Trainings & Retreats at Saint Basil

Collaborate. Train. Unify.

We are grateful for our neighbors and our broader Orthodox communities. Let us connect with one another and serve our communities together. Together we can build and strengthen one another. The Trainings and Retreats at Saint Basil works in partnership with all our neighbors to support and train. Together we can make a difference.

The Trainings and Retreats at Saint Basil works with ministry leaders to support and strengthen the Church in essential pastoral and clinical care. with a unified language from the Orthodox ontological view of the human person as an icon of Christ. While utilizing the resources of the professional world, the Trainings and Retreats at Saint Basil seeks to equip Orthodox ministry leaders with the skills necessary to lead their parishes and communities in the work of the Church. Orthodoxy is at the core of the trainings offered.

Peace of Mind Program

Created by the Assembly of Bishops Mental Health Task Force, we are proud to be a host and training center for the Peace of Mind Program. The Peace of Mind program is designed to equip clergy and ministry leaders with tools for enhancing pastoral care through the unique combination of Mental Health First Aid and Orthodox Bridging in one composite program. The goal of this program is to increase mental health literacy, challenge stigma, and gain skills for confidently and appropriately responding to a person experiencing a mental health challenge.

Refugee Crisis Care Training

A comprehensive training program designed for refugees and for individuals who want to serve the refugee population. Utilizing the leading United Nations model for refugee counseling focused on Adversity Activated Development (Papadopoulos), this certificate program provides training and tools to help refugees heal and adapt to life in their new situation and also helps train individuals to become a community resource within their refugee community.

Red Cross First Aid

The purpose of this course is to help participants identify and eliminate potentially hazardous conditions in their environment, recognize emergencies, and make appropriate decisions for first aid care. It teaches skills that participants need to know in order to provide immediate care for a suddenly ill or injured person until more advanced medical care arrives to take over.

Mental Health First Aid

Identify. Understand. Respond.

Mental Health First Aid is a skills-based training course that teaches participants about mental health and substance-use issues.

Our Partners

Community Matters Initiatives

We serve our local community by providing access to:

Therapeutic Services

To provide therapeutic support to Saint Basil Academy children and families in a safe and supported environment. Our clinical team works collaboratively with residential life staff and the education center team to provide psychological and educational assessments that result in a highly comprehensive and individualized treatment plan.

The clinical staff specializes in clinically proven psychological and educational interventions that include but are not limited to family and group therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, attachment theory interventions, cognitive behavioral therapy, life skills coaching, animal-assisted and nature based therapy. Saint Basil Academy is also used as a training facility for advanced level social work graduate students from New York University, Hunter University and Fordham University.

Mindful Swim Program M2O

The Mindful Swim program (M2O) is a Saint Basil Academy therapeutic aquatic program that combines mindfulness training with swim lessons. The innovative program (M2O) focuses on strengthening the body and engaging the mind. The natural repetition of swim blended with proven mindfulness techniques is designed to enhance mood, memory, and awareness. We hope to give our swimmers safety in the water and strength in the world.

The M2O Mindful Swim program at Saint Basil Academy is designed for individuals of all ages. It is run by the Saint Basil Academy aquatics staff members with over 30 years of combined experience.