The 18-unit Buddhist Counseling Certificate is an advanced graduate certificate in psychology, tailored to help professionals in the field of behavioral health and those interested to learn more about the intersection of Buddhism and applied psychology.

The program emphasizes the need for multicultural competency and provides specific training in Buddhist spiritual care in the realm of counseling. Students take a core curriculum in Buddhist Psychology, along with electives in Religious Studies and Buddhist Chaplaincy, that integrates Eastern and Western perspectives of spiritual care with the fundamentals of mindfulness and meditation.

Students develop and enhance their therapeutic skills through rigorous coursework. They also benefit from activities such as visiting Hsi Lai Temple, the university’s founding and sustaining order, in Hacienda Heights, California, immersing in sound bowl/bath lessons during meditative practices in class, and attending guest lectures from renowned researchers in the area of mindfulness.

The program is offered online (synchronous and asynchronous)—with opportunities for students to engage in limited on-site workshops. Students can complete the program in as little as one year, but also can take courses at their own pace (e.g., one course per term). The certificate is stackable, and units from the certificate program are transferable if a student chooses to enroll in a UWest graduate degree program.

The Buddhist Counseling Certificate does not meet the requirements to sit for licensure in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) or Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) in any state.

Program Details:

• Length of program: two semesters (one year)
• Modality: Online with some limited, in-person meetings
• Education requirement: Applicants must have earned at least a bachelor’s degree or higher in psychology, human services, or an allied discipline.
• Not F-1 visa eligible, but courses can be completed without travel to the U.S.