​Begins January 2026 - "Translating Our Grief" with Christine Hiester 

Sometimes tending our losses with words alone isn’t enough. Words have limits that other creative languages move beyond– languages of color, shape, form, movement, sound, and imagery, each employing a unique vocabulary of expression for our grief and pain. In Translating Our Grief, established care professionals (spiritual companions, chaplains, social workers, etc) will learn to use varied creative languages for personal expression and how to offer practices to support their clients. Guided by spiritual companion and retreat facilitator, Christine Hiester, learners will be immersed in an experiential 4-month course, with a curriculum designed to invite fluency in varied materials of expression.
Course includes:
  • Eight 2-hour live meetings on Zoom, with contemplative practices, group discussion, and hands-on creative learning
  • A one-on-one Zoom hour with facilitator within course timeline
  • Varied resources such as videos, creative prompts, books, and case studies
  • Certificate of completion from The Metta Center

Limited to 10 participants.
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Christine Hiester is an interspiritual Spiritual Companion, lifelong teacher and musician, and self-taught artist who has guided creative and contemplative workshops and retreats for 15 years. She trained through the Wellstreams Program on the Art of Spiritual Direction, the Spiritual Guidance Training Institute, and as a Grief Companion through The Metta Center. Visit her on Instagram @shapingtheriver, and online at www.shapingtheriver.com."

Winter 2026: Grief Companion Training (Cohort 6)

As a Certified Grief Companion you will be able to offer grief support to clients one-on-one (akin to Grief Counseling) and you will know how to organically integrate grief and loss companionship into any spiritual guidance session. This course offers a whole person approach (pastoral rather than clinical) to grief companioning. 
4 Month Practicum: March - June, 2026 
Every other week for 2 hrs. Online.
(Meeting days/times to be determined.)
Cohort limited to 15 individuals. 

Begins February 2026 - Pure Presence Training 

Pure Presence™ is rooted in both the Eastern and Western traditions of body-mind science and contemplative spirituality. It serves and benefits the spiritual companion as well as the seeker (or client) simultaneously. Pure Presence allows an individual to listen deeply; to offer the deepest empathy and spiritual care to whomever they are with. This interfaith and interspiritual approach to formal presence training is the most comprehensive way we know to both deepen and advance spiritual understanding and care in our homes, neighborhoods, workplaces and religious communities. 

Pure Presence is praxis based. It requires deep intention and a strong desire to eliminate what separates us one from one another, particularly in light of theological differences. It also requires practice, consistent practice in self-awareness, because our thoughts and feelings about those who may be different from ourselves are deep seated, and it takes time to uproot beliefs or actions that do not serve us well. With transparency and good self-awareness, we can transform limiting beliefs through the practice of self-compassion. 

​Beginning in 2026, The Metta Center is pleased to offer cohort-based instruction in Pure Presence. This can serve as a stand alone training or as Part I of the requirements for Apprentice Training in Spiritual Direction/Companionship.
Meetings occur twice a month for 2 hrs. from February 16 - May 17 (online).  Instructor: Dr. Jan Lundy.

More information coming soon. ​

New! January 2026
​Ongoing - Begin Anytime

Apprentice Training in Spiritual Accompaniment/Companionship

A personalized and innovative approach to the art and practice of spiritual direction/companionship utilizing a hybrid approach featuring group and personalized instruction (online). Candidates are individuals who have a mature spirituality and a desire to serve others as a spiritual director/companion. This program is 10 months in duration. 

Students are required to complete a 10-month program which includes:
• 4 months of Pure Presence Training with Dr. Jan Lundy
• 5 months of private academic study and practice with Dr. Lundy, meeting for one-hour twice a month.
• 1 month of final integration and completion of a mini-project. 
​• 6 mentoring sessions with a Metta Center supervisor to oversee practice sessions with potential clients. ​

More information coming soon. 

Fall 2026 (Oct. - Nov.)

"How to Create, Launch and Lead a Grief Sharing Circle" 

A 7-week, online training on the practical aspects of starting and leading a Grief Sharing Circle (grief support group) in your community or online.

Held 7 consecutive weeks for 1.5 hrs. each week.
October through November. (Days and times to be determined)
Cohort limited to 12 individuals. ​