Eight-week Mindfulness MBCT Courses for groups, individuals and distance learners.

The eight week mindfulness course, founded by Jon Kabat-Zinn, has been running successfully in American hospitals since the 1970s for the treatment of psoriasis, pain, anxiety and stress. It was then termed the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) course. In the late 1990s the course was integrated with cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for the prevention of depression and became known as the Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) course.

 Stress and anxiety are closely related to, and are often present during depression and low mood. Results from trials have shown that the MBCT course reduces relapse in depression by 50% in those who have had three or more previous episodes of depression.  The course has gained the approval of NICE (National Institute of Clinical Excellence) as an efficacious treatment for the prevention of depression.                                                      

The majority of people completing a MBCT course report lasting physical and psychological benefits including:

• An increased ability to relax and experience calm

• Greater energy, enthusiasm and appreciation for life

• Heightened self confidence and more acceptance for life as it is

• An increase ability to cope more effectively with both short and long-term stressful situations

A lot of what is learned from the course and one's own practice can be passed on to help one's children, partner, family or friends to enhance their lives. The techniques and approaches developed during the course can be applied to most every issue or problem to gain relief. What is learned can also help to bring about insight and understanding for the problems of others.                                                       

Course Structure

Mindfulness meditation is learnt in 8-weekly 2 hour 15 minute sessions (one of which is held on the included retreat day) and by practicing with instruction CDs each day for approximately 45minutes through out the week. Breathing meditations and yoga practices help us become more aware of the present moment, and of subtle changes in our bodies and minds. We learn a basic understanding of what causes and maintains our low moods, depression, stress and anxiety and how to spot the warning signals and what to do to look after ourselves before distress take's hold.

Through enhanced awareness we begin to see the signs of potential crisis, upset and onset of low mood much sooner than we normally would. This enables us to respond in a calm, clear headed way to regain balance and perspective.

Your input

You get out of the course what you put in. The benefits of meditation are cumulative and therefore regular practice is needed to get the best out of the course. Very early on you may feel some important benefits but there may be times when it doesn't feel like anything is happening, times when it becomes a bit stressful (which is ironic and paradoxical of course) and demanding of your time. There are times when we feel it's just not working. At this point we just need to continue diligently with patience and the correct attitude till the end of the programme. By the end, the benefits will have started to accrue and have become more apparent and the process will have started to make sense.

Recommended reading is an important part of the course though not as important as doing the practices. It is recommended that you do some reading before the start of the course to orientate yourself regarding mindfulness meditation.

Support

During the course I can be emailed with concerns or questions about the practice that can't wait till the next session. Personal psychological issues can't be dealt with in this way. I recommend having a friend, counsellor or psychotherapist who can be contacted for personal support during the course.

Should the need arise I can recommend a therapist who is a mindfulness practitioner or if my schedule permits, I can be available for one to one therapy/instruction/missed sessions. This is paid for separately from the course fee (at a reduced rate during the course).

Joining the course

To join a course you need to contact me by email or phone to arrange for us to meet for 20 minutes to discuss together if we feel the course is suitable for you at this time. This is also an opportunity for you to ask any further questions. There is no charge for this meeting.

The total cost of the programme is £225 this includes:

• Initial, individual session with me to orientate you to the course

• 8 x 2 hour 15minute weekly session (one of which is held on the retreat day).

• Teacher support between sessions

• A day retreat at the end or towards the end of the course

• Recently extended course notes now amounting to 70 pages

• Three CDs with seven meditation practices developed to guide you in your daily practice

• Networking information for follow up events and local group

• Very nice and comfortable venue

• At times some levity

See the Contact &  Advice page for advice before and during the course.

The Ammerdown Conference Centre, venue for the day retreat

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