WHAT IS MINDFULNESS?
Mindfulness has become a bit of a buzz word, with regular reports in the media about its growing popularity, along with numerous podcasts and a proliferation of courses offered. In a nutshell, mindfulness is a quality that entails being awake to all that is present in and around you. Jon Kabat-Zinn, the founder of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) defines it as: “the awareness that arises when paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment and non-judgementally”.
While there are many ways to learn mindfulness, the strongest recommendation is for you to attend one of the 8-week courses offered, as they are the most widely-researched and evidence-based approaches. It has been discovered that within 8 weeks, as you participate in a group and develop a regular practice (in between the sessions on your own), you are more likely to facilitate your longterm commitment to meditation and good health benefits - like going to the gym to build up your muscles, you can build a ‘mindfulness muscle’. The repetition of meditation over this period of time enables you to form new, healthy habits and patterns of thinking. Neuroscientific evidence has shown that regular practice leads to significant changes in the brain (ie more clarity and a calmer disposition). You will benefit from the interaction with other group members and the guidance of an experienced meditator and teacher.
To find out more about these courses, read further below…
The 8-week courses* offered are the gold standard Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
MBSR
This is an 8-week course that was set up by Jon Kabat-Zinn in 1979 and is considered to be the gold standard of mindfulness training. It is offered as two hours per week, with an optional full day of practice between session 6 and 7. The group is suitable for those seeking to manage the pressures of life that create stress and which can take their toll on relationships. While originally set up as a stress-management course, it has been shown to be effective for a number of both physical and mental health conditions.
You do not have to be suffering from a particular condition to attend the course; you may just wish to learn how to meditate, enhance your wellbeing and generally gain a greater quality of life. By attending this course you will learn how to focus your attention to enhance your awareness, particularly self-awareness, which can help you to find greater clarity in making decisions in life. The key is learning how to respond wisely to situations, rather than react automatically to them.
Please go to the Book a Course link at the top of the page to find out more information, or send a message to wisemindpsychology@yahoo.com
MBCT
This 8-week course was designed by a team of psychologists: Zindal Segal, Mark Williams and John Teasdale, in 2003. After following the 8-weeek MBSR with Jon Kabat-Zinn, they adapted the programme to include some elements taken from cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT). The course was originally set up as a relapse-prevention for those who had experienced repeated episodes of depression. Like MBSR, it has been shown to be effective for a range of other conditions.
How does MBCT differ from MBSR?
The emphasis in teaching differs in these courses, as MBCT has traditionally been provided for clinical populations and is therefore taught by qualified health professionals, usually trained in CBT. Like MBSR, this course will train you in mindfulness meditation and will be taught experientially. However, the emphasis will be on understanding the way thoughts and responses interact; the curriculum is underpinned by a psychological model, and will include some didactic delivery of cognitive understandings of the ways in which we avoid unpleasant experiences.
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Course Fees:
The 8 week courses are usuay £295. The optional full day is £35 and is open to anyone currently on the course (or who has completed another 8 week mindfulness course)
*All the 8 week courses offered by Wise Mind Psychology are taught by Judi, who is an experienced teacher registered with the British Association of Mindfulness Based Approaches (BAMBA), which ensures quality of teaching with integrity, depth and adherence to the highest professional standards.
1:1 MEDITATION COACHING
Perhaps you don’t feel ready for a course, or wonder if you can make the commitment to 8 weeks. You may have completed a programme of mindfulness meditation already and want to deepen your practice. 1:1 sessions can be arranged and will last for 60 mins.
Fees: £50 per session
MINDFULNESS FOR THE WORKPLACE
These programmes can be tailored to suit your organisation and workforce. They vary from half day workshops to brief courses of 4 weeks (30 mins, 1 hour or 2 hour sessions) depending on your needs. Please contact me for a brief discussion by telephone or zoom and I would be happy to come and discuss designing something to suit your staff.