MSC Teen Teacher Training Application: June 26, 2023

June 26-Aug 3: Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs 7-9 am PT (5 weeks total, skip week 2 – July 4th)

Teacher Trainers: Karen Bluth & Dominique Sullivan
MSC-T Teachers: Karen Bluth & Marina Barnes

"*" indicates required fields

Dear applicant,

We have carefully assembled the following questions in order to help select the most suitable candidates for MSC-Teens Teacher Training. Answers will necessarily include personal information, but this information will be viewed by the MSC-Teens Teacher Training Team only and treated confidentially. Should you not want to answer any of the questions in writing, you may note this in the response area for that question and include contact information (telephone or email address) at which you can be contacted to discuss it privately. Similarly, the teacher training team may contact you to have a private conversation in order to clarify some of your answers on the form. Please understand that all other information still needs to be submitted in writing. Thank you.

Name*

First Last

Preferred name for use in correspondence (if different from above)

Please note your personal pronouns in the space below. Please leave blank if you prefer not to answer. (Why Pronouns Matter? Copy and paste this link into your browser to learn more https://www.mypronouns.org/what-and-why/)

Email*

Enter Email Confirm Email

Location / Language

Preferred Language City State / Province / Region

Country of Residence*

EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

Degree or highest level of education attained*

Profession*

TRAINING PREREQUISITES

Please ensure that you agree to the following statements before completing your application.

I understand that my acceptance is contingent on completion of these prerequisites: 1) Completion of a full MSC course, or the option below. This MSC course may be a standard 8-week program (in-person or online), a 5-Day Intensive MSC, or the CMSC’s Live Online (LOMSC) course. 2) Completion of at least one silent, teacher-led meditation retreat with a duration of at least 3 days, or the silent retreat option below. If you have any questions about whether you meet these requirements, please email [email protected] at the CMSC before you fill out this application.*

I meet these requirements.

Background

1.Please list the details (year, location and teacher(s)) of the MSC program you completed. You must have attended at least 75% of the course and have received documentation of completion. (Please attach a copy of your certificate below, if available.)*

2. Please describe your personal mindfulness, compassion and self-compassion practices.*

3. Please provide details (date, location and teacher(s)) of your participation in at least one teacher-led, silent meditation retreat with a duration of at least 3 days.*

4. Please describe any experience you have with teaching mindfulness or compassion to teens.*

5. Please provide a brief essay (200 words or less) introducing yourself and describing your interest in teaching MSC for Teens. This essay must incorporate your reflections on the essay "On Becoming a MSC Teacher: A Mountaineer’s Guide to Building the Resource of Mindful Self- Compassion". To access that essay, copy and paste the following URL in your browser: https://drive.google.com/file/d/115z_tb5BnLwDNwg4QH5yPwyt_dUOplxX/view?usp=sharing*

6. Learning and Training Online: Not everyone finds that they are suitable for online learning. Some people thrive in an online environment and others don’t. Please ask yourself honestly if you can be as present and embodied in the online environment as you might be when you are with an in-person group. In this teacher training, we will be providing multiple opportunities for trainees to interact with one another, even more than in the regular teacher training, but some people might have a deeper and more comfortable learning experience when they are with others in-person. Kindly reflect on your own learning needs before applying for this training, and briefly describe below why you feel this online training is appropriate for you and your circumstances.

7) Is this actually a good time for you to take the LOTT? If you are like most of us, you live a busy life that is full of commitments and responsibilities, so adding a 10-week training program into a busy life will not be easy. The LOTT requires attendance at two 3-hour classes per week plus daily home practice and class preparation that can require at least one additional hour per day. In addition, we strongly recommend that you allow for additional reflection time throughout each week of the program. We strongly urge that you do not try to squeeze the LOTT into a life that is already very full. That is not self-compassionate! If you are not able to make this kind of commitment to this particular training, then we strongly recommend that you apply for a future training during a time when you can fully devote yourself to this program while remaining true to the practice of self-compassion. We ask you to consider the following question carefully and answer honestly: “If you say ‘yes’ to the MSC-Teens Live Online Teacher Training, what is it in your life that you will consciously say ‘no’ to for that period of time so that you can devote yourself to this program?

MSC-Teens TEACHER TRAINING PATHWAY

1) I understand that the Training Pathway to becoming a Trained Teacher of MSC-T consists of two steps. The first step is the MSC-T Teacher Training Program itself (either the 10-week Live Online or 6-Day In-Person program). The second step is Zoom Mentor Sessions while co-teaching your first MSC-T Course. While co-teaching your first 8-week course, teachers-in-training must enroll in a series of 5 individual zoom mentor sessions. I understand that each of these steps has a cost associated with it, and I agree not to begin teaching MSC-T prior to the completion of the Teacher Training Program AND the Consultation sessions. Furthermore, I understand that completion of all these two steps is required to earn the title of "Trained Teacher of MSC-T".*

I agree to this requirement

2) The intention of the MSC-T Teacher Training is to prepare people to teach the MSC-T program in the standard 8-week format only and I understand that only Certified MSC-T Teachers may teach intensive programs or other forms of MSC-T.*

I agree to this requirement

3) If English is not my native language, I understand that I must be able to fully participate in this training program as a speaker, listener, and reader of training materials in English.*

I agree to this requirement

4) In order to have the necessary basic knowledge and resources for teaching, we ask all participants to purchase the following books prior to the start of the program:*

“Teaching the Mindful Self-Compassion Program” by Germer and Neff, 2019, Guilford Press. “The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook: A Proven Way to Accept Yourself, Build Inner Strength, and Thrive” by Kristin Neff and Christopher Germer. A full list of recommended and required reading is listed on this page. https://centerformsc.org/teach-msc-latest/

I agree to this requirement

5) It is possible that during the training program, a member of the teacher training team may ask you to strengthen various personal or professional skills prior to your enrolling in the Teacher Training Practicum.*

I agree to this requirement

6) By completing this application, I am stating that I understand the cost of the program, and I am fully committed to participating in the program if accepted.*

I agree to this requirement

Scholarship

I wish to apply for a $250 scholarship for people from diverse backgrounds

7) By completing this application, I am stating that I have reviewed the full schedule for the course and none of the sessions extends before 6 am or after 11 pm in my local area. (If this is not the case, I have special circumstances described below that I wish to have considered.)*

I agree to this schedule.

The training does not conform to this schedule, but I am asking for special consideration due to the circumstances described below.

Special circumstances to waive the time schedule requirement.

8) By completing this application, I understand that full attendance at all sessions is required in order for me to successfully complete the program.*

I agree to this requirement

ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS

Please explain how you meet the MSC-Teens Teacher Training pre-requisites by answering the following questions.

Please attach a copy of your certificate, if available.

Max. file size: 50 MB.

1. MSC-T teachers need to practice what they are teaching. Please provide a brief specific example of how you have used self-compassion and/or the practices of MSC to work with your own difficult emotions like fear, shame, or anger?*

2. This teacher training program focuses on building skills specific to MSC-T which includes a significant amount of giving and receiving constructive feedback during practice teaching sessions. How do you typically receive such feedback, and how do you work with it?*

3. MSC-T can be emotionally activating for participants and requires teachers to be able to emotionally regulate themselves. Can you give a brief example of situations in which you might "lose your balance" while teaching and how you would respond?*

4. CMSC is dedicated to significantly increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion within MSC-T programs worldwide. Please note any ways in which you may be able to support this mission in your own teaching after completing the teacher training.*

5. Have you ever been turned down from an MSC-T Teacher Training? If yes, what have you done to fulfill the prerequisites since being declined?

Yes

6. If yes, could you please describe the reasons you were declined and the steps you have taken to try to address the concerns?

7. Given the nature of self-compassion practice and the intensity of teacher training, it’s important that each potential trainee be able to fully participate and learn in the process. For this reason, it is important for the trainers to be aware of any mental health, trauma or substance use conditions that may be factor for you and potentially make the training more difficult. Please share below any such issues that you face that the trainers should be aware of.*

8. What support systems do you have in place if participation in this program brings up challenging emotions or memories?

TRAINING PREREQUISITES

Background

MSC-Teens TEACHER TRAINING PATHWAY

ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS

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