Contemplative Psychotherapy Program
The Embodiment Year
A transformational journey into the wisdom and practice of Embodiment and its application to contemporary neuropsychology, psychotherapy, and psychosocial change.
Contemplative Psychotherapy Program
The Embodiment Year
A transformational journey into the wisdom and practice of Embodiment and its application to contemporary neuropsychology, psychotherapy, and psychosocial change.
Overview
The Embodiment Year offers a grounding in Tibetan transformational psychology and in-depth training in the practice of artful mentoring, healing visualization, subtle body energy work, and intuitive wisdom including Tantric Yoga, Tummo and Nejang practices. These practices are integrated with current neuropsychology, psychotherapy and psychosocial transformation to bring a rigorous, nuanced, and multi-dimensional approach to embodied individual and collective change.
12 Continuing Education Credits (CEs) are available per retreat (fall and spring).
Faculty
The program is led by Joe Loizzo, MD, PhD, Nalanda Institute’s Founder and Academic Director. Joe is a Harvard-trained psychiatrist and Columbia-trained Buddhist scholar with over forty years’ experience studying the beneficial effects of contemplative practices on healing, learning and development.
The program is enriched by world renowned guest faculty. Guest faculty may include Jan Willis, Dr. Nida Chenagtsang, Phillip Lister, Jasmine Syedullah, Jerry Lamagna, Christiana Polites, Mar Aige, James Bae, Sheryl Petty, and others.
Curriculum
The Embodiment Year offers an advanced in-depth study and practice of the transformational depth-psychology and altruistic ethics of embodiment practice. The Live Learning format is offered along two parallel practical application tracks (while the Blended Learning format involves a fusion of both tracks):
The Embodied Psychotherapy track compares, contrasts, and integrates embodied contemplative psychology and practice with contemporary western psychotherapy modalities including self-psychology, depth-psychology, hypnotherapy, sensorimotor psychotherapy, somatic experiencing, gestalt, AEDP and other transformational and trauma therapies. Areas of study include:
- The historical and theoretical foundations of embodied contemplative psychotherapy
- The sociocultural history of the Buddhist Tantras
- Understanding the neuropsychology and ecopsychology of the subtle body-mind
- Developing the readiness to engage in the unexcelled yoga tantras through cultivating basic self-care, compassion and radical open-mindedness
- Understanding and practicing the 4 stages of mentor-bonding/guru-archetype yoga
- Engaging in the practice of mentor bonding as a way to undo internalized oppression and heal intergenerational trauma
- Working with imagery, breath-work, posture and transformational flow states to transform traumatic core affects and autonomic energies
- Developing trauma-free lucid intuition, dreamlike prosocial embodiment and a compassionate way of life
- Meditation practicum: instruction with core faculty
The Embodied Psychosocial Change track compares, contrasts, and integrates embodied contemplative psychology and practice with social work, decolonizing education, social justice work, community organizing, non-profit service, humanitarian aid work, climate justice activism, and political activism. Areas of study include:
- The historical and theoretical foundations of an embodied contemplative approach for psychosocial change
- The sociocultural history and transformational impact of the Buddhist Tantras at collective levels for psychosocial change
- Understanding the neuropsychology and ecopsychology of the subtle body-mind
- Developing the readiness to engage in the unexcelled yoga tantras through cultivating basic self-care, compassion and radical open-mindedness
- Understanding and practicing the 4 stages of mentor bonding/guru-archetype yoga
- Engaging in the practice of mentor bonding as a way to undo internalized oppression, heal intergenerational trauma and foster a prophetic vision of a loving self-world
- Working with imagery, breath-work, posture and transformational flow states to transform traumatic core affects and autonomic energies individually and collectively
- Developing trauma-free lucid intuition, prophetic prosocial embodiment and compassionate, liberative community
- Meditation practicum: instruction with core faculty
Program Details
The course may be taken in one of two options: LIVE LEARNING or BLENDED LEARNING
Live Learning
The Live Learning program meets weekly online for live instruction on Mondays from 6:00 – 8:30pm ET from September through May. Students participate in live lectures with visiting faculty. Core faculty include Drs. Joe Loizzo and Pilar Jennings.
Program Schedule
The Embodied Psychotherapy and Embodied Psychosocial Change tracks share retreats while most weekly classes are run independently.
Opening Retreat: September 22 – 24, 2023
The year begins with an online opening retreat lead by Drs. Joe Loizzo, Nida Chenagtsang, and Pilar Jennings which introduces the neuropsychological framework and transformational methods of embodied contemplative practice, exploring how this profound methodology can help catalyze and accelerate the transformation of trauma into psychosocial wellbeing at the individual, interpersonal, institutional and societal levels.
Weekly Class
Meets Mondays from 6:00 – 8:30pm ET
For each of the 30 weeks throughout the year, students gather on Mondays for a live online class that includes meditation, whole group discussion, and small group breakouts, followed by a lecture-discussion led by our core or visiting faculty. The Embodied Psychotherapy meetings will be facilitated by Fiona Brandon, Pilar Jennings, and Joe Loizzo; and the Embodied Psychosocial Change meetings will be facilitated by Chantelle Brown, Rahshaana Green, and Joe Loizzo.
Spring Retreat: April 26 – 28, 2024
There is an in-person retreat led by Drs. Joe Loizzo, Nida Chenagtsang, and Pilar Jennings at Menla Retreat Center in Phoenicia, NY, that will explore how the top-down transformational methods of embodied contemplative practice—vision and affirmation—dovetail with the bottom-up methods of breath-work and movement to complete the embodied transformation of trauma into psychosocial wellbeing at the individual, interpersonal, institutional and societal levels. (The retreat will have virtual access for those who cannot attend in person. This retreat will be held online if the cohort is not able to meet in person due to restrictions in place because of COVID-19.)
Extracurricular Offerings
- Optional weekly practice field, peer-led meditation and group sharing
- Optional weekly process field, peer-led study and discussion group
- Office hours with Program Director
Program Requirements
Outside of class, students are expected to maintain a daily meditation practice based on the Embodiment Year curriculum, and read required texts. Students work on a capstone project throughout the year.
Continuing Education Credits
24 Continuing Education Credits (CEs) are available for The Embodiment Year 2023–2024. See below for more Information.
Application
Tuition: $4,500 per year (does not include in-person retreat accommodations).
Financial aid is available for those who qualify. Flexible payment plans are available.
Applications are open now with rolling admissions.
To apply for the Psychotherapy Track, please contact Fiona Brandon at fiona@nalandainstitute.org
To apply for the Psychosocial Change Track, please contact Rahshaana Green at rahshaana@nalandainstitute.org
Blended Learning
The Blended Learning program meets bi-weekly online for live instruction on Tuesday from 6:00 – 7:30pm CET; 12:00 – 1:30pm EST; 9:00 – 10:30am PST; from September through May. Students watch on-demand lectures of visiting faculty. Core faculty include Drs. Joe Loizzo and Diego Hangartner.
Program Schedule
Opening Retreat: September 8 – 10, 2023
The year begins with an in-person retreat at Landguet Ried Center for Mindful Living (Bern, Switzerland), with Drs. Joe Loizzo, Nida Chenagtsang, and Diego Hangartner. This opening retreat introduces the neuropsychological framework and transformational methods of embodied contemplative practice, exploring how this profound methodology can help catalyze and accelerate the transformation of trauma into psychosocial wellbeing at the individual, interpersonal, institutional and societal levels. (The retreat will have virtual access for those who cannot attend in person. This retreat will be held online if the cohort is not able to meet in person due to restrictions in place because of COVID-19.)
Bi-Weekly Class
Meets Tuesdays, 6:00 – 7:30pm CET; 9:00 – 10:30am PST; 12:00 – 1:30pm EST
For each of the 30 weeks throughout the year, Students gather bi-weekly on Tuesdays for a live online video conference led by our core or visiting faculty that may include meditation, a review of previously watched recorded lectures, whole group discussion and small group breakouts. These conferences are facilitated by Joe Loizzo, Diego Hangartner and CPP Director Rahshaana Green.
Spring Retreat: February 16 – 18, 2024
This in-person retreat with Drs. Joe Loizzo, Nida Chenagtsang, and Diego Hangartner at Landguet Ried Center for Mindful Living explores how the top-down transformational methods of embodied contemplative practice—vision and affirmation—dovetail with the bottom-up methods of breath-work and movement to complete the embodied transformation of trauma into psychosocial wellbeing at the individual, interpersonal, institutional and societal levels. (The retreat will have virtual access for those who cannot attend in person. This retreat will be held online if the cohort is not able to meet in person due to restrictions in place because of COVID-19.)
Extracurricular Offerings
- Optional weekly practice field, peer-led meditation and group sharing
- Optional weekly process field, peer-led study and discussion group
- Office hours with Nalanda Institute faculty
Program Requirements
Outside of class, students are expected to maintain a daily meditation practice based on the Embodiment Year curriculum, watch recorded visiting faculty lectures, and read required texts. Students work on a capstone project throughout the year.
Continuing Education Credits
24 Continuing Education Credits (CEs) are available for The Embodiment Year 2023–2024. See below for more Information.
Application
Tuition: $3,400 per year (does not include in-person retreat accommodations).
Financial aid is available for those who qualify. Flexible payment plans are available.
Applications are open now with rolling admissions.
To apply for the Blended Learning Program, please contact Rahshaana Green at rahshaana@nalandainstitute.org
Continuing Education Credits
12 Continuing Education Credits (CEs) are available per retreat (fall and spring) for The Embodiment Year 2023–2024.
Information on Continuing Education Credit for Health Professionals:
- CE credits for psychologists are provided by the Spiritual Competency Academy (SCA) which is co-sponsoring this program. The Spiritual Competency Academy is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Spiritual Competency Academy maintains responsibility for this program and its content..
- The California Board of Behavioral Sciences accepts CE credits for LCSW, LPCC, LEP, and LMFT license renewal for programs offered by approved sponsors of CE by the American Psychological Association.
- LCSW, LPCC, LEP, and LMFTs, and other mental health professionals from states other than California need to check with their state licensing board as to whether or not they accept programs offered by approved sponsors of CE by the American Psychological Association.
- SCA is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN Provider CEP16887) for licensed nurses in California. RNs must retain their certificate of attendance for 4 years after the course concludes.
- For questions about receiving your Certificate of Attendance, contact Fiona Brandon at fiona@nalandainstitute.org. For questions about CE, contact Spiritual Competency Academy at info@spiritualcompetencyacademy.com.
Learning Objectives for fall retreat
At the end of the program, participants will be better able to
- Describe the nature and role of the mentoring bond in the Unexcelled Yoga Tantras
- Describe the nature and impact of the creation stage in the Unexcelled Yoga Tantras
- Describe the nature and impact of the perfection stage in the Unexcelled Yoga Tantras
- Describe the nature and uses of the subtle body map of the mind and central nervous system
- Describe the role-modeling practice of mentor-archetype yoga
- Describe the nature and practice of the body mandala
- Describe the practice of Nejang self-massage yoga and Tsalung breath-control yoga
- Describe the practice and impact of vase breathing
- Describe the logic and practice of inner fire yoga
- Describe the practice of dissolution into the clear light
- Describe the practice of emergence into the dreamlike embodiment
- Describe the great perfection/mahamudra/ati-yoga practice of integrating clear light and dreamlike embodiment
Core Faculty
Joe Loizzo, MD, PhD is a Harvard-trained contemplative psychotherapist, Buddhist scholar, and author with over four decades experience integrating Indo-Tibetan mind science and healing arts into modern neuropsychology, psychotherapy, and clinical research. He is founder and academic director of the Nalanda Institute, an assistant professor of psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medical College, and a clinician in private practice in Manhattan. Joe is the author of numerous scholarly review articles on contemplative neuropsychiatry and psychotherapy. He is the author of the comprehensive textbook, Sustainable Happiness: The Mind Science Of Well-Being, Altruism, and Inspiration. He is executive editor of Advances in Contemplative Psychotherapy: Accelerating Healing and Transformation, a groundbreaking collection of essays by pioneers of the fast-emerging and highly promising new field of contemplative psychotherapy.
Pilar Jennings, PhD, is a psychoanalyst focused on the clinical applications of Buddhist meditation who has been working with patients and their families through the Harlem Family Institute since 2004. She was awarded her PhD in Psychiatry and Religion from Union Theological Seminary, a Masters in medical anthropology from Columbia University, and a Bachelors in interdisciplinary writing from Barnard College of Columbia University. Dr. Jennings is the author of Mixing Minds: The Power of Relationship in Psychoanalysis and Buddhism and To Heal a Wounded Heart: The Transformative Power of Buddhism and Psychotherapy in Action. Currently, she is a researcher at the Columbia University Center for Study of Science and Religion and Co-chair of the Columbia Faculty Seminar on the Memory and Savery, where she explores the intergenerational transmission of trauma.
Rahshaana Green, MBA, PMP, RYT, is the Director of the Live Learning Contemplative Psychotherapy Program. She is a coach and business consultant with expertise in Business Development, Marketing, and Strategy in Healthcare and Science. She is also a yoga/meditation teacher specialized in working with injured, aging, and perinatal clients. Green received her BA in Biophysical Chemistry from Dartmouth College, her MBA from University of Texas-Austin, and her foundational yoga training with Ana Forrest. She teaches mindfulness and compassion through meditation and yoga to corporate, group, and private clients and is passionate about empowering others to cultivate well-being and resilience.
Fiona Brandon, MA, MFT, Director, Embodiment Year, Embodied Psychotherapy
Fiona is the Director of the Nalanda Institute’s CBRT Program. She is a psychotherapist in private practice who draws upon Buddhist psychology, depth psychology, expressive arts therapy, dream imagery, and Sensorimotor psychotherapy in her work with adults and couples. Fiona is a graduate of the Masters program in Counseling Psychology from the Pacifica Graduate Institute. Her research focused on the meditative practice of Authentic Movement, the use of symbols and dream imagery in psychotherapy. She has taught mindfulness practices at the UCSF Chronic Pelvic Pain Center and has been a teaching assistant at both the California Institute of Integral Studies and the Pacifica Graduate Institute.
Chantelle Brown, MSW, LMSW, Co-Director, Embodiment Year, Psychosocial Change
Chantelle is a meditation teacher, graduate of Nalanda Institute’s Contemplative Psychotherapy Program, and a clinical social worker at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Chantelle received her MSW from the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College and holds a post-graduate certification in Couple and Family Therapy from the Ackerman Institute for the Family. Chantelle is a cultural worker and relational therapist working at the intersection of social justice and clinical practice utilizing contemplative methods for personal and collective transformation. Her work revolves around her commitment to providing culturally attuned, trauma-informed care to patients and families while advocating for health equity within medical systems. Chantelle has a special interest in taking an integrative approach to addressing intergenerational trauma of those who have survived the Middle Passage and beyond. She currently lives in Brooklyn, with her family, where she was born and raised.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the practice field?
The practice field is a weekly online video conference conducted by students, to discuss the integration and application of meditation in one’s daily life. Alumni are also invited to participate in the practice field. This conference was originally created by a program graduate and learning consultant.
Can you say something about the capstone projects?
Capstone projects are a vital component of the program allowing students to integrate their coursework in meaningful ways — personal or professional. Guidelines for the projects are deliberately open and students work on their projects throughout the year. The projects reflect the diverse professional backgrounds of our students and take on many forms. They range from the academic to the creative. Past projects have incorporated clinical applications such as anxiety and eating disorders or have focused on specific population groups such as incarcerated youth. Many projects integrate mindfulness and/or compassion practice. We’ve seen theoretical papers, personal integration papers, websites offering information and tools about meditation, recordings for patients, and a variety of creative/artistic presentations of the material.
Is there homework? What would a typical homework assignment involve?
There are weekly readings—usually around 30 pages-assigned each week. Assignments include submitting a capstone proposal, status report, and summary throughout the year; meditation teach-backs (in which you lead a meditation for one person or a small group), as well as brief reflection papers on the teach-backs (two reflections per year).
How many hours outside of the classroom should I expect to put in?
That’s really up to you! Generally, participants spend about 1–2 hours per week with readings/ material, as well as their daily meditation practice commitment-which is individually determined.
One of the program’s learning modes is “group practice and process.” Can you say a bit more about that?
Each week our class begins with meditation practice for approximately 20–25 minutes. This is an integral part of the program that enables students to learn the various meditation practices. As a group, we discuss the meditation practices and explore any questions or concerns that come up as a way to deepen our learning and understanding. Additionally, we provide time for smaller breakout groups that provide more time for students to share their experience and engage with the material.
Another of the program’s learning modes is a “daily personal practice of meditation.” Do I need to be an experienced meditator to be in the program?
Daily meditation practice is a cornerstone of the program that we encourage and support. We recommend that participants have a basic meditation practice upon entering into the program, but one does not have to be highly experienced. The program offers support to those seeking to develop a daily practice.
Does it matter what meditation tradition that I follow?
Absolutely not. The diversity of our students’ practices enriches us all. We have participants coming from many different meditation traditions, and strongly encourage students to maintain their practice and tradition while complementing it with the meditation practices of the program.e encouraged to apply early as the class does fill up.