Buddhist Psychology For Counsellors

A Six-Month Professional Development Program in Mind, Presence and Therapeutic Practice

Next intake: 5 October 2026
Following intake: 5 April 2027
Online | Six months | Part-time

Download the flyer HERE

Counsellors work every day with thoughts, emotions, identity, relationships, suffering and change. For more than 2,500 years, Buddhist psychology has explored many of these same dimensions of human experience. Buddhist Psychology for Counsellors is a six-month experiential professional development program exploring how Buddhist understandings of mind, emotion, suffering, relationship and liberation can enrich contemporary counselling practice. Rather than simply adding meditation techniques to an existing therapeutic toolkit, the course asks a deeper question: What changes in counselling when we understand the mind differently?

Participants explore foundational Buddhist models of mind alongside contemporary counselling and psychotherapy, developing practical and ethical ways of bringing Buddhist psychological insights into helping relationships. The program combines Buddhist psychology, contemplative practice, contemporary psychological theory, clinical case discussion and experiential learning.

The course will help you:

• deepen your understanding of Buddhist psychology and its relevance to counselling;

• explore Buddhist perspectives on suffering, emotion, cognition and identity;

• develop mindfulness, compassion and therapeutic presence;

• become more aware of your own cognitive, emotional and relational processes as a practitioner;

• relate Buddhist psychological concepts to contemporary counselling and psychotherapy;

• develop an ethical framework for integrating Buddhist-derived approaches into therapeutic settings; and

IN THIS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, YOU WILL RECEIVE:

• Six monthly modules exploring key areas of Buddhist psychology

• Two recorded lectures for each module

• One live online tutorial each month

• One two-hour Clinical Integration Group each month

• Guided meditation and contemplative practices

• Experiential exercises and counselling activities

• Clinical case discussion

• Targeted readings, videos and podcasts

• Opportunities to integrate Buddhist psychology with your existing therapeutic approach

• Recordings of live tutorials for those unable to attend

OVERVIEW OF COURSE MODULES

Module 1 — Foundations: Understanding Mind and Suffering

Module 2 — Mind and Awareness

Module 3 — Suffering and its Causes

Module 4 — Emotions, Self and Identity

Module 5 — Compassion, Relationship and Therapeutic Presence

Module 6 — Integration and Application

DOWNLOAD FULL COURSE OUTLINE HERE

PERSONAL CONTEMPLATIVE PRACTICE

Participants undertake a modest personal contemplative practice throughout the course—approximately 15–20 minutes per day, five days per week.

Practices introduced progressively include mindfulness of breath and body, awareness of feeling tone, observing thoughts and emotions, loving-kindness, compassion, joy, equanimity and open awareness.

WHO IS THE COURSE FOR?

The program is designed primarily for counsellors, psychotherapists, psychologists, social workers, mental-health practitioners, and pastoral and spiritual-care practitioners.

Applicants should hold or be undertaking a recognised qualification in counselling, psychotherapy, psychology, social work, pastoral care or a closely related helping profession.

Applicants with at least three years of previous Buddhist study and practice who intend to undertake a qualification in a helping profession may also apply.

CERTIFICATE REQUIREMENTS

To receive the Certificate of Completion, participants complete:

• a Reflective Practice Journal;

• a Clinical Integration Presentation using a de-identified counselling case; and

• a final 1,500–2,000 word Integrative Case Study, or equivalent recorded presentation.

Assessment is Complete / Resubmit rather than graded.

COURSE REGISTRATION

October 2026 Intake: Course begins 5 October 2026

April 2027 Intake: Course begins: 5 April 2027

Registration closes one week before each course commences.

Course Fee: $660 AUD

Payment plan available. Register below.

YOUR TEACHER

Associate Professor Pema Düddul (PhD)

Pema Düddul is a Buddhist chaplain, educator and Dharma teacher with extensive experience integrating contemplative practice, pastoral care and adult education. He was ordained as a Buddhist minister in 2006 and later granted the title Lama, and has studied Buddhist Psychology (Abhidharma) since the 1990s. A former Multi-Faith Chaplain at the University of Southern Queensland, Pema provided counselling and pastoral support and taught meditation and mindfulness. Since 2019, he has served as Principal Dharma Teacher and Programs Director at Pristine Awareness: Foundation for Buddhist Practice. Pema is also an Associate Professor at an Australian university with substantial experience in learning design and online education and has published widely on Buddhism.