Year 1

270 Academic hours

The Roots of Mindfulness in Buddhist Psychology

Instructor: Maty Lieblich

This yearly course covers the Buddhist approaches which gave birth to Mindfulness practice. We will discuss the concepts of suffering, pain, liberation, the self, emotions, thoughts and sensations. We will learn what Buddhist psychology sees as Right Effort, Right Mindfulness and Right Concentration. Finally, we will understand the difference between mindfulness in the Buddhist tradition and mindfulness in western psychology. This course supports students’ understanding of the cultural roots of mindfulness practice.

Mindfulness in Movement and in Interpersonal Communication.

Instructor: Shantam David Zohar

In this experiential course the participants develop the willingness and ability to meet personal experience, inquire into automatic interpretations and understand Relational Mindfulness. The open form practice of Authentic movement awakens legitimacy of subjective experience as a quality that supports self -knowledge in relationship. Through a process of detailed and subtle communication, the participants integrate mindfulness into the relational field. Authentic Movement is a practice rooted in Jungian thought and Dance Movement Therapy.

Mindfulness and Psychoanalysis 1.

Instructor: Dr. Yakir Krichman

This course focuses on the connections between Mindfulness practice and psychoanalytic concepts. The course introduces the work of Wilfred Bion (The concepts of K, O, Beta, Alfa, not knowing, Caesura) Christopher Bollas (the concept of Idiom) and clinical models centred around the felt-sense idea as understood by Eugene Gendlin.

Mindfulness based clinical approaches – Theory and practice 1.

Instructor: Dr. Yaara Nitzan

The course presents approaches in the third wave of CBT.  The course introduces the major protocols and leading approaches (ACT, MBSR, MBCT) then centring on ACT- Acceptance Commitment Therapy. The course covers the basis of ACT, the theoretical model and the clinical applications. Participants learn to use the six modules of ACT and to integrate them into clinical formulations. Participants learn the theoretical research accompanying ACT and the theory of the mechanisms of change at work in Mindfulness based approaches.

Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) 1.

Instructor: Gabo Weis

This course covers the basic theory of CFT- a clinical approach system of psychotherapy developed by Paul Gilbert, that integrates techniques from cognitive behavioural therapy with concepts from evolutionary psychology, social psychology, developmental psychology, Buddhist psychology, and neuroscience. Here, Compassion Focused Therapy serves as a complementary approach to mindfulness specifically around patterns of shame, self -criticism, and the development of a compassionate self.

Year 2

252 Academic hours

In the second year all clinical courses include group supervision.

The Flourishing of Mindfulness in Current Research.

Instructor: Maty Lieblich

In this yearly course participants study the up-to-date mindfulness research. We discuss the definition of Mindfulness–based Therapy, the mechanisms of change of mindfulness practice and the integration of Mindfulness and Self compassion. The course presents the basic questionnaires and theoretical models currently under development in relevant psychological research.

Mindful Movement and Communication in the Clinic.

Instructor: Shantam David  Zohar

In this course participants practice Mindfulness in the relational field as a clinical intervention.

Mindfulness and Psychoanalysis 2

Instructor: Dr. Yakir Krichman

In this course participants continue the in-depth exploration of Mindfulness and Psychoanalytic thought. This year centres around the understanding of Michael Eigen’s concepts of impact and damage.

The course is a group supervision process.

Mindfulness based clinical approaches – Theory and practice 2.

Instructor: Dr. Yaara Nitzan

In this course participants apply the theoretical concepts of ACT to clinical cases. The course covers case formulation, creating therapeutic goals, practicing techniques- especially presence, self compassion, decentring and acceptance. The learning process involves discussing clinical cases.

Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) 2.

Instructor: Gabo Weis

The course engages the formulation model of CFT and some of the therapeutic techniques.

Third year: clinical year 

80 Academic hours

The third, clinical year of the program takes place outside the university setting and consists of 10 monthly meetings of 8 academic hours each. Each meeting includes practice; study and group supervision.

Instructors: Dr. Ran Almog, Shantam David Zohar and Maty Lieblich.