We are very keen to provide accessible ways of supporting you to experience the 8-Week Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction MBSR Course, the 8-week Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy MBCT course and other 4- week Mindfulness-based courses and in response to requests from people who may not have access to these mindfulness-based course in their home location, we are pleased to offer the accredited Mindful Academy International live online Mindfulness-based MBSR and Mindfulness-based MBCT Courses from your own home using video conferencing or for those without stable internet, via the telephone (1-1 only) with Kathy Ward, TEDx speaker, Director of Training and Senior International Mindfulness MBSR, MBI and 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 Langdok Hungary with Andras Barta, Ireland, and Europe with Fiona McMahon, Sierra Leone with Julia Emes and Romania with Hedi Hoka. For dates and details, please scroll to the bottom of the page.
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 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 courses are an enriching way to experience Mindfulness-based courses.
You can apply to take this MBSR or MBCT course either as a first experience of Mindfulness-based practice, as a refresher, as an opportunity to deepen an existing mindfulness-based 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 or MBCT course participants have been surprised at the depth of practice, sense of connection and ease of learning during the live online course, and often go on to further engagement with mindfulness in various ways.
When we offer this MBSR or MBCT course in an in-person format (see below for dates and countries) participants travel to the course location for one session of 2.5 hours 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 2.5 hour session (1 hour or 1.5 hours for 1-1 or 1 - 2) 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 spend up to one hour 6 out of 7 days a week for the duration of the course. This includes -
- Listening and practicing using the supplied mp3 recordings
- Reading the Participants Workbook
- Making notes of your direct experience
- Include some informal mindfulness practices in your daily life
Please note: Not all members of the training team are able to offer Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy, please check if you are unsure.
Is a Mindfulness MBSR or MBCT 8-week or 4-week course right for me?
Mindfulness-based practice presents its own set of challenges, so it is important for you to discuss any concerns you may have with Kathy Ward, a member of the International training team, your 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. The courses we offer are Trauma-Sensitive, so we are often able to support those that general Mindfulness-based courses would not be suitable for.
Please review the suggested exclusion criteria below and if you are in doubt please ask. We offer a free initial consultation giving you time to explore if this is the right course, and right time for you. We may also recommend that a 1-1 course rather than a group course would be more suitable.
In general, Mindfulness-based courses may not be suitable for those with:
- Severe problems or vulnerabilities.
- Active or recent physical addiction to alcohol or drugs. You may be interested to explore Mindfulness-based Relapse Prevention which has been developed specifically for people who are working with the tendencies to misuse substances. A 1-1 mindfulness-based course may also be appropriate, please discuss this with Kathy Ward.
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: It is essential that you discuss this with Kathy Ward so that we can see if it is the right time for you to take the course. You also need to understand what the course involves, and know that it is always OK (and give yourself permission) to drop out of the course if you find it unhelpful.
- Acute depression. Depending on where you are now, Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy MBCT may be more helpful for you, please discuss this option with Kathy Ward.
- Severe social anxiety which would make attending a class very stressful, a live online course may be more suitable for you at this time.
- 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 the mindfulness-based practices. However, it may be of benefit to help you manage your illness once you have had time to process the diagnosis. Kathy Ward is also able to offer you Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy MBCT for acute illness such as cancer and other major diagnoses.
- 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-based 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 people to learn how to mindfulness-based practices while dealing with them in the first instances. 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.
- Suicidality
- Psychosis
- Psychosis, schizophrenia, etc. mindfulness-based practice is unlikely to help, and may cause harm
- Early trauma, past abuse, and dissociative disorders: These are an indication to move into mindfulness-based courses with great care. A live online 1-1 course may be more appropriate than a group course however each person is unique, so please discuss this with Kathy Ward.
As you can see, there are times in our lives when it would be better to find alternative support, although remember that we are all unique, and just because you tick a box, it does not necessarily mean that mindfulness-based practice would not be a benefit for you.
Please take advantage of the no-obligation, free pre-course meeting as it is the ideal time to discuss any concerns you have with Kathy Ward or a member of the International training team so together you can decide if it is the right time for you to take a mindfulness-based 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 and 4-week Mindfulness 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 session or home practices. If necessary these should be pursued through individual work with a counselor or other appropriate support.
Dates with Senior International Trainer, Teacher and Supervisor, Kathy Ward.
Individual or couples 4-week Introduction to Mindfulness or 8-week Mindfulness MBSR course with Kathy Ward:
- Dates and times vary depending on both your and Kathy's' availability, please send us an email to [email protected] to find dates and times to suit your schedule.
Live online Group Courses with Kathy Ward:
- 4-week introduction to Mindfulness (4 x 60-minute sessions) Wednesday 8th January to Wednesday 29th January 6 pm - 7.30 pm Sorry, fully booked. Ask about new dates for the 4-week Discover Mindfulness course
- 8-week MBSR Course (8 x 2.5-hour sessions) Saturday 11th January to Saturday 29th February 10.00 am - 12.30 pm - Sorry, fully booked. Ask about new dates for the group 8-week MBSR course
Many people chose the online group courses as they are unable to physically attend, others chose the 1-1 option for its individual nature and adaptable day and times. A private course is also ideal for people who have already experienced the traditional 8-week course as a way to revisit their practice with personal support. For those who are new to meditation, the 4-week course is the perfect way to explore if mindfulness is for you.
In both cases, to ensure the best possible experience for all participants, the course relies on video conferencing which has minimum requirements to work properly. That includes having a computer with speakers or headphones, microphone, video capabilities, and a high-speed internet connection. We do not recommend wifi. We recommend that you watch this video tutorial on YouTube called Joining a Meeting with Zoom www.youtube.com
Sierra Leone: Freetown
For more information, please contact Julia Emes
Milwaukee, USA:
Elevate your education and practice of Mindfulness with this condensed course specifically geared toward Psychotherapists, Educators, Health Care Providers, and Motivated Practitioners. Group and 1-1 courses available at Trillium Studio in Milwaukee or live online with zoom.
Winter Course Dates -
Live online group Zoom sessions:
Wednesdays, January 15-March 11 (no class February 12) 10:00 - NOON CST. Limit: 6 students
Live Group sessions at Trillium Studio:
Thursdays, January 16 - March 12 (no session February 13) 1:00 - 3:30 PM
Both 8-session courses costs $450.
For more information and to book, please contact Tina Langdok at [email protected] or visit the Trillium Studio website at www.trilliumstudiomke.com
Budapest, Hungary.
For full details please contact Andras Barta at [email protected] or visit www.tudatossag.net