We are very keen to provide accessible ways of supporting you to experience the 8-Week MBSR Course, and in response to requests from people who may not have access to a mindfulness-based course in their home location, we are pleased to offer the accredited Mindful Academy International live online Mindfulness MBSR Course from your own home using video conferencing or for those without stable internet, via the telephone (1-1 only) with Kathy Ward, Director of Training and Senior International MBSR/MBCT Trainer, Teacher and Supervisor.
Mindful Academy International CPD accredited Mindfulness 8-week MBSR courses are also available through our licensed training team members in the USA with Tina Romenesko Hungary with Andras Barta, Ireland, and Europe with Fiona McMahon, and Sierra Leone with Julia Emes.
On successful graduation, Mindful Academy International formal 8-week MBSR Course CPD Standards certificates are issued and accepted in a multitude of countries and across all professional sectors. Please check with your local licensing board to determine if the accreditation meets their requirements.
The course may also be offered in more condensed versions, please directly contact the team member for more details.
The MBSR course is based on the original work of Jon Kabat-Zinn’s highly acclaimed Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR) programme and the current programmes taught at the University of Massachusetts Medical Centre, Bangor University Centre for Mindfulness Research and Practice (CMRP) in the UK and around the world. On successful graduation, formal CPD Standards certificates are issued and accepted in a multitude of countries and across all professional sectors. Please check with your local licensing board to determine if the accreditation meets their requirements.
Our Live online course is an enriching way to experience an 8-week Mindfulness-based course.
You can apply to take this MBSR course either as a first experience of Mindfulness, as a refresher, as an opportunity to deepen an existing mindfulness practice, or as a way to prepare for your MBSR Teacher Training course. Graduates share that the experience of working closely with a Senior International MBSR Teacher in this way can lead to profound understandings and changes in one's life. Many online MBSR course students have been surprised at the depth of practice, sense of connection and ease of learning during the online course, and often go on to further engagement with mindfulness in various ways.
When we offer this MBSR course in an in-person format (see below for dates and countries) participants travel to the course location for one session of 150 minutes a week for the 8 weeks, some locations also offer more intensive formats for busy people who cannot commit to 8 weeks. In a live online learning format, you have the choice of either a small group or, if you prefer you can also book a private 1-1 course (or 1-2 option with a friend)
In both cases, we will deliver the content in a similar manner to the in-person format, and the home practice assignments are exactly the same. Due to the personal nature of the 1-1 sessions, the call duration is shorter.
Each week you will take part in either a group 2.5hr session (1 hr for 1-1) via Zoom or Skype with Kathy Ward, Senior International MBSR Trainer, Teacher and Supervisor, or depending on locations, one of the training team. We will guide and support you through the learning of the mindfulness course. Practice mp3's and our extensive Participants Handbook will either be handed out to you at the start of the course, or be emailed to you. Like most things in life, you get out what you put in and home practice forms a large part of the course and you will need to commit yourself to spending upto one hour 6 out of 7 days a week for the duration of the course. This includes -
- Listening and practicing useing the supplied mp3 recordings
- Reading the Participants Workbook
- Making notes of your direct experience
- Include some informal mindfulness practices in your daily life
Is a Mindfulness MBSR 8-week course right for me?
Mindfulness practice presents its own set of challenges, so it is important for you to discuss any concerns you may have with your MBSR Mindfulness Teacher, Doctor and/or Therapist before signing up for the course. Mindfulness may be everywhere you look, but it is not suitable for everyone which is why we ask detailed questions on the application form.
Please also review the suggested exclusion criteria for general mindfulness groups below. This list is subject to the experience of the Mindfulness MBSR Teacher and any supporting staff. If in doubt please ask.
Mindfulness is not suitable for those with
- Severe problems or vulnerabilities
- Active or recent physical addiction to alcohol or drugs. Mindfulness-based Relapse Prevention has been developed specifically for people who are working with the tendencies to misuse substances.
- Suicidality
- Psychosis
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: It is essential that you discuss this with your Mindfulness MBSR Teacher to understand if they have the required Professional skills such as Psychotherapy and/or a support team that will be present during the sessions. You also need to understand what the course involves, and know that it is OK (and give yourself permission) to drop out of the course if you find it unhelpful
- Acute depression
- Severe social anxiety which would make attending a class very stressful
- Acute illness (or even acute attack of existing illness) If you are dealing with high levels of stress, and getting used to dealing with a new and different way of being, it is generally not a good time to learn mindfulness practice
- Life crisis: Recent severe loss such as bereavement, divorce, cancer or other major diagnoses. At these times it is our experience that people are in too raw a state of distress to find a course helpful, it is usually not a good time to take a mindfulness course. Pre-existing mindfulness practice is very helpful in dealing with strong, raw feelings such as grief, shock, and anger, but these are usually too overwhelming for participants to learn how to meditate while dealing with them. The recommendation here is that you would be well advised to wait till you have worked through the acute stage of the grieving process and are more settled with the loss or diagnosis
- Psychosis, schizophrenia, etc. mindfulness is unlikely to help, and may cause harm
- Early trauma, past abuse, and dissociative disorders: These are an indication to move into mindfulness training with great care. You should ensure that your Mindfulness MBSR Teacher also has relevant Professional training such as Psychotherapy.
As you can see, there are times in our lives when it would be better to find alternative support and the no obligation, free pre-course meeting is the ideal time to discuss any concerns you have with your Mindfulness MBSR Teacher so together you can decide if it is the right time for you to take a course.
The 8-Week MBSR Course Curriculum sessions:
Session 1 - Exploring Mindfulness
Session 2 - Exploring our perceptions, relationship and creative responding to the challenges and stressor in our lives
Session 3 - The Power of being present: Living all your moments
Session 4 - Cultivating Curiosity and Openness to the whole of my experience
Session 5 - Building on our Foundation of Mindfulness, paying attention to our capacity to respond rather than react to challenges and stressors
Session 6 - Interpersonal Mindfulness and Building Resilience
Session 7 - Integrating Mindfulness, reflecting on lifestyle choices - How can I best take care of myself?
Session 8 - A Mindful Life, keeping up Momentum
Summary of the 8-week MBSR course -
- The intention of the 8-week Mindfulness MBSR Course is to learn new ways to be with our body sensations, thought, and emotions.
- The course shows us ways to be kind to ourselves so that we are able to live our lives in a fuller and healthier way.
- It promotes a way of being that helps us to tackle life problems - physical, mental, social and emotional, you could call it a way of finding balance.
- The focus of the Mindfulness practice is to learn to ground ourselves in what is happening in the world around using the senses, to become aware of the small changes in the physical sensations in the body, to practice looking at thoughts, rather than from thoughts and to cultivate a new way of being with our emotions.
- During the course, we will learn about the power of an intention, how to notice what is going on for us right now in the present moment, how to gently turn towards our experience be it pleasant or unpleasant and how to be kind to ourselves. In this way, we learn how to respond more skillfully to situations, rather than simply reacting automatically.
- Overall, the course is often helpful in dealing with an ongoing difficulty whatever that may be - the problem may not change however studies show that the way we can learn to relate to it most likely will.
Whilst taking part in the course it is important to remember that finding the time to practice involves a shift in our normal daily routine. We find it helps to think of building the time in during the 8 weeks, rather than trying to fit it into our busy schedules. As we practice, things may appear to be feeling more intense and challenging, and the course encourages us to bring a high degree of attention to everything, even the unpleasant or difficult. This forms an important part of the experiential learning - to stay and be with the unpleasant and difficult with kindness, rather than turn away pretending it is not there or avoiding them. You may have found already that that simply does not work! Of course, we will also learn when it is right to turn away and anchor with the breath or feet on the floor.
Please note there is little opportunity or time in either the group or 1-1 option to discuss any current or past personal problems not related to the practices. If necessary these should be pursued through individual work with a counselor or other appropriate support.