Sarah Jane Williamson
Spirituality, Healing, Hope
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Talking the walk – Diploma in Practical Spirituality and Wellness

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Have you ever had one of those moments when, all eyes are upon you and you know you have to express yourself clearly? And not only that, as you speak, you realise those eyes are smiling at you in recognition of your words… and you have been heard?

Last week brought me exactly this moment and I was relieved that I had prepared for it.

I was representing the organisation I work for at a round table discussion hosted by the Royal College of General Practitioners about how we can respond to loneliness in society. There were 30 seriously influential senior people there, from a range of national charities, government departments, faith groups and the RCGP itself.

The discussion had moved on from what GPs could do to address loneliness, to what GPs could learn from the many charities and community groups already successfully helping people reconnect to others and to regain a sense of belonging.

It’s well known that one of the benefits of religion and faith is a sense belonging to a community of shared belief. Another benefit is a sense of connection to something bigger and to having a purpose in life.

The group was beginning to discuss whether there was a way to encourage this sense of connectedness if the person did not belong to a faith or religion. What about those people who had been put off by religion, or who had no particular belief?

What about spirituality – how could spirituality have the same benefits if there was no particular group or organisation to belong to?

The discussion went quiet. I felt the energy in the group shift as it began to shuffle away from the edge of its comfort zone. The subject was about to change.

I knew that this was the moment that I had prepared and rehearsed for. I confidently raised my hand and was invited to speak.

I explained that there is an international evidence-base describing the health benefits of spirituality and summarised how the Spiritual Companions Trust has developed Your Spiritual Health programmes that bring people together to explore their own sense of meaning and connection; that this is person-centred spirituality.

I shared that there are Spiritual Companions who are informally and formally companioning others to explore their own life story, sense of connection and meaning.

Hearing myself speak, it sounded clear and coherent, intelligent and just enough to inspire the interest of the group. Notes were made and email addresses were exchanged.

We often hear the phrase that someone does, or does not, walk their talk. As spiritually literate people, we also need to prepare and practice for those moments when we might be the ones to have to talk our walk.

For those of us who have one foot on the spiritual path and one foot in the mainstream, the opportunities to do this are starting to come up more often.  We need to be prepared to be heard.

Shaping Wisdom

If you’d like to know more about the health benefits of spirituality, how to become a Spiritual Companion and deliver Your Spiritual Health programmes alongside your existing work in the world go here.

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Categories : Courses and Spaces, Self management, Spiritual Practice
Steps - sarahjanewilliamson.com

Diploma in Practical Spirituality and Wellness

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Diploma in Practical Spirituality and Wellness

Now open to join

Crossfields Institite Level 3 Diploma

Join us at Hawkwood College for this pioneering course, the first Spirituality and Health qualification to be on the Ofqual register.

  • Explore and deepen your spirituality in a group of warm-hearted and open-minded peers
  • Gain a professional qualification that integrates spirituality, health and wellness into your career
  • Acquire practical strategies and concepts that can immediately be shared with others
  • Become an accredited Spiritual Companion and part of a professional network with peer support, insurance scheme and ongoing CPD
  • Be licenced to deliver the Your Spiritual Health Programme
  • Develop a meaningful lifestyle of mindfulness, compassion and service.

You will be in an immersive and inspirational experience over 10 months.  Busy professionals will be able to complete the course requirements during the residential sessions.

Approach

Our approach is holistic and person-centred. We welcome diversity and people of all faiths and none. There is an increasing need for spiritually competent people whose approach is highly inclusive and emotionally literate.

What do we mean by ‘Spirituality’?

We always encourage people to develop their own definition of spirituality. That said, we find that the following definition is helpful in many educational and healthcare environments:

‘Spirituality is everyone’s natural connection with the wonder and energy of life – and the instinct to explore that experience and its meaning. Spirituality affirms that human development is about the growth of compassion and awareness, heart and mind.’

The course consists of four units

1. Person-centered Spiritual Practice

Study and experience the spiritual practices that benefit health and wellbeing. Clarify and implement your own daily spiritual health practice. Appreciate  the diversity of approaches in your fellow learners. How best to support others in developing their own spiritual health practice.

2. Developing Reflective Practice

The crucial importance of ongoing honest and emotionally literate self-examination and self-care. This is built on a foundation of mindfulness and the compassionate witnessing of your thoughts and feelings. Implementing your own reflective practice. The mental health challenges that may be linked to spirituality

3. Science and Context

The important historical relationship of spirituality and medicine.   The evidence base and science of how spirituality can benefit health. The relevance of all this to your own personal experience and that of your colleagues and clients.

4. Spiritual Care in Practice

Builds on the knowledge and practice of the other three units.  The fundamentals of giving spiritual support. Whole-body listening, empathy and holding. Leading individuals and small groups into meditation. Risk-assessment and referral. Working in multi-disciplinary community teams.

Course structure

This immersive, inspirational experience in a warm, supportive group takes place over ten months and includes six residential sessions of two or three days duration.

We will enter into the special atmosphere at Hawkwood College and join in the rhythms of this pioneering residential centre.

Each residential course session begins in the evening with dinner together at 6.30pm, followed by an evening group session. The sessions will end at 4pm on the last day.

Busy people will be able to step out of their day-to-day commitments and to complete the majority of course requirements during the time at Hawkwood if they choose to.

During the months where there is no residential session, participants will be able to join an optional 1.5 hour webinar session.

Dates

Evening 21 – 24 September 2018
Evening 4 – 6 November
Evening 17 – 20 Jan 2019
Evening 10 – 12 March
Evening 25 – 28 April
Evening 30 May – 2 June

Tutors and team

I am delighted to be teaching this course with Anna Bianchi. Anna is a writer, creative activist, Spiritual Companions Educator and Way of Council Guide. She is the author of the recent Becoming an Ally to the Gender-Expansive Child: A Guide for Parents and Carers. 

William Bloom will join us as Visiting Tutor. William is Founder of the Spiritual Companions Trust, best-selling author of The Endorphin Effect and The Power of Modern Spirituality. 

Cost

The full fees will be:

£2,750 single accommodation, includes all meals

£2,430 shared accommodation, includes all meals

£2,110 non-residential, includes lunch

Applications

Please complete this application form if you would like to join us.

Hawkwood Practical Spirituality Diploma application form fillable

Once we have reviewed and accepted your application, we will send information about how to make your payment.

Here are the FAQs for this course:

DPSW FAQ

Please contact me if you have any questions.

There are no formal or academic entry requirements other than being 18 or older. Our main concern is that learners demonstrate the potential to develop emotional literacy, as welcoming attitude to diversity and mature self-management.

Policies, terms and conditions

This course is delivered in partnership with the Spiritual Companions Trust. For the specific policies, terms and conditions in relation to this course, please visit: http://www.spiritualcompanions.org/about-us/downloads-policies

 

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