Want to take your faith into the community? If you do, the Central Coast Dharma Center (CCDC) invites you to explore becoming a Chaplain and then training in Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) techniques. Become registered with the California Practical Chaplain Association (CPCA) and qualify for Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) credits as a certified caregiver to your community.
Online and onsite classes are available. For more information contact us at Linda @ RK-CCC dot org or using the contact us form by clicking HERE and putting the word "CHAPLAIN" or "CISD" in the comment box.
Online and onsite classes are available. For more information contact us at Linda @ RK-CCC dot org or using the contact us form by clicking HERE and putting the word "CHAPLAIN" or "CISD" in the comment box.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What does a Chaplain do?
A Chaplain's most important job is to bring compassion and caring into the public arena. A Chaplain will provide spiritual guidance, counseling and coaching to those in need. Chaplains are a presence and reminder in our communities, businesses and governments that there is help available when life gets tough. Chaplains are present in emergencies and times of personal or community crisis. Chaplains serve individuals as well as groups.
Are there Buddhist Chaplains?
All faith traditions are represented in Chaplaincy. While Chaplains have traditionally and are still predominantly Christian, you can be ANY faith tradition as long as you understand your role is not evangelism but being the person who cares for the entire community. You will be firmly rooted in your own faith but will be called to serve all beliefs in the community. In the Buddhist Ekayana and Mahayana traditions, becoming a Chaplain is walking the Bodhisattva Path.
Do I Need to be Ordained or Need a Degree?
ANYONE can become a Chaplain and can serve in virtually any community you can imagine! You do not have to be ordained or have special degrees to be a volunteer Chaplain. There are requirements to be hired as a professional Chaplain but the CCDC training is a great way to see if this is a career path you wish to pursue. You are generally considered a community volunteer although some Chaplains are sometimes paid to provide services such as CISD and life coaching.
Where Do I Serve. Do I need a Congregation?
Most community chaplains do not have regular congregations with permanent locations. Instead, they serve where they hearts are! That means where you serve is only limited by your interests. There are Chaplains in hospitals, businesses, government, sports venues -- even cruise ships! You can work with first responders such as police, firefighters and EMTs. Enjoy surfing? Join the CPCA Surfing Chaplaincy. Like auto racing? Maybe a motorsports ministries are for you. Where there are people, there needs to be a chaplain!
A Chaplain's most important job is to bring compassion and caring into the public arena. A Chaplain will provide spiritual guidance, counseling and coaching to those in need. Chaplains are a presence and reminder in our communities, businesses and governments that there is help available when life gets tough. Chaplains are present in emergencies and times of personal or community crisis. Chaplains serve individuals as well as groups.
Are there Buddhist Chaplains?
All faith traditions are represented in Chaplaincy. While Chaplains have traditionally and are still predominantly Christian, you can be ANY faith tradition as long as you understand your role is not evangelism but being the person who cares for the entire community. You will be firmly rooted in your own faith but will be called to serve all beliefs in the community. In the Buddhist Ekayana and Mahayana traditions, becoming a Chaplain is walking the Bodhisattva Path.
Do I Need to be Ordained or Need a Degree?
ANYONE can become a Chaplain and can serve in virtually any community you can imagine! You do not have to be ordained or have special degrees to be a volunteer Chaplain. There are requirements to be hired as a professional Chaplain but the CCDC training is a great way to see if this is a career path you wish to pursue. You are generally considered a community volunteer although some Chaplains are sometimes paid to provide services such as CISD and life coaching.
Where Do I Serve. Do I need a Congregation?
Most community chaplains do not have regular congregations with permanent locations. Instead, they serve where they hearts are! That means where you serve is only limited by your interests. There are Chaplains in hospitals, businesses, government, sports venues -- even cruise ships! You can work with first responders such as police, firefighters and EMTs. Enjoy surfing? Join the CPCA Surfing Chaplaincy. Like auto racing? Maybe a motorsports ministries are for you. Where there are people, there needs to be a chaplain!
Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD)
Studies show that 7 to 8% of trauma victims experience Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) after a life-threatening incident when there is no targeted intervention. That number jumps to over 20% for long-term/chronic trauma. The most common group experiencing chronic trauma are emergency personnel, first-responders and other front-line employees in a disaster such as medical professionals and chaplains.
Critical Incident Stress Debriefings (CISD) have been used since the 1990's to intervene in the process and reduce the potential for the development of PTSD. The goal is to return the affected responders to mental balance.
CISD is not psychotherapy or medical treatment. It is a proven form of intervention or psychological “first aid” to help mitigate stress reactions using education and group interaction. CISD is a structured 7-step process that requires certification and training by a certified CISD Trainer such as the Ontario Critical Incident Stress Foundation (OCISF).
The Central Coast Dharma Center (CCDC) is proud to be both a trained provider of CISD interventions as well as an approved portal for the OCISF. Founded in 2004, the nonprofit OCISF offers education, training and support services for emergency services professionals. They also offer Continuing Education Units (CEU) for mental health professionals and emergency response personnel. They are approved for State of California Police Officer Standards & Training (P.O.S.T.)
To learn more about online and onsite classes, contact RKINA California Central Coast Branch at Linda @ RK-CCC dot org or using the CONTACT US form and putting the word "CHAPLAINCY" or "CISD" in the comment box.
Critical Incident Stress Debriefings (CISD) have been used since the 1990's to intervene in the process and reduce the potential for the development of PTSD. The goal is to return the affected responders to mental balance.
CISD is not psychotherapy or medical treatment. It is a proven form of intervention or psychological “first aid” to help mitigate stress reactions using education and group interaction. CISD is a structured 7-step process that requires certification and training by a certified CISD Trainer such as the Ontario Critical Incident Stress Foundation (OCISF).
The Central Coast Dharma Center (CCDC) is proud to be both a trained provider of CISD interventions as well as an approved portal for the OCISF. Founded in 2004, the nonprofit OCISF offers education, training and support services for emergency services professionals. They also offer Continuing Education Units (CEU) for mental health professionals and emergency response personnel. They are approved for State of California Police Officer Standards & Training (P.O.S.T.)
To learn more about online and onsite classes, contact RKINA California Central Coast Branch at Linda @ RK-CCC dot org or using the CONTACT US form and putting the word "CHAPLAINCY" or "CISD" in the comment box.
