Advanced Training
Art of Dying
Death Awareness
Death Education
End of Life
Holistic Education
Living & Dying
Palliative Care
Thanatology

Certificate In The Art Of Dying: Integrative Thanatology | A Death Education Counselor Program | Spring 2022

About the Program

February 18, 2022 – June 19, 2022
See complete schedule below

FREE INTRO | Wednesday, January 12, 2022, 7:00 – 9:00 pm ET

FREE INTRO | Thursday, February 3, 2022, 7:00 – 9:00 pm ET

Francesca Arnoldy • Olivia Bareham • Leslie Blackhall MD • Jan Booth MA, R.N. • Tashel Bordere Ph.D. • Anthony Bossis PhD • Amy Cunningham • Catharine Delong • Jeanne Denney • Andrew Holecek Ph.D • Emily Johnson MSN, CRNP • Kat Kowalski MDiv, BCC • Frank Ostaseski • Simcha Raphael Ph.D • Cora Welsh CCLS, MA.

Today more than ever there is a clear call to understand and work with death and dying in new and more open ways. At this time of widespread death in America and the modern world, when grief and suffering abound, we urgently need more innovative and holistic approaches to living, dying and death.

Our Integrative Thanatology Certificate program is intended to do just that— to reframe our current conception of dying and reclaim the wisdom and practices of the past. It provides health care practitioners, and those with a profound interest in the energetics of living and dying, with a unique set of skills to deepen their understanding of the spiritual, psychological, social and physical aspects of the dying experience.

The Association of Death Education and Counseling® has deemed this program as counting towards the continuing education requirements for the ADEC Certification in Thanatology.

Click HERE for answers to Frequently Asked Questions about the Thanatology training program.

Note: This program will now be offered online. It will be recorded and shared with registrants after each online program for three months (90 days).

Attendees will learn:

How to work more compassionately and intelligently with the dying
Tools for caregiving and caregivers
Alternative ways to understand life and death
How to return to a sense of sacredness to the dying process
How to promote wise relationships in accompanying the dying
Tools and techniques for end-of-life doulas
How to nurture the potential for psycho-spiritual transformation in the dying process
The effects of compassionate presence at the end of life
End of life planning
Cross cultural rituals of grief and loss
Skills in death, dying, loss and bereavement

Who Should Attend

The Art of Dying certificate program is suitable for those working in hospice, nursing homes and other health care settings, and is also appropriate for students as well as counselors, social workers, teachers, clergy, psychologists, and others who want to broaden their work in the burgeoning field of death and dying. It is also appropriate for anyone with a sincere interest in this profound topic.

Students in the Integrative Thanatology program will complete their coursework entirely online. With personalized instructions, students will be supported throughout the program by our faculty and staff to not only deepen and expand their personal understanding of death and dying but also to forge connections and to create networks to help them professionally.

Faculty Includes:

Francesca Arnoldy
Olivia Bareham
Leslie Blackhall, MD
Jan Booth, MA, RN*
Tashel Bordere, PhD

Anthony Bossis, PhD
Amy Cunningham
Catharine Delong
Jeanne Denney
Andrew Holecek

Emily Johnson, MSN
Kat Kowalski, MDiv., BCC
Frank Ostaseski
Simcha Raphael, PhD
Cora Welsh, CCLS, MA

*FACILITATED BY JAN BOOTH, MA, RN

The Integrative Thanatology Facilitator will offer student support and counsel and offer community building ideas and creative collaborations. She will develop assignments and practices throughout the program including mid-term and final assignments. The facilitator will also be available for online/telephone advice and mentorship as well as creating opportunities for group meeting and creative collaborations outside the class—including study groups.

COURSE COORDINATOR – LAURA KING

Laura King is the Art of Dying Institute administrator and has worked for The Open Center for years in various capacities. Outside of the center she is an actor, having graduated from Trinity College with a BA in Theatre and Dance and also studied at The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. Laura is excited to be an integral part of this year’s Integrative Thanatology program.

Click HERE to view our Alumni Spotlight with Lila Chase.

CLASSES INCLUDED IN THIS CERTIFICATE TRAINING:

Friday, February 18, 7:00 – 9:00 pm ET
An Introduction to the Art of Dying Program — with Jan Booth, MA, RN
Saturday, February 19, 10:00 am – 12:30 pm; 2:00-5:30 pm ET
The Inner Path of Dying — with Jan Booth, MA, RN
Sunday, February 20, 10:00 am – 12:30 pm; 2:00-5:30 pm ET
Mapping The Journey: Re-Envisioning Decisions About The End Of Life
— with Leslie Blackhall, MD
Tuesday, March 8, , 7:00 – 9:00 pm ET
A Buddhist View of Death – with Andrew Holecek
Saturday, March 19, 10:00 am – 12:30 pm; 2:00-5:30 pm ET
After-Death Care And Home Funerals — with Olivia Bareham
Sunday, March 20, 10:00 am – 12:30 pm; 2:00 – 5:30 pm ET
Presence with Patients in Non-Verbal and Diverse States of Awareness — with Jeanne Denney
Wednesday, March 23, 7:00 – 9:00 pm ET
Inviting The Wisdom Of Death Into Life — with Frank Ostaseski
Thursday, March 31, 7:00 – 9:00 pm ET
End Of Life Existential Distress And Psychedelic Mystical Experience As An Effective Treatment — with Anthony Bossis, PhD
Saturday, April 30, 10:00 am – 12:30 pm; 2:00-5:30 pm ET
Cultivating The Doula Heart — with Francesca Arnoldy
Sunday, May 1, 10:00 am – 12:30 pm; 2:00-5:30 pm ET
Exploring the Grief Journey: Cultural, Familial and Personal Dimensions – with Simcha Raphael, PhD
Saturday, May 21, 10:00 am – 12:30 pm; 2:00 – 5:30 pm ET
The Dying Child: End Of Life Issues In Pediatrics — with Kat Kowalski, Mdiv. BCC, Emily Johnson, MSN, CRNP & Cora Welsh, CCLS, MA
Sunday, May 22, 10:00 am – 12:30 pm; 2:00 – 5:30 pm ET
Transition By Design: Planning An Inspired & Intentional Funeral
— with Amy Cunningham
Thursday, June 2, 7:00 – 9:00 pm ET
Music As Medicine At The End Of Life — with Catharine Delong
Saturday, June 11, 10:00 am – 12:30 pm; 2:00 – 5:30 pm ET
African American Grief And Loss — with Tashel Bordere, PhD, CT
June 18-19, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm ET
Student Capstone Weekend (12hrs)

SCHEDULE & FEES

Registration and Fees

(15 Sessions) February 18, 2022 – June 19, 2022

Option 1: Full Payment – $1,995 (Members & Nonmembers)

Option 2: Payment Plan – $2,250 (Members & Nonmembers)

Payment Plan Terms: $750 due at registration. 3 more payments of $500 each are due on March 11, April 18, May 9

For a payment plan email hello@opencenter.org with a phone number, we will call you back to set up the payments.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED FOR THIS COURSE

Prerequisites: N/A
Supplies for this class: N/A
Zoom Software Requirements: This is an online course which requires Zoom webinar software. Zoom is easy to use. Click HERE to make sure your computer is set-up correctly.