Buddhist Psychology Training:
Integrating Mindfulness, Science
& Clinical Practice
A 4-month live training for clinicians and dedicated practitioners. Bridging 2,500 years of Buddhist wisdom, contemplative practice, and modern clinical science. Taught by Spirit Rock teacher Matthew Brensilver, MSW, PhD.
What You're Stepping Into
- Live online via Zoom — join from anywhere
- 4 live office hours with Matthew
- Recordings available for 1+ year
- Certificate of completion
A few minutes of Matthew’s voice will tell you more than any page can.
A Growing Need
There Is a Deeper Way to Practice —
and to Offer It to Others
Many of us came to mindfulness through clinical training. This course invites you back to the source — the full richness of Buddhist psychology.
Techniques without roots
Most mindfulness trainings teach breathing exercises and body scans without the deeper psychological framework behind them. Buddhist psychology offers a complete understanding of how suffering works and how it resolves — that context changes everything.
Knowledge without embodiment
Your clinical power comes less from knowledge and more from your own sincerity. You cannot guide someone into territory you haven't explored yourself. This training tends to both your personal practice and your clinical work.
No bridge to the clinic
Research shows that meditating therapists get better patient outcomes — even when patients don't know their therapist meditates. Meditation is a core professional competency, not an optional add-on.
Honoring the full path
This training doesn't offer a simplified or sanitized version of practice. It honors the full depth of both the Buddhist tradition and the complexity of clinical work — together.
"I feel tears… part of it is feeling like I'm home… this is where I belong."
— Participant, Session 1
"A moment of deep mindfulness is a moment of mental health."
— Matthew Brensilver
There's a moment — usually a few sessions in — when the teachings stop being ideas and become something you feel in your body. When your clinical listening shifts because you have shifted. Participants often describe this as the moment the training becomes personal.
See how the four months unfold →A Question of Fit
Is This the Right Path for You?
This training works best as a shared journey among practitioners who are ready to go deep together. Here's how to know if it's a good fit.
You may want something different if…
- — You're looking for a quick mindfulness certification
- — You prefer purely academic learning without personal practice
- — You want pre-packaged scripts rather than deep understanding
- — You're not interested in sitting with nuance and uncertainty
You'll feel at home here if…
- You sense there's more beneath the surface-level mindfulness you've been trained in
- You're a clinician who knows your presence matters as much as your techniques
- You're drawn to deepening your own meditation alongside your clinical work
- You appreciate nuance and can tolerate not-knowing — Matthew's hallmarks of genuine learning
Imagine yourself four months from now
- You sit with a client in deep suffering — and something in you can meet it with steadiness and compassion
- Your meditation practice and clinical work feel like they belong together — each one enriching the other
- You understand mindfulness not as one more technique, but as a way of being with the full range of human experience
- You feel more grounded in your own practice — and that groundedness naturally carries into your work
- You are part of a community of practitioners whose shared inquiry continues long after the training ends
The Arc of Change
Where Participants Begin — and Where They Arrive
Before
- Offering mindfulness in its transactional, reductionistic form
- Personal practice disconnected from clinical work
- Uncertain how to hold deep suffering without fixing
- Limited framework for shame, grief, existential pain
- Clinging is plan A — and you sense there's more
After
- Understanding you feel in your body, not just your head
- You are the intervention — practice enriches every session
- Equanimity: love in the face of helplessness
- Rich framework: vedana, sati, acceptance, deconstructive practice
- Mindfulness as exposure therapy for the whole human condition
"Some species of love brought us here — to practice, to service towards the alleviation of pain."
Matthew BrensilverYour Teacher
Matthew Brensilver
Matthew Brensilver, MSW, PhD
Spirit Rock & Insight Retreat Center Teacher · Creator of BPT (est. 2020)
Matthew's path began with a philosophy degree, then years of residential treatment work with adolescents, followed by an MSW at LA County working with people experiencing homelessness and severe mental illness. He completed a PhD in developmental psychopathology studying child maltreatment, then a research fellowship in addiction medicine at UCLA running clinical trials on methamphetamine treatment.
In 2012, he left academia to teach the Dharma full-time. After four years of Buddhist teacher training, he now teaches retreats at Spirit Rock, the Insight Retreat Center, and meditation centers across the country. He developed this training in 2020 — as he describes it, with his Buddhist teachers on one shoulder and his scientific mentors on the other.
"The word that bubbled up is… this training is about becoming trustworthy. Trustworthy for our clients, for our students, for loved ones and family."
Matthew BrensilverYour Four-Month Path
How the Journey Unfolds
Each month builds on the last — from foundations to real-world integration.
Month 1 · August 29–30
Lay the Foundation
Immersive opening weekend. What is Buddhist psychology? Sources in the Pali Canon and Southeast Asian traditions. Why meditation is a core professional competency. Your first live case consultation. The question that frames the whole training: how do we become trustworthy?
7 CE Credits · 2-Day IntensiveMonth 2 · September 26
Dharma as Therapy
Mindfulness as exposure therapy. The Dharma's cognitive reframing strategies. Acceptance and change dialectic. How the suttas anticipated modern cognitive-behavioral approaches — and go deeper.
3.5 CE Credits · Office Hours Sep 4Month 3 · October 24
Meet the Difficult
Tranquility and hyperarousal. Sati (mindfulness) explored in depth. Equanimity as love in the face of helplessness. Deconstructive practice, vedana, and experiential avoidance. The territory where clients need you most.
3.5 CE Credits · Office Hours Oct 16Month 4 · November 14 & December 12
Integrate & Embody
Shame and clinical complexity. Therapist effects research — why who you are matters as much as what you know. Building trustworthiness through practice. Closing with the question: what species of love brought you here?
7 CE Credits · Office Hours Nov 6 & Dec 4Inside Each Session
Six Modules, Each Building on the Last
Lecture, guided meditation, clinical case studies, group discussion, and personalized feedback — in every session.
Drawing from the Pali Canon and Southeast Asian Buddhist traditions (Burmese, Thai), we explore what Buddhist psychology actually is, the spectrum from suffering to flourishing, and why meditation is a core professional competency — not an optional add-on. Includes live case consultation and guided meditation.
The dialectic between acceptance and change. How the suttas contain sophisticated cognitive reframing strategies that parallel modern CBT. Mechanisms of action in contemplative practice, and acceptance as perhaps the deepest form of love — a willingness to receive our being fully, undefendedly.
Mindfulness as gentle, fluid, but courageous approach to experience. The Dharma as exposure therapy for the whole human condition. Cognitive reframing from the suttas, the relationship between mindfulness and distress tolerance, and practical clinical applications with case studies.
Sati (mindfulness) explored in depth. Meditation techniques for hyperarousal and anxiety. Shinzen Young's threefold skill framework. Equanimity not as indifference, but as love in the face of helplessness — with direct clinical applications for emotion regulation.
Deconstructive meditation practices and their clinical relevance. Vedana (feeling tone/affect) as a foundational psychological concept. How experiential avoidance drives suffering, and what contemplative traditions offer that clinical models alone do not.
Working with shame in clinical settings. The research on therapist effects — how who you are matters as much as what you know. Building trustworthiness through your own practice, integrating everything into a cohesive approach, and closing with the question: what species of love brought you here?
A Taste of the Teaching
Sample Lecture: Anxiety & Buddhist Psychology
Spend a few minutes with Matthew's teaching style before deciding. This is what the sessions feel like.
A Window Into the Work
Sample Case Study
Working with a Client Experiencing Grief and Loss
This case explores the application of Buddhist psychological principles in a clinical setting, focusing on a therapist supporting a mother facing the imminent loss of her child. It delves into the therapist's internal struggles, the client's profound grief, and the delicate balance of providing effective therapy while navigating the complexities of such a profound loss.
The case highlights the significance of cultivating equanimity, compassion, and a deep understanding of human suffering in therapeutic practice. It emphasizes the importance of holding space for grief, recognizing impermanence, and exploring how working skillfully with suffering can support growth within a Buddhist psychological framework.
Download Case Study (PDF) →What You'll Carry Forward
Both Professional and Personal
This training changes how you work with clients. It also changes how you meet your own experience.
Your Practice Deepens Your Work
Research shows meditating therapists get better outcomes — even when patients don't know. Your own practice is a quiet but powerful clinical resource.
Science & Contemplation Integrated
Matthew holds his Buddhist teachers on one shoulder and scientific mentors on the other. Every practice grounded in both traditions.
Live Case Consultations
Bring your real clinical questions. Each session includes live case discussion where Matthew models presence, nuance, and sitting with not-knowing.
Becoming Trustworthy
The heart of the training: developing the sincerity and depth of practice that makes you genuinely trustworthy for clients, students, and loved ones.
Honoring the Source
Direct engagement with the Pali Canon and Southeast Asian Buddhist traditions. Not extracted, not simplified — the real depth of these 2,500-year-old teachings.
21 CE Credits
Approved for psychologists, MFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, nurses, and chiropractors. CE certificates sent after each session separately.
What becomes possible
A glimpse at the shift participants describe — from where they began to what opened up.
Where Many of Us Begin
- —Mindfulness feels useful but somehow incomplete
- —Personal practice and professional work live in separate worlds
- —A sense that your own depth of practice matters, but unclear how
- —Difficult clinical territory — shame, grief, existential suffering — still feels uncertain
- —A longing for community and lineage you haven't yet found
What Opens Up
- ✓Mindfulness rooted in the full depth of the Buddhist tradition
- ✓Practice and profession nourishing each other naturally
- ✓Confidence grounded in both clinical evidence and contemplative wisdom
- ✓The capacity to meet suffering with equanimity and compassion
- ✓A community of practitioners who share your depth of inquiry
In Their Words
Reflections from Past Participants
“I feel tears… part of it is feeling like I'm home. This is where I belong. The way Matthew bridges these two worlds — I've been looking for this.
Participant — Session 1
“This has been such a wonderful cohort to spend time with. The richness of the teaching content and the depth of connection with fellow practitioners exceeded what I thought possible online.
Participant — Session 5 Closing
“The live case consultations are where it all comes alive. Matthew models exactly what he teaches — presence, nuance, the willingness to sit with not-knowing alongside real clinical complexity.
Participant — 2025 Cohort
Perspective
What This Training Actually Costs
A comparable 4-day in-person CE retreat typically runs $2,500–$4,000 before travel and lodging. This training offers more hours, more depth, live case consultations, and ongoing recording access — all from your own home. Now in its 7th year.
Download the Full Syllabus
See the complete curriculum, session-by-session learning objectives, reading list from the Pali Canon, and case study descriptions — yours to keep whether or not you enroll.
Enroll
Two Ways to Join
Both options include the full training, learning community, certificate, and 1+ year recording access. 15% group discount available.
Monthly
12 monthly payments
Total: $1,788
- ✓38+ hours live instruction
- ✓Learning community access
- ✓Certificate of completion
- ✓4 office hours with Matthew
- ✓21 CE Credits available*
- ✓1+ year recording access
Pay in Full
One-time payment
You save $300
- ✓38+ hours live instruction
- ✓Learning community access
- ✓Certificate of completion
- ✓4 office hours with Matthew
- ✓21 CE Credits available*
- ✓1+ year recording access
*CE Credits are an additional $210, selectable at checkout. Scholarships available for those experiencing financial hardship.
After You Enroll
Here's What Happens Next
No confusion, no waiting. You're welcomed right away.
Orientation Session
Juliana Sloan, your course coordinator, walks you through the platform, discussion forum, and Pali glossary. Meet your cohort.
Explore the Platform
Access the online learning portal with supplementary materials, discussion forum, and community space. Get settled before we begin.
Show Up August 29
Bring a notebook, a cup of tea, and your willingness to go deep. Matthew and the team will be there with you.
Practical Details
Course Logistics
Dates
· Opening Weekend: Aug 29–30, 2026
· September 26
· October 24
· November 14
· December 12
Times: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM Pacific
Office Hours
· Sep 4 · Oct 16 · Nov 6 · Dec 4
All Fridays at 9 AM PT. Additional live time with Matthew for Q&A and deeper conversation.
Who This Is For
Therapists, counselors, psychologists, social workers, healthcare practitioners, and dedicated practitioners seeking depth.
Prerequisite: At least one silent multi-day Insight meditation retreat.
Format
Live via Zoom. Each session: guided meditation, lecture, case studies, group discussion, personalized feedback. Join from anywhere.
Continuing Education
Earn Up to 21 CE Credits
Up to 21 CE credits/contact hours for $210, approved for psychologists, California-licensed MFTs, LCSWs, LEPs, LPCCs, nurses, and chiropractors. Associated with APA, CA BBS, CA BRN, CA BCE, and others.
Awarded by Mindful CECs, approved by the American Psychological Association.
Content level: Introductory
Questions
Frequently Asked
Live online via Zoom over four months. Each session includes guided meditation, lecture, clinical case studies, group discussion, and Q&A. Plus 4 dedicated office hours with Matthew.
No. However, completion of at least one silent multi-day residential or online Insight meditation retreat is a prerequisite. The training welcomes all professionals and dedicated practitioners.
Yes — recordings are available for a minimum of one year after the course, accessible through the online learning platform. The platform also includes a discussion forum, glossary of Pali terms, and supplementary materials.
Course materials remain accessible. However, CE credits require full live attendance for each session. The opening session is mandatory for all participants.
Cancel before the course begins: refund minus $75 admin fee. Cancel by end of day Sep 26: refund minus $270 fee. After Sep 26, refunds are not available. CE fees are non-refundable. Reach out at courses@spiritrock.org.
Yes — 15% off when you enroll with a friend or group. Email courses@spiritrock.org with your group details.
Limited scholarships are available for those experiencing financial hardship. You can apply through the registration page.
The training is coordinated by Juliana Sloan, a hypnotherapist and Dharma teacher based in Santa Fe who has been with BPT since its early years. Tech support is handled by Monique, and a dedicated behind-the-scenes team ensures everything runs smoothly.
No. While many participants are licensed clinicians (psychologists, MFTs, LCSWs, counselors), the training also welcomes dedicated practitioners, healthcare workers, teachers, and anyone with a serious meditation practice who wants to deepen their understanding of Buddhist psychology. The prerequisite is at least one silent multi-day Insight meditation retreat.
Enroll with Confidence
We stand behind this training. Our refund policy means your enrollment carries no risk — if it's not right for you, we'll make it easy. Questions? courses@spiritrock.org.
The depth you're looking for
is here.
Four months of shared practice, teaching, and inquiry. A training that tends to both your personal path and your professional work — and trusts that the two are not separate.
Join This Cohort →Begins August 29, 2026 · Intimate cohort of 40
