Click any of the Frequently Asked Questions below to reveal the answer.
General
When are the dates for each 8-week session announced?
Is CCH offered in-person?
CCH is only offered live/online, which means the class meets virtually at a specific time each week. Although students can watch recordings of classes they miss, because each session includes the application of skills taught, breakout room sessions, guided exercises, and time for Q&A, it is best practice for students to attend each week live with the rest of their cohort.
Is there a minimum age to enroll in a Compassion Course?
Yes, students must be at least 18 years old to participate in the courses.
How can I find a Compassion Course in my area?
A number of individuals throughout the world were trained and certified as Compassion Cultivation Teachers when that training was still offered by CCARE. Browse CCARE’s Global Directory of Compassion Teachers organized by location to find someone in your area. Please contact these teachers directly using the email link or website provided in their bio to inquire about their teaching schedules and locations.
Payment & Registration
What is the cost of the 8-week course?
The registration fee for the 8-week course, Cultivating a Compassion Heart, is $425 and includes 16 hours of live instruction on Zoom, printable materials, recommendations for supplemental readings and videos, and guided meditation recordings.
I want to register for CCH, but will need to miss a class or two – is that ok? Are the classes recorded?
It’s to the student’s advantage to attend all eight classes in order to get the most out of the course, as each class involves lectures, group discussions, and experiential exercises that are key components of the training process, but we understand that people have busy schedules and things come up.
Classes are recorded and available for students to stream for one month following the last class. While we do encourage live attendance, we also think there is still plenty to be gained by watching the recordings, especially if you are then able to do the breakout room exercises with your assigned peer support partner or other people in your cohort in the week between classes.
The main difference relates to documentation. Students who miss more than two classes will not get a certificate of attendance upon completion. Students taking the course for 14 CE Credits who miss more than one class will not receive any credits since no partial CE credits can be awarded.
Are there prerequisites for enrollment in CCH?
No. All of CCARE’s compassion courses are open to the public and no previous education or experience is required. The only admission criterion is that participants must be at least 18 years of age.
I’m Stanford staff – can I pay for the course with STAP funds?
Yes! You may request reimbursement from your STAP funds by submitting the request through your department’s administrator or manager. Unfortunately, CCARE cannot directly charge your STAP funds.
What’s the cancellation policy for course registration and how do I receive a refund?
Full refunds are available up to 2 weeks prior to the class start date. Cancellations between 2 weeks and 3 business days prior to the class start date incur a $75 cancellation fee. No refunds are available after 3 business days prior to the class start date.
Academic Questions
How is CCH different from the CCARE Compassion Lab?
Cultivating a Compassionate Heart (CCH) is an 8-week class designed to be a powerful introduction to the science and practice of compassion for self and others. It provides a meaningful foundation and offers a potent reinforcement for the ongoing journey into compassion.
The CCARE Compassion Lab (CCL) takes that foundation to the next level, offering a longer 4-month immersion into the study and practice of compassion through progressive skill building experiences. CCL combines small group peer collaboration, simulated role-play exercises, in-depth community practice sessions, and experiential compassion labs that integrate applied learning and practice.
Although attending CCH is not a requirement for CCL, it would provide a beneficial foundation for anyone.
How much time is needed outside of the class meetings for the 8-week Compassion Course?
There is recommended, but not required, reading for the course and a compilation of writings and videos (made available online) that range from peer-reviewed to popular articles, to first-hand writings from ancient and contemporary compassion meditation experts, leaders, and poets. Each student can take on as much or as little of that as they like (0-60 min)
More important are the daily meditations. They are 10-20 minutes, and they evolve each week. Students are strongly encouraged to practice those daily, as the development of compassion during the class is “dose dependent” and the meditations support that development. The course is as much about experiencing compassion as learning about it. (60-120 min)
Each week students are also given optional Daily Informal Practices intended to be done in the midst of their daily lives. On average, these take a few minutes a day. (0-30 min)
Finally, students are also asked to take on a Peer Support Partner who they can connect with between classes on their terms. This is someone to discuss the material with and also share wins and challenges in your growing mediation practice. (0-30 min)
Total ≈ between 1-3 hours per week
Are Continuing Education (CE) credits available for CCH?
If you are an LCSW, LEP, LMFT, LPCC, RN, or licensed psychologist, you can earn 14 CE credits for your Compassion Course for a fee of $175. It is the sole responsibility of the participant to attend the entire class meetings, always have their video on, participate in the class, and submit a separate course evaluation form at the end of the final class. No partial CE credit is available if more than one class is missed.
Please review the following information for your profession:
CE credits for psychologists are provided by the Spiritual Competency Academy (SCA) which is co-sponsoring this program. The Spiritual Competency Academy is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Spiritual Competency Academy maintains responsibility for this program and its content. The California Board of Behavioral Sciences accepts CE credits for LCSW, LPCC, LEP, and LMFT license renewal for programs offered by approved sponsors of CE by the American Psychological Association. LCSW, LPCC, LEP, and LMFTs, and other mental health professionals from states other than California need to check with their state licensing board as to whether or not they accept programs offered by approved sponsors of CE by the American Psychological Association. SCA is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN Provider CEP16887) for licensed nurses in California. RNs must retain their certificate of attendance for 4 years after the course concludes. For questions about receiving your Certificate of Attendance, email CCARE. For questions about CE credits, email SCA.
Is academic credit offered for Compassion Courses?
No, Compassion Courses offered by CCARE do not offer academic credit.