Kairos Institute
Healing in a World of Need
KAIROS LINKS
Public Welcome
Spring 2026 Online Modules
with Bernd Ruf
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!
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Online
Friday May 22 and Saturday May 23
Tuition: $ 350
This module explores the Kaspar Hauser Syndrome and examines the forms and consequences of ritualized trauma. It situates these experiences within the framework of complex trauma, highlighting how traumatic wounds can be transmitted across generations. Participants will explore the psychological and behavioral symptoms of transgenerational trauma and examine pathways toward healing, with a focus on interrupting the cycle of inherited trauma.
Bernd Ruf
Presenter, Founder of Parzival School & Emergency Pedagogy
Author of Educating Traumatized Children, Bernd Ruf is the founder of the worldwide Emergency Pedagogy crisis intervention center, based in Karlsruhe, Germany. Skilled teams are sent out to help traumatized children in places of the strife of war, or ecological disasters.
Online
Friday September 18 and Saturday September 19
Tuition: $ 350
This module examines how catastrophes, such as floods, earthquakes, fires, and human-made disasters, including explosions, produce similar traumatic impacts on children, youths, and adults. Healing communities are foundational in overcoming and working through the consequences of collective trauma. Attention will be given to the healing potential of animal-assisted therapy in supporting trauma-informed pedagogy.
Bernd Ruf
Presenter, Founder of Parzival School & Emergency Pedagogy
Author of Educating Traumatized Children, Bernd Ruf is the founder of the worldwide Emergency Pedagogy crisis intervention center, based in Karlsruhe, Germany. Skilled teams are sent out to help traumatized children in places of the strife of war, or ecological disasters.
Public Welcome
Summer Residency 2026
with Bernd Ruf
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!
July 5-10, 2026, in Wilton, New Hampshire, Bernd Ruf will teach face-to-face at High Mowing School, offering Modules 5 and 11.
Sign up before April 1, 2026 and automatically receive $50 off
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Bernd Ruf began offering his 12 Modules in Emergency Pedagogy and Trauma Pedagogy, in 2022. Bernd Ruf is inspired by the mature audience he encounters in Wilton, which allows him to go deeply into the sensitive topics, drawing from mystery wisdom, inspired by Anthropsophy.
Our face-to-face session allows for several daily lectures, a highly interactive Q&A session at the end of each day, evening lectures, and afternoon workshops in the healing arts.
Face-to-face session, 5 full days: Early Bird $875, after April 1st: $925.
Module 5
The Problem of School Shootings: Addressing the Phenomena and Consequences for Perpetrator and Victim
This module will examine the various perspectives on violent acts:
- Phenomenology: profile of perpetrator, the motive, the triggering, and the actual event
- Psychological perspective: psychopath, psychotic, or traumatized perpetrator
- Social perspective: family, school, and peers
- Cultural perspective: media influence and access to weapons
We will examine the importance of preventing violent acts, develop strategies for acute intervention and follow-up care.
Module 11
Psychohygiene: Self-Stabilization and Resilience-Building Protective Measures
Trauma is contagious. The price for helping traumatized individuals comes with the risk of “infection”. How can we protect ourselves? Psychohygienic and resilience-building measures are vital for maintaining balance in acute situations. This module offers techniques for self-stabilization and outlines long-term paths for inner development and schooling.
Bernd Ruf
Presenter, Founder of Parzival School & Emergency Pedagogy
Author of Educating Traumatized Children, Bernd Ruf is the founder of the worldwide Emergency Pedagogy crisis intervention center, based in Karlsruhe, Germany. Skilled teams are sent out to help traumatized children in places of the strife of war, or ecological disasters.
These workshops are an afternoon class during the week from Monday to Thursday.
Signup will take place on July 5th, after 3:00 pm EST at registration:
- Clowning with Laura Geilen
- Healing stories with Gleice Da Silva
- Eurythmy to Adresse trauma TBA
- Therapeutic massage with Elizabeth Sustick RN
- Painting therapy with Martha loving and Karine munk Finser
upcoming online course
The Organic Basis of Embodiment: The Seven Planetary Aspects of the Organs
with James Dyson, MD Part 1: Saturday march 14, 3:00 pm-5:00 pm EST Part 2: Saturday April 4th, 3:00 pm-5:00 pm EST Course Description: TBA
Read James Dyson's Bio
Dr. James A. Dyson first trained as a medical doctor in London University and went on to study anthroposophic medicine at Emerson College, Camphill Schools, Aberdeen and in hospitals in Germany. In 1979, he co-founded Park Attwood Clinic, a residential medical facility in the UK, where he practiced for 25 years. He also worked as a school doctor, both in mainstream Waldorf Schools and schools and communities for adults and children with special needs. In 2008, he completed a five-year program in Applied Psychosynthesis at the Institute of Psychosynthesis, London, for which he was later awarded a Masters’ degree in Psychosynthesis Psychology from Middlesex University.
James has lectured over several decades in a very wide range of international anthroposophic medical and therapeutic trainings and is a regular contributor at conferences of the Medical Section of the School of Spiritual Science at the Goetheanum, Switzerland. As a founding Faculty Member of the “Association for Anthroposophic Psychology” in the USA in 2014, he is a regular contributor to their foundation programs. This Association (AAP) currently offers three-year certificate programs in anthroposophic psychology as well as a professional certification program in anthroposophic psychotherapy. Beyond teaching commitments, James’s current practice embraces clinical mentoring and independent consulting. His aspirations lie in connecting esoteric experience with cognitive understanding, especially in relation to psychosomatic medicine, mental health and in the context of human relationship. Published in 2022 by Steiner Books, USA, Soul Size, The Eternal Psychosomatic Dilemma, contains a range of James’s lectures, essays and interviews, in which he explores the realm of soul in relationship to body and spirit.
Kairos Institute Offers:
The Kairos Institute at the Center for Anthroposophy, founded by Karine Munk Finser, provides professional training in healing artistic therapies and Emergency Pedagogy, addressing global suffering and trauma. The institute offers a supportive community where students develop resilience and self-healing capacities through a combination of residencies, artistic studios, and online classes. As a cooperative member of iARTe, Kairos students work toward a Diploma from the Medical Section at the Goetheanum in Switzerland, and a Certificate in International Crisis Intervention. The program is designed for those in the healing professions, offering a unique approach to personal growth and trauma recovery.
In a world filled with tremendous soul struggle, where the demands on both young and old often lead to overwhelm, mental health crises, and PTSD, the Kairos Institute at the Center for Anthroposophy offers a beacon of hope. Founded by Karine Munk Finser, the institute is dedicated to addressing suffering in the world by providing professional training in healing artistic therapies and Emergency Pedagogy.
Healing in a World of Need
Students in Kairos form a supportive community who journey together over several years. During this time, they develop skills to strengthen resilience and self-healing capacities for themselves and others. Students participate in two residencies per year plus artistic studios and online classes.
At a glance, Kairos provides training in:
Artistic Therapies:
Kairos is a cooperative member of iARTe. Students work towards a Diploma from the Medical Section, Goetheanum, Switzerland. Artistic therapies include painting, clay, and drawing.
Emergency Pedagogy:
Kairos is an English language site for Bernd Ruf’s trauma and crisis intervention modules. These modules deepen students’ understanding of trauma preventative pedagogical and artistic healing approaches. Students work towards a Certificate in International Crisis Intervention. Some modules are included in the Kairos training.
In this time of tremendous soul struggle, the demands on young and old often lead to overwhelm, mental health crises, and PTSD. These stresses can make it difficult to learn in a normal classroom setting or to have enough inner resilience to participate fully in life. The Kairos Institute was created to address suffering in the world. Kairos offers professional training in the healing artistic therapies and in Emergency Pedagogy.
A renowned international faculty contributes to making Kairos a vibrant school of learning. It is a soul school where all are welcomed into a living process dedicated to healing. This work is based on careful training in observation and living into another person’s needs. Empathy and compassion form the foundation of our creativity; and together with the practice and development of artistic capacities, human beings can become medicine for one another.
For questions and more info on our programs, contact Karine today!
Karine Munk Finser
Director
Donations are gratefully accepted to support the Kairos students scholarship fund.
Financial Aid
Kairos Financial Aid Application
Kairos Emergency Pedagogy without Borders Team USA in Action
Our Kairos Team, USA, was founded in the summer of 2024. In October, we all met in Asheville under the direction of Bernd Ruf and Alicia D’Urso for our first crisis intervention. We felt called to respond to the wreckage and chaos from the severe storm and flooding that hit North Carolina. Our intervention was successful, thanks to the strong leadership who guided us to become a strong and focused team and to the vast experience of the pedagogues and therapists who formed the sixteen-person team. In addition, we had strong support on the ground from our local coordinator and others who helped us: Sola, School of Living Arts gave us housing and much more, Asheville Waldorf School provided a daily site for students and community members, and we ventured to Shanonoa and Black Mountain where met community members at the Peri Social House. Some of us visited the LatinX community. We returned home grateful for all we had learned and deeply moved by all the human encounters we had experienced—a huge thank you to Bernd Ruf and Alicia D’Urso.
February 8-13, 2025:
Second Crisis intervention under the direction and guidance of Bernd Ruf, Alicia D’Urso, and Renaldo Nascimento Team Kairos will join Team California, who is leading this Los Angeles crisis intervention. We will offer our support to children in the community who are suffering from devastating loss, grief, and trauma after the destructive fires. Natalia Picasso from Team Kairos will submit a report after we return home. We hope to align our two Teams under Team USA for this critical crisis intervention.
