RESIDENTIAL TRAINING PROGRAM:
MINDFULNESS AS A CATALYST FOR EQUITY AND COLLECTIVE HEALING
Enrollment is closed.
We invite you to click here to join the waiting list
for the next edition of this residential training.
This June we are holding this signature training program in a peaceful, residential retreat setting at the Copper Beech Institute, located in West Hartford, CT, on the campus of Holy Family Passionist Monastery and Retreat Center.
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This experience strives to inspire individuals to become agents for social change by using trauma-informed relational mindfulness practices infused by frameworks of psychosocial, cultural, and racial competency. We encourage anyone who might benefit from time away for learning about equity, cultural and racial literacy, mindfulness, and quiet contemplation to apply. Explore possibilities for growth, choice, and change and foster trust, acceptance, and compassion for a transformational journey with life-long personal, interpersonal, social, and global impact.
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Help us to continue our work and make a real difference in the lives of those we serve. Together, we can create positive change and build a brighter future for our communities. Please donate today and join us in our mission to create a better world.
About our signature program:
Mindfulness as a Catalyst for Equity and Collective Healing
This program is ideal for individuals who are curious about the layers of conditioning in our current societal dynamics, and who are willing to explore the role they play in such dynamics and the possibilities for growth, choice, and change. This process requires a commitment to self-reflection and a willingness to be vulnerable while aspiring to co-create a non-judgmental, brave, and compassionate environment.
Thanks to generous support from the Hemera Foundation there are18 full scholarships available. Each participant will have a private room. Special consideration for the BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ and others underrepresented in our community. Please email info@heartwellinstitute.com for more information.
We are committed to breaking down barriers of access to health and wellness for BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and those underrepresented in our society. Grant funding and corporate support help us to keep this education affordable for all members of our community.
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This program offers 32.5 CEU credits for Psychologists, Licensed Mental Healthcare Workers, Social Workers, and Educators. For more information, please visit here or contact us.
Residential Training Dates
New dates to be announced
Residential Training Program in June
This 5-day experiential program includes systematic training on mindfulness and meditation practices, interactive exercises, and didactic psycho-educational components in cultural and racial literacy as well as social-emotional learning, stress reduction and resilience. This program includes a brief silent retreat experience halfway into the program to deepen the practices.
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As we mentioned above, this residential training program will be held at the peaceful, residential retreat setting of the Copper Beech Institute, located in West Hartford, CT, on the campus of Holy Family Passionist Monastery and Retreat Center.
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What to expect at the Copper Beech Institute:
Every moment at Copper Beech Institute is a moment for growth—to deepen your capacity for compassion, self-care and a joyful life. The retreat center offers quiet places to rest, 48 wooded acres to wander, food to nourish your health, meditation and yoga classes to renew body and spirit and a compassionate staff to support you on every step of your journey. Here's a link to explore Cooper Beech's Accommodations, Nourishment and recommendation's for What to Pack.
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Program Objectives
Daily Schedule
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How to use mindfulness in your everyday life
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Practice in nurturing your relationships, with yourself and others
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The role you play living in a racialized system
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How to approach your social conditioning with compassion
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Skills to move towards cultural proficiency
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Deep listening skills and mindful communication
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The role you play in creating positive change in this world​
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Access to resources for long-term practice
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Training workbook to keep for continued reference
Monday Schedule
9:00 -10:30 AM Arrival
10:30 - 11:45 AM Program
12:00 - 1:00 PM Lunch
1:30 - 5:45 PM Program
6:00 - 6:45 PM Dinner
7:00 - 8:30 PM Program
8:30 - 9:00 PM Optional stretching practice
Tuesday - Thursday Schedule
6:45 - 7:45 AM Optional meditation and yoga practice
8:00 - 8:45 AM Breakfast
9:00 - 11:45 AM Program
12:00 - 12:45 PM Lunch
1:00 - 5:45 PM Program
(Tuesday 1:00 PM - Labyrinth)
6:00 - 7:00 PM Dinner
7:30 - 8:00 PM Optional stretching practice
Friday Schedule
8:00 - 8:45 AM Breakfast
9:00 - 11:45 AM Program
12:00 - 12:45 PM Lunch
1:00 - 3:30 PM Program/Closing Experience
*Schedule is subject to change
About the Instructors
Zayda Vallejo, MLitt is Co-founder and Executive Director of The HeartWell Institute in Worcester, MA. A Certified MBSR instructor, for the past 20 years Zayda has been teaching classes, mentoring professionals, and conducting trainings in MBSR at the UMass Center for Mindfulness, the Mindfulness Center at Brown University, Cambridge Health Alliance Center for Mindfulness and Compassion at Harvard University Medical School, and other organizations. She teaches 5- and 7- day MBSR guided silent retreats. Zayda is a co-author of articles and books including Moment-to-Moment in Women’s Recovery: A Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention Program, as well as the Mindfulness Immersion 4-day training program. She is co-author of the Compassionate Consciousness Framework and the “Mindfulness as a Catalyst for Equity and Collective Healing” training program with Dr. Bertha-Elena Rojas.
Dr. Bertha-Elena Rojas is a neuropsychologist and educator by background. Her current work focuses on the capacity building of equity, cultural and racial literacy across multiple dimensions, through innovative frameworks that integrate Neuroscience, Education, Psychology, and Social Justice. Dr. Rojas's connection with The HeartWell Institute emerged as she researched the intersection between mindfulness and social justice. She is a co-author of the Compassionate Consciousness Framework and the Mindfulness as a Catalyst for Equity and Collective Healing program with Zayda Vallejo. Dr. Rojas is a Board Member and the Advocacy Chair of the Multi-state Association for Bilingual Education (MABE) and a Board Member of the Latino Education Institute at Worcester State University.
Karen Sevenoff is a folk artist and serves as Hospitality Director at Copper Beech Institute. She offers
vini-yoga & mindfulness meditation instruction and support in the lineage of Krisnamacharya, Mark Whitwell & Gary Kraftsow. Karen makes her home happily in Middletown, CT with her bunny, Petra, and her family at Ion restaurant. Karen is active in cultivating vegan lifestyle worldwide. She creates events, classes, workshops, retreats, folk art, costume, ritual, and vegan cuisine in community & with her beloved partner, Chef Brian Downey.
CE Credit Guidelines
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APA: The HeartWell Institute is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education credits for psychologists. The HeartWell Institute maintains responsibility for this program and content.
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NBCC ACEP: The HeartWell Institute has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider ACEP No. 7058. Programs that do not qualify for CE credit are clearly identified. The HeartWell Institute is solely responsible for all aspects of the program.
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NASW - MA Chapter: Application for social work continuing education credits has been submitted. Please contact us at info@heartwellinstitute.org for the status of social work CE accreditation.
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MA-DESE: The HeartWell Institute is an approved provider for Professional Development Points (PDPs) for educators. PDPs are awarded after a minimum of 10 hours of programming has been completed. Programs can be combined for this purpose.
