If you would like to learn mindfulness, I teach MBSR (Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, based on the work of Jon Kabat-Zinn) and MBCT (Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, pioneered by Zindel Segal, Mark Williams & John Teasdale) derivatives.
These courses are usually taught over 8 (or so) weeks to allow you time to learn the skills in session, and then practice them in your daily life. There is an opportunity to explore your experience whether you choose to learn as part of a group or individually, at each session as well as Home Practice between sessions.
If you have already completed an 8-week course and are looking to keep your practice alive, I also offer Retreat Days and Follow On courses (see below).
Please do use the Contact page to get in touch if you have any questions.
Both upcoming courses and follow-on opportunities can be found using the Course Booking button on the Home page. Bookings are handled securely by The Little Box Office.
More options:
The Oxford Mindfulness Centre has some free resources which may help to start or sustain your mindfulness practice. I am hosting/facilitating some of these sessions. Please check their website for current offerings here
One-to-one
If attending a Group Course is difficult for you, we can discuss the possibility of one-to-one work, either over the telephone or in-person (in Godalming or Haslemere). We will have a (free) orientation session to help you decide if the Course is appropriate for you, and if you would like to work with me in this way.
Day Retreats & Follow On Events
A Day of Mindfulness often helps us to re-connect with our practice and re-evaluate what’s best for our well-being. Each Day is open to anyone with experience of MBSR/MBCT meditation (e.g. completion of 8-week course or an on-line course or a distance learning course). The day is held mainly in silence to allow deep connection with personal mindfulness experience and interconnection with the group. We will re-visit all formal practices of the 8-week course during the day.
These Day Retreats will be offered via the Courses button on the Home page.
They take place at The Fintry Trust, Brook, Godalming or in Hascombe from 9.30am for 10am start to 3.30pm/4pm on a weekday or a Saturday. If we are lucky enough with the weather, there will be opportunities to practise in the beautiful gardens at Fintry, or on the village green at Hascombe. To keep costs as low as possible so that these days are accessible to all, please bring your own packed lunch (refreshments provided). Please contact me for details or if you wish to request a concessionary rate.
In-person Day Retreats will be offered when possible in accordance with Government guidelines. In the meantime, please do feel free to get in touch by email if you would like to join an online Day Retreat or would like a telephone chat to revitalise your mindfulness practice.
These Day Retreats will be based on some of the themes of the new “Mindfulness: Taking it Further” curriculum that has just been released by Oxford Mindfulness Centre. There will be short interactive exercises to highlight themes which might encourage and support our on-going mindfulness practice. The majority of the day will be held in silence.
If you would like to attend future days or ‘top-up practice sessions’, please let me know and I will add you to the mailing list.
Workshops
I am happy to discuss any individual requirements for workshops in healthcare or other settings. These will be tailored to your needs and will be priced accordingly.
I have completed the Mindfulness in the Workplace Masterclasses training with the Oxford Mindfulness Centre as well as the .b!, Paws b and .bFoundations training for the Mindfulness in Schools project. I would be delighted to hear from you if you would like to bring a “taster” of mindfulness into your workplace or school.
I have worked with local clients and those further afield, facilitating everything from Taster sessions to full courses and Day Retreats. Clients include local hospitals, healthcare professionals peer support groups, schools, colleges, and workplaces, both commercial and public sector. Self-referred clients include those from Godalming, Farnham, Haslemere and Woking and those wanting to live a fuller, less stressful and more creative life. Do get in touch if you feel you would like to explore mindfulness either for yourself or your workplace.
Books
If you would like to pursue some additional reading, the following may be of interest:
Full Catastrophe Living by Jon Kabat-Zinn 1990 Piatkus, ISBN 0-7499-1585-4
Heal Thy Self: Lessons on Mindfulness in Medicine by Saki Santorelli 1999 Bell Tower, ISBN 0-609-80504-5
The Mindful Way through Depression by Mark Williams, John Teasdale, Zindel Segal & Jon Kabat-Zinn 2007 Guilford Press, ISBN 978-1-59385-128-6 (includes a CD by Jon Kabat-Zinn)
The Miracle of Mindfulness by Thich Nhat Hahn 2008 Rider, ISBN 978-1-84-604106-8
Mindfulness: a practical guide to finding peace in a frantic world by Mark Williams and Danny Penman 2011 Piatkus, ISBN 978-0-7499-5308-9
Mindfulness: Ancient Wisdom meets Modern Psychology by Christina Feldman and Willem Kuyken 2019, Guilford Press, ISBN 978-1462540112
Mindfulness in Eight Weeks by Michael Chaskalson 2014 HarperThorsons, ISBN 978-0-00-759143-5
Mindfulness: A Kindly Approach to Being with Cancer by Trish Bartley 2016 Wiley Blackwell, ISBN 978-1118926277
Websites
If you would like to take your Practice further, additional information for Courses in the UK may be found at:
– oxfordmindfulness.org for the Oxford Mindfulness Centre
– bangor.ac.uk/mindfulness for the Centre for Mindfulness Research and Practice at Bangor University.
– bemindful.co.uk for mindfulness as promoted by the Mental Health Foundation.
– bamba.org.uk for the British Association of Mindfulness-Based Approaches