief Circles for the community on behalf of Just Being Center in association with Connecting Trust. She also works in the area of strengthening leadership in education and child development.
Harini Raval holds a Master’s degree in Social Work from ‘College of Social Work Nirmal Niketan’ and a Doctoral Degree in Education from ‘University of Twente, Netherlands’. She has trained in ‘Mindfulness Based Counseling: Listening with Embodied Presence’ from Just Being & St. Mira’s and ‘Mindfulness & Presence Oriented Psychotherapy’ from Just Being Center.
Dr Jaya Rajagopalan
Supporting Faculty
Jaya is the Head of Department of the Psychology Department at St. Mira’s College for Girls, Pune. She teaches many theory-based modules on the course and brings the theory alive for students. She has an ability to teach in a way that makes theoretical concepts lucid and places them in a concise yet comprehensive framework.
She has actively designed courses to advance students’ understanding of psychology as a profession, designed curriculums for undergraduate programs with psychology as a specialization, taught varied psychology courses for undergraduate levels, including psychopathology, research methodology and counselling psychology. She is also responsible for developing several volunteering programs that were very popular with the community and students. She is also a coordinator of the Internal Quality assurance cell and is instrumental in launching a very successful mental wellbeing program for students.
Smiti Srivastava
Guest Faculty
Smiti Srivastava is a COSCA (Counselling and Psychotherapy Scotland) qualified psychotherapist and qualitative researcher based out of Delhi NCR. She offers sessions on Ethics in Counseling on the course.
Smiti is also a certified queer affirmative counselling practitioner. She practices psychodynamic & insight oriented therapy and offers long term therapy to individuals above the age of 18. You can find some of her articles published in The Rising Kashmir daily and the MansWorld Magazine India where she writes on online dating fatigue, online versus offline identity and self care. Smiti has done her MSc in Counselling accredited by COSCA from University of Edinburgh. She has a Certificate in Queer Affirmative Counselling Practice from Mariwala Health Initiative and a Diploma in Liberal Arts (Symbiosis Centre for Liberal Arts)
The following will be an ongoing process once you submit the application form: 1. Submission of Application form 2. Short-listed Candidate will be invited for Interview 3. Final Selection 4. Non-refundable deposit of Rs.9,000 to confirm Enrolment within 2 weeks of Selection 5. Completion of formalities (Degree submission etc.) & Full fee payment to confirm seat
Important Dates: 1. Document submission, Full Fee Payment & Completion of formalities: April 30th,2023 2. Pre- Program Mindfulness Practice - June 26th,2023 3. Commencement of Program- August 4th, 2023
Kindly note:
- The admission is on first-come-first serve basis.
- The seats are limited to 24 due to the nature of learning involved. Request you to apply early
