Frequently Asked Questions

Karuna Training offers the Basic cycle provides 262 hours of training spread over two years. 

At the end of the basic training, participants graduate with a certificate in Contemplative Psychology with an emphasis on practice Compassionate Exchange practice. Participants have completed a 25- hour project offering compassionate exchange in the community.

NOTE: Completing Karuna Training basic cycle requires attendance at all but two programs of the ten programs offered. Absences must be pre-approved before the onset of the program unless an emergency has occurred. Also, the 25-hour project must be complete and signed off on by a program mentor to graduate.

Karuna Training offers skillful means in communication, working contemplatively with emotions, and the profound mind-map of Buddhism, which is how meditation affects the mind. Overall, the training is a profound transformative experience, which infiltrates every aspect of one’s life, specifically one’s life in relationship with others.

Participants have practiced presenting, holding, and implementing Contemplative Psychology methods in a way that empowers them to take the work to their specific area of interest. Participants are trained to offer first instruction of mindfulness-awareness mediation, to hold and implement contemplative, experiential work, to apply the Body, Speech, and Mind technique in multiple applications, to run ‘speaking from the heart’ groups, and in general, can demonstrate and embody agency in the practice of contemplative psychology.

We prioritize applying an intersectional lens to all of our work and believe that a diverse group is integral to everything we do. We strongly encourage and seek applications from people of color, bilingual and bicultural individuals and members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities. 

We welcome Karuna people of different spiritual traditions, opinions, class, nationality, culture, ethnicity, race, language, age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, and varied physical, perceptual and mental abilities.

The certification occurs in the form of a diploma, indicating that the graduate of Karuna basic training has undergone extensive study and can demonstrate Contemplative Psychology expertise. 

Like any other specialty in psychology, whether that be Gestalt, Somatic therapy, or Trauma-informed therapy, these are examples of psychological methods emphasizing working skillfully with others. Karuna Basic Training does not authorize anyone to be a therapist; however, you will gain excellent communication and therapeutic skills. 

Whether one is a therapist, coach, doula, consultant, or friend, Contemplative Psychology skills are applicable and powerfully transformative. Contemplative psychology supports a means to stay present through Mindfulness-Awareness training and transverse a path of mutual recovery; while working with others. Mutual healing is how we get resourced through the act of offering ourselves to others.

Karuna Training Graduate cycle offers 215 hours of training spread over one year. After the graduate training, participants graduate with a certificate in the Advanced Study of Contemplative Psychology. Here participants are trained to present and hold contemplative Karuna Training methods in their work with others. Participants complete a 75-hour practicum of applied contemplative psychology offered outside in the community.


NOTE: Completing the Karuna Training graduate cycle requires full attendance at all but one program of the five programs offered. Absences must be pre-approved before the onset of the program unless an emergency has occurred. Also, the 75-hour practicum must be completed and signed off on by the program mentor to graduate.

Karuna Training meets the qualifications for specified hours of continuing education credit for LMFT’s, LCSWs, LPCCs, and or other LEP’s as required by the California Board of Behavioral Science.

Karuna Training is a licensed provider #137058 approved by The California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) to sponsor continuing education for both the basic and graduate Karuna Trainings. These CEU’s have been extended to include online training during the Pandemic.


Karuna Training maintains the responsibility for this program and its content. Only those individuals who complete the entire course will be awarded the CEU’s. For licensed attendees outside of California who are interested in continuing education credit, please check with your State Board, to see if California CEUs are accepted.

If you cannot attend any Karuna Training weekends or retreats, you will still be charged fully for your committed program.

If you decide to withdraw from the training program entirely, we require two months of written notice. As a small non-profit organization, Kaurna relies on tuition fees to operate.

Consequently, if you withdraw, you will be responsible for paying 50% of the remaining tuition fees from your notice until the program's completion. Additionally, you will be charged for all tuition fees incurred until your withdrawal date, regardless of attendance.

Upaya for Contemplative studies recognizes its responsibility to listen to our participants, applicants, and other stakeholder suggestions, complaints, or grievances, and attempt to resolve any such concerns. A grievance/complaint is defined as an expression of verbal or written dissatisfaction that can include but is not limited to, services, manner of treatment, outcomes, or experiences.

Karuna Training course participants, applicants, and other stakeholders have the right to file a grievance. Individuals filing grievances are treated with dignity, understanding, and respect. In no case will a grievance result in any reprisal. Participants will not be denied service because of a grievance.

Grievances will be given prompt and careful attention and, when indicated, grievances will result in corrective action. Karuna Training staff are charged with the responsibility of providing assistance and services within the full intent of Karuna Inclusivity policies, and with making efforts to resolve conflicts.

A copy of the grievance policy will be given to any and all participants at their request or at such time that a complaint is made to a Karuna Training staff member that cannot be resolved. The following is the procedure by which participants in training and representatives of Karuna Training shall attempt to discuss and resolve grievances:

1. Individuals are to discuss grievances that they may have to do with the staff with whom they are in contact. If a grievance cannot be resolved by the staff member, the staff member shall inform the individual of the grievance procedure and inform the administrative assistant and the executive director of the unresolved grievance.

2. If the complainant(s) wishes to pursue the grievance procedure, they must inform the faculty member or the lead teacher they feel most comfortable with - of their grievance in writing along with a description of the complaint. Such intent will be communicated by the appropriate faculty member to the executive director.

3. Within ten working days, the complainant, faculty member, and executive director will discuss the grievance and attempt resolution.

4. In the event the grievance is not satisfactorily resolved at this point, the complainant may elect to submit the grievance directly to the executive director of Upaya. The executive director of Upaya reviews the case and responds within ten working days.

All written grievances, Upaya for Contemplative Studies response to them, and a summary of the action taken on each complaint will be kept and results reported through the Upaya’s Performance & Quality Improvement system, as is laid out by the California Marriage and Family Therapy credentialing body.