The Art of Dying Institute is dedicated to returning a sense of the sacred to death itself, to transforming how we think about and engage with this core human experience, and to exploring how awareness of our own mortality has direct consequences for how we live.
The Institute emerged from five world-class Art of Dying conferences held between 1995 and 2016 through the New York Open Center (and originally co-sponsored with the Tibet House) that recognized the need for a cultural awakening around the theme of death. These conferences expanded into a wide range of programs focusing on the spiritual, scientific and practical approaches to end-of-life care, bereavement, and the nature of death and dying.
Our Integrative Thanatology Certificate Program was created in 2015 to provide comprehensive training to those drawn to a holistic approach to dying. This five-month online course reframes our current conception of dying by both reclaiming the wisdom and practices of the past and reimagining how death care can evolve into the future.
The Institute has established an active community of outstanding innovators in palliative care, researchers and scholars, educators, spiritual practitioners and religious leaders, as well as laypeople. Over the decades, its work has had a profound impact, facilitating a collective shift toward facing death with more consciousness and choice, and with an opportunity to find meaning within this transition.
We will continue to develop programming that responds to the needs of our world in grieving, death and dying, and that makes this learning – and supportive community – more accessible to everyone.
For more information on the Art of Dying Institute and the Integrative Thanatology Certificate Program, please visit artofdying.org.
FAQS
What is Integrative Thanatology?
Integrative Thanatology is an interdisciplinary approach to understanding death, dying, grief, and conscious end-of-life care. It combines spiritual insight, psychological support, compassionate caregiving, contemplative practices, and holistic education to help individuals navigate the emotional, physical, and existential aspects of the dying process.
At the Art of Dying Institute, Integrative Thanatology is explored as both an educational discipline and a compassionate practice that supports caregivers, healthcare professionals, spiritual practitioners, and families seeking a more meaningful understanding of end-of-life experiences.
Who is the Art of Dying Institute program designed for?
The Art of Dying Institute is designed for individuals who wish to deepen their understanding of conscious dying, compassionate caregiving, grief support, and spiritual approaches to end-of-life care. Programs may benefit healthcare professionals, hospice workers, therapists, spiritual counselors, caregivers, educators, and individuals exploring personal transformation.
The curriculum is also valuable for anyone interested in holistic wellness, contemplative traditions, spiritual development, and meaningful conversations surrounding mortality and human consciousness.
Is the training available online or only in person?
New Center NY may offer both online and in-person educational experiences depending on the specific program, workshop, or training schedule. Virtual learning opportunities can help participants access teachings from anywhere, while in-person experiences may provide deeper community engagement and experiential learning.
Visitors should review the current program schedule for updated information regarding class formats, locations, live sessions, and online participation availability.
What credentials or certification do I receive upon completion?
A certificate is available through the Institute’s Integrative Thanatology: Death Education Counselor, which is offered in partnership with the School of American Thanatology. Student can receive the certificate after passing an assessment test, completing a capstone project, presenting the capstone project, and attending all educational sessions.
Certification and completion credentials for other Art of Dying Institute programs may vary depending on the structure and duration of the specific program. Some educational offerings may provide certificates of completion, continuing education recognition, or specialized training acknowledgments. Participants are encouraged to review individual program details.
Is the training available online or only in person?
New Center NY may offer both online and in-person educational experiences depending on the specific program, workshop, or training schedule. Virtual learning opportunities can help participants access teachings from anywhere, while in-person experiences may provide deeper community engagement and experiential learning.
Visitors should review the current program schedule for updated information regarding class formats, locations, live sessions, and online participation availability.
How does the Art of Dying approach differ from conventional end-of-life care?
The Art of Dying approach emphasizes holistic, spiritual, emotional, and conscious dimensions of the end-of-life experience in addition to traditional care practices. Rather than focusing solely on medical or clinical needs, the program explores meaning, compassion, mindfulness, emotional healing, and the human experience of transition.
This integrative perspective encourages deeper awareness, presence, and connection for both individuals facing the end of life and those supporting them through caregiving, grief, and spiritual care.
