Compassion-Based · Atlanta, GA, United States

Cognitively-Based Compassion Training (CBCT) Teacher Certification

Emory University Compassion Center
Compassion-Based OnlineIn-person

CBCT® Compassion Training CBCT® (Cognitively-Based Compassion Training) is a system of contemplative exercises designed to strengthen and sustain compassion. SEE Learning® Social, Emotional and Ethical learning (SEE Learning®) is a new K-12 education program developed at Emory University for international use. Emory-Tibet Science Initiative ETSI was founded with a vision to create a comprehensive and sustainable science education program for the Tibetan Buddhist monastic universities.

Training + supervised teaching
Duration
40h
Training hours
Online
Format
Compassion-Based
Tradition
April 2026
Last reviewed

What this program is

Cognitively-Based Compassion Training (CBCT) Teacher Certification is a meditation teacher training run by Emory University Compassion Center, based in Atlanta, GA, United States. It sits in the Compassion-Based tradition and is offered in a hybrid online and in-person format. The program runs Training + supervised teaching with about 40 contact hours. Compassion-based teacher pathways grew out of Tibetan lojong and tonglen practice, translated into secular curricula at Stanford (CCT), Emory (CBCT), and the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC, Germer and Neff). Emory University Compassion Center positions this training inside that lineage. The program does not list a major external accreditation body, so prospective students should weigh faculty depth and supervision structure rather than a credential alone. Practical detail matters here. Cognitively-Based Compassion Training (CBCT) Teacher Certification is a meditation teacher training run by Emory University Compassion Center, based in Atlanta, GA, United States draws students who want to teach in clinical and educational settings. OMP lists this program in its Meditation Teacher Training directory so practitioners can compare it on tradition, hours, format, and accreditation alongside several hundred other pathways. Source notes describe it as: CBCT® Compassion Training CBCT® (Cognitively-Based Compassion Training) is a system of contemplative exercises designed to strengthen and sustain compassion. SEE Learning® Social, Emotional and Ethical learning (SEE Learning®) is a new K-12 education program developed at Emory University for interna. Practice forms inside this tradition typically include compassion meditation, tonglen, loving-kindness, self-compassion practices, structured inquiry, and contemplative dialogue. Students entering Cognitively-Based Compassion Training (CBCT) Teacher Certification should expect to meet those forms in cohort sessions, in their own daily practice, and in supervised teaching with peers and faculty. Honest teacher trainings in this field share a few markers: a real practice requirement, a named faculty with verifiable lineage, supervised teaching of real students, and inquiry-based feedback. The directory entry above gives the structural facts; the school's own materials are the place to confirm faculty bios, the practicum format, and what graduates are authorized to teach.

Curriculum and topics

compassion trainingtonglenself-compassionclinical settings

Practice forms inside the curriculum follow the Compassion-Based tradition. Students work with compassion meditation, tonglen, loving-kindness, self-compassion practices, structured inquiry, and contemplative dialogue. Across Training + supervised teaching and roughly 40 contact hours, the cohort moves through foundational practice, teaching skills, and supervised practicum. Emory University Compassion Center structures the work around the standard arc for this tradition: deepening of personal practice, study of source materials, observation and co-teaching of groups, written reflection, and feedback from faculty. Where the program lists named modules, those appear in the school's own curriculum sheet; the directory does not invent module names that are not on the source page. Inquiry is central. In the Compassion-Based tradition, the teacher's job is less to deliver content than to hold a frame inside which participants can notice their own experience. Most credible teacher trainings in this field weight inquiry skill heavily across the curriculum. Students should expect daily personal practice across the program, plus retreat or intensive components depending on the tradition. The school's onboarding materials list specific reading, recordings, and pre-program participation requirements.

How it's taught

Emory University Compassion Center delivers the training in a hybrid online and in-person format over Training + supervised teaching. The structure usually combines cohort sessions, individual practice, mentorship, and supervised teaching. In the Compassion-Based tradition, the standard expectations are a daily personal sit, regular meetings with a mentor or supervisor, and either a silent retreat component or a residential intensive depending on the program. The online format relies on live video sessions, recorded practice, and dyad or small-group practicum work between sessions. The in-person component anchors the cohort, with residential days that hold the silent practice container the tradition expects. Feedback comes through inquiry transcripts, recorded teaching, and direct observation by faculty.

Who this program is for

Healthcare workers
Clinicians and caregivers building compassion-based interventions for high-burnout settings.
Mindfulness teachers
MBSR or MBCT teachers who want a dedicated compassion curriculum to teach alongside.
Educators and chaplains
Teachers and chaplains grounding compassion practices in schools and care settings.

Outcomes

Graduates earn the certificate issued by Emory University Compassion Center. The credential carries the weight of no major external accreditation, and graduates teach inside the scope the school authorizes. Graduates lead compassion-training groups inside healthcare, education, and community settings.

Prerequisites

Prior participation in the corresponding compassion-training program is usually required, along with an established personal practice and either a clinical, educational, or community-care context.

How this compares

Compassion-based programs sit alongside MBSR and MBCT and are usually taken in addition to one of those pathways. The credentialing bodies are smaller and tighter, which generally means clearer faculty and fewer pretenders.

A compassion-training teacher pathway at Emory University Compassion Center, built for clinical, educational, and care settings.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Cognitively-Based Compassion Training (CBCT) Teacher Certification for?
Cognitively-Based Compassion Training (CBCT) Teacher Certification fits practitioners in the Compassion-Based tradition who want a structured route into teaching. It works best for people with prior personal practice and a clear context to teach in, whether clinical, educational, or community-based. Emory University Compassion Center screens for practice depth in its application, so casual interest is rarely enough.
How long is the training?
The program runs Training + supervised teaching with around 40 contact hours. It is delivered in a hybrid online and in-person format. The full arc usually includes personal practice, cohort sessions, mentorship, and supervised teaching, so the calendar time and the actual practice load are not the same number.
What does it cost?
Tuition is listed as the figure listed by the school. That figure usually covers cohort sessions, faculty time, and the certificate. Travel, retreat fees, and supervision after the program may be separate. Prospective students should confirm exactly what tuition includes with Emory University Compassion Center before applying.
Is the credential recognized?
The training is associated with no major external accreditation. In the Compassion-Based world, recognition depends on faculty lineage and the credentialing body. Hospitals and universities usually weigh MBI-TAC assessment and university-affiliated programs more heavily; community and corporate settings are more flexible.
LocationAtlanta, GA, United States
CountryUnited States
TraditionCompassion-Based
FormatOnline, In-person
Training hours40
DurationTraining + supervised teaching
About Compassion-Based credentials: Each compassion protocol (MSC, CCT, CBCT) has its own certification body. Ensure you train in the specific protocol you intend to teach.
Last reviewed: April 2026 · Information may change — always verify with the program directly.
OMP is not affiliated with this program and receives no commission. This listing is maintained as an independent research resource.
Independent research: Online Meditation Planet maintains this database without affiliation to any training program, lineage, or certifying body. We receive no commissions or fees from listed programs. Pricing and program details change — always verify current information directly with the program before making decisions.

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