Bhutan Thunder Dragon Counseling Institute 2017 an international institute and refereed conference for undergraduate students, counseling graduate students, counselors, supervisors, and counselor educators University of Holy Cross New Orleans, Louisiana www.uhcno.edu in partnership with NBCC International a division of the National Board for Certified Counselors, Inc. Greensboro, North Carolina www.nbcc.org September 17 October 2, 2017 Thimphu, Bhutan The University of Holy Cross has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 4268. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. The University of Holy Cross is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
Location of Bhutan The Institute Experience This institute provides the opportunity to learn about counseling from Bhutanese and American mental health professionals. It offers the comfort and security of a planned itinerary. Participants stay the entire period of the institute in one hotel in Thimphu, Bhutan, the nation s capital. In addition to lectures on counseling and mental health service in Bhutan and cultural diversity, participants will spend a day in Paro at the world famous Tiger s Nest. We will visit the National Hospital, the medical college, schools, and monasteries. This institute is sponsored by the University of Holy Cross in partnership with NBCC International. Cost $2,480 USD Program Fee Included in the program fee: Roundtrip airfare from Bangkok, Thailand (BKK) to Paro, Bhutan. Room (shared double room with shared bath). Single rooms available for $600 USD additional. Breakfast daily, most lunches and dinners in Bhutan. About 3 lunches and 3 dinners on your own in Bhutan. 25 continuing education hours (including 2 hours in ethics). All transportation within Bhutan. Health and travel Insurance. Entry to tour locations. 3 academic credits for degree-seeking University of Holy Cross students. o Students from other universities earning academic credit at University of Holy Cross (if academic credit is desired) will pay ½ the University of Holy Cross tuition rate. o See details below for the earning academic credit option. Not included in the program fee: Roundtrip airfare from your home to the airport in Bangkok, Thailand (BKK). Roundtrip coach class airfares from your US location and Bangkok most likely will range from $1,300 USD to $2,000 USD. Up to four nights in a hotel in Bangkok, Thailand. Meals while traveling to Bangkok and while there and about 3 lunches and 3 dinners in Bhutan. Personal purchases and gifts. Tuition for participants who wish to earn academic credit if they are not University of Holy Cross degree seeking students. See details below.
Early Application + Deposit Payment Highly Recommended Your plane ticket from Bangkok to Paro, Bhutan will be purchased for you as soon as you pay your deposit and cannot be purchased prior to that because we have to have your birthdate, passport number, and other information prior to purchasing your plane fare. There is only one plane from Bangkok to Paro and back each day, and some days there are no flights. As a result, it is very important that we reserve a seat for you from Bangkok to Paro on September 21, and from Paro to Bangkok on October 1. If you register and pay your deposit late, then it is possible you may have to take a flight a different day than planned and may have to stay in a Bangkok or Paro hotel more days than you planned. In addition, you may miss some days of the institute. Applying early will ensure that you are on the flights into and out of Bhutan with the rest of the group. Credit Options 3 graduate credits in counseling (master s or doctoral level) 3 undergraduate credits in psychology or counseling Application Information To apply for the institute, click on this link, complete the application, and submit your payment. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bhutan-thunder-dragon-counseling-institute-2017-tickets-29483986397 You can either pay the deposit or make the full payment when you apply. There is no deadline for applying, but once the institute has filled, no additional participants will be accepted. Capacity is limited so early applications are encouraged. It is likely that this institute will sell out. Program Fee: $2,480 (United States Dollars, USD) Payment Information Payment Schedule: $1,000 USD deposit due upon submission of application; $740 USD due on April 15, 2017; and final payment of $740 USD due on June 15, 2017. For those requesting single rooms, there is an additional cost of $600 USD, so the final payment will be $1,340 USD. Financial Aid: Students who receive loans for their education may be eligible for increased loan amounts the semester they enroll in a study abroad program. Students who wish to make a presentation at an institute might be able to apply at their universities for travel to refereed conferences, if such funding exists. Very few grants are available for international study abroad experiences. If you need a budget for the institute to give to your financial aid officer at your university or if you need additional information about financial aid, contact the program director, Dr. Ted Remley at tremley@uhcno.edu. Refunds Deposits: Deposits are not refundable after having been accepted as an institute participant. Your deposit will be used to purchase your plane ticket from Bangkok, Thailand to Paro, Bhutan and is not refundable. Participants Who Withdraw: Payments made in addition to the deposit are fully refundable until April 15, 2017 if participants withdraw. From April 16, 2017 to June 15, 2017, participants who withdraw will receive a refund less $1,500 USD due to plane tickets, nonrefundable deposits that will have been previously paid for participants, and administrative costs. After June 15, 2017, participants who withdraw will receive no refund. Institute Cancellation Policy: This institute will not be cancelled due to insufficient participation. If the institute is cancelled due to some other reason, participants will be notified, and all payments made to the University of Holy Cross for the institute (including the $1,000 USD deposit) will be refunded to participants. Participants are cautioned that if they purchase air tickets for travel to Bangkok that are nonrefundable or that include an itinerary change penalty and the institute is canceled due any reason beyond the control of the university, they will be responsible for any financial loss related to such airfare purchases.
Institute is an Educational Group Experience Participants in this institute are members of a large group and must be prepared to be part of a group educational experience. Individuals must be on time for bus trips, take other participants into consideration regarding noise at night, and generally be considerate members of a group. Participants (including faculty, students, professionals, and non-counselors) must make a commitment to arrive on the date and time the institute begins and stay until the date and time that the institute ends. If other obligations or personal interests will preclude participants from being with the group throughout the entire institute, individuals should not apply. Participants who need medical attention for respiratory problems, allergies, or similar conditions should secure medication from physicians before leaving from the United States. Individuals who have medical conditions that would require the attention of a physician during the institute should not apply (emergency physician or hospital visits are possible if necessary). During the institute, participants may not engage in any of the following activities: arrive after the institute begins or leave before the institute is over; rent cars to be used while the institute is in session; plan trips to cities other than those scheduled for the institute; spend nights away from the institute housing; or engage in other activities that interfere with the group nature of the experience for other participants. It is acceptable for participants to schedule personal trips within to other countries prior to or after the institute. You will not be able to travel away from the group while in Bhutan. Non-Counselor Participants Many non-counselors and non-mental health professionals have participated in similar institutes in the past. Some have come on their own, and others have been spouses, partners, children, relatives, or friends of participants. All participants are eligible to receive up to 25 continuing education hours. Number of hours awarded is dependent upon number of hours workshops are attended. All lectures and workshops are open to all participants, but for noncounselors, attendance is optional. Non-counselors are welcomed to participate in the institute, but there are no discounts for participants who are not mental health professionals, even if they cannot use the continuing education hours they earn. Individuals who are not participants may not stay at the Thimphu hotel with institute participants while the institute is in session. For further information on the study institute contact Dr. Ted Remley, Director tremley@uhcno.edu A young monk in Bhutan boys will be boys
Thimphu, Bhutan Thimphu is the capital of Bhutan. Nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas, the city has a population of about 50,000 the largest city in Bhutan. Thimphu is at about 8,000 feet, making it cool in the evenings in September. Dancer at the Thimphu Tscheu Festival Monks on Main Lam (street) in Thimphu Seeing Bangkok Before or After the Institute: Since round trip airfare from the United States to the airport in Bangkok is individually arranged, participants may travel to Bangkok early and join the group at the airport in Bangkok the day participants fly to Paro, Bhutan, or they may choose to stay longer in Thailand or other destinations after the institute. Extended stays in Bhutan are not possible.
Tiger s Nest perched on a cliff in Paro. Our visit to the Tiger s Nest requires a 2-3 hour hike up. Ponies are available for a fee. Tsong (fort) on the river in Punaka Map of Bhutan
Daily Schedule for 2017 Date Day Activities 2017 Year Sept. 17 Sunday Depart the United States for Bangkok. Sept. 18 Monday Travel Day. Arrive in Bangkok. Sept. Tuesday & Arrive early in case of flight delays or cancellations and rest in Bangkok. 19-20 Wednesday Sept. 21 Thursday Depart Bangkok at 4:30 am and arrive at the Paro Airport (PBH) in Bhutan at 8:25 am (stopping for one hour in Guwahati, India). Take a 1.5 hour drive to Thimphu. Brief tour of Thimphu. Orientation. Lunch and dinner at the hotel. Flight schedule is subject to change. Sept. 22 Friday Breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the hotel. Hospital Tour #1, RENEW Tour #1 in the morning. Hospital Tour #2 and RENEW Tour #2 in the afternoon. Sept. 23 Saturday Breakfast, lunch, and dinner at hotel. Talk from the Monastic Order in the morning. Visit city of Chorten and Her Majesty s Textile Shop in the afternoon. Sept. 24 Sunday Breakfast and lunch at hotel. Dinner on your own. Visit Dochula Monastary in the a.m. Afternoon and evening on your own. Sept. 25 Monday Breakfast and Dinner at the hotel. Lunch at the Medical School. Medical School Day; Counseling in Bhutan Panel Discussion. Meeting with bachelor s degree Counseling Students. Talks in morning and afternoon. Sept. 26 Tuesday Breakfast at hotel. Dinner in Paro. Lunch on your own (bring your own snacks). Tiger s Nest or Paro Tsong. This is a long day, be rested. Group dinner in Paro at a restaurant before returning to Thimphu. Sept. 27 Wednesday Breakfast and lunch at hotel. Dinner on your own. Talks in the a.m. and p.m. Sept. 28 Thursday Breakfast and dinner at hotel. Lunch at conference. 4 th Bi-Annual Bhutan Counseling Conference. Some participants may be able to be speakers. Sept. 29 Friday Breakfast at hotel. Lunch and dinner on your own. Free day! Sept. 30 Saturday Breakfast at hotel. Lunch on your own. Group final night dinner at Folk Heritage Center. Thimphu Tscheu Festival and city Market (all day). Oct. 1 Sunday Breakfast at hotel. Drive to Paro for flight to Bangkok. Depart Bangkok at 7:00 am and arrive in Bangkok at 11:00 am. Flight schedule is subject to change. Stay overnight at hotel near airport in Bangkok. Oct. 2 Monday Depart Bangkok and arrive back in the United States. Participants will receive a program at the institute with the following information for each presentation: program content description and learning objectives; name and qualifications of each program presenter; and the number of NBCC hours offered for each workshop.
Faculty Leaders Dr. Ted Remley Dr. J. Scott Hinkle Institute Director Dr. Ted Remley Dr. Ted Remley is the Director of the institute. He is a lawyer and counselor and is a former Executive Director of the American Counseling Association. Dr. Remley is a faculty member in the Counseling Graduate Program at the University of Holy Cross in New Orleans, Louisiana. Institute Program Director Dr. J. Scott Hinkle Dr. Scott Hinkle is the Director of Professional Development at the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) and is the Editor of The Professional Counselor, the refereed professional counseling journal published by NBCC. Dr. Scott manages the counseling residency for the Ministry of Health in Thimphu.
Motion and Altitude Sickness Caution: If you tend to experience motion sickness, please be advised that the institute involves several bus rides through the countryside on winding roads. If motion sickness is a serious problem for you, then you may not want to participate in this institute. If medication can control motion sickness for you, then be sure to bring a supply with you and sit near the front of the bus. The two front seats in the bus are reserved for faculty members and guides, but seats near the front will be available for you if you believe your motion sickness will be alleviated by sitting near the front. If you a prone to altitude sickness, this trip may not be for you. Please consult your physician. The highest we will venture is just under 11,000 feet (that s like skiing Peak 8 at Breckenridge, Colorado). Vegetarians Vegans, vegetarians, and organic food freaks will be in heaven! Not a lot of meat is consumed in Bhutan because Buddists are vegetarians. Please indicate any other dietary restrictions you have on the application when you apply. Credit Course Options Participants who will earn academic credit and continuing education hours are required to attend program sessions.
Tuition is waived for degree-seeking University of Holy Cross students. University of Holy Cross students may earn 3 academic credits for their participation in the institute without paying tuition. Participants who are students at other universities may earn academic credit for their participation in the institute at their home college or university or from the University of Holy Cross. Participants who are students at another university may either earn credits at the University of Holy Cross (and pay the tuition to the University of Holy Cross at one-half the tuition rate) and transfer the credits back to their home institutions, or, if a faculty member at the student s home institution agrees, students may earn academic credit (and pay tuition) at their home institution. University of Holy Cross tuition for a 3 credit undergraduate course is $1,305 USD and tuition for a 3 credit graduate course is $1,650 USD, so one-half the tuition rate is $652.50 USD for a 3 credit undergraduate course and $825 USD for a 3 credit graduate course. In addition, there is a $100 USD fee charged for each credit course. Participants at other colleges or universities who wish to earn credit at the University of Holy Cross must submit an application as a non-degree special student. Participants who wish to earn 3 academic credits at the University of Holy Cross may choose from the options described below. If you wish a syllabus for one or more of these courses, contact the institute director, Dr. Ted Remley at tremley@uhcno.edu. It is possible other courses for institute participation may be offered at other universities. Undergraduate Course Options at the University of Holy Cross COU 300: Special Topics: Counseling in Bhutan An elective undergraduate 3 credit counseling course. This course is primarily experiential and requires some readings, attendance at institute presentations and seminars, and a paper that focuses on the learning experiences of participants. PSY 400: Special Studies: Counseling in Bhutan An elective undergraduate 3 credit psychology course. This course is primarily experiential and requires some readings, attendance at institute presentations and seminars, and a paper that focuses on the learning experiences of participants. Graduate Course Options (Master s Level) at the University of Holy Cross COU 640: Special Topics in Counseling: Counseling in Bhutan An elective master s-level graduate 3 credit course. This course is primarily experiential and requires some readings, attendance at institute presentations and seminars, and a paper that focuses on the learning experiences of participants. Graduate Course Options (Doctoral Level) at the University of Holy Cross COU 815: Doctoral Seminar in Clinical Studies: Counseling in Bhutan An elective doctoral-level graduate 3 credit course. This course is primarily experiential and requires some readings, attendance at institute presentations and seminars, and a paper that focuses on the learning experiences of participants. For further information, contact: Dr. Ted Remley Department of Counseling and Behavioral Sciences University of Holy Cross 4123 Woodland Drive New Orleans, LA 70131 tremley@uhcno.edu