UWB Crest

Postgraduate study in the School of Psychology

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MINDFULNESS-BASED APPROACHES:

FOUNDATION MODULE

The module encourages students to engage in an examination of the practice of mindfulness and the theory of its application.  Extensive personal practice of the range of mindfulness meditations used in mindfulness-based approaches – Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) – form the practical component of the module, supported by experiential group sessions and individual tutorials.

The training will be a highly interactive, collaborative and participatory learning experience. There will also be some didactic sessions to develop knowledge and awareness of the rationale and background to mindfulness-based approaches.

The module is suitable for students wanting to take other mindfulness-based approaches Master’s modules, can be taken alongside the Research and Evidence Base module or other Master’s level modules at the School of Education, or can stand alone as a foundational training in preparation for integrating mindfulness principles and practice into professional work more generally.

Course content

  • Direct experience of the programmes of MBCT and MBSR. In addition to the teaching sessions this includes establishing a daily personal mindfulness practice. Telephone sessions with a tutor will be scheduled between teaching sessions to support this process and to encourage personal exploration and integration of the approach into daily life.
  • Investigative processes around practice experience, aimed to deepen personal understandings and insight.
  • Rationale of mindfulness-based approaches.
  • Investigation of the particular ways through which mindfulness-based approaches have their effects.

Assessment

The assessment process requires students to reflect on their personal practice and connect this understanding with the rationale for mindfulness-based approaches. Assessment is carried out through academic written assignments and a student presentation.

Arrangements for the module

This module is taught over five Saturdays spread through the academic year, plus two Friday sessions adjacent to the Saturday teaching days, and five telephone tutorials.

Students must pass this module before taking ‘Mindfulness-Based Approaches: Teaching 1’.