MINDFULNESS-BASED APPROACHES:

TEACHING 1

This module is designed for those committed to continuing their mindfulness practice with a view to bringing mindfulness-based approaches into their professional practice. The emphasis is on developing the awareness, knowledge base and skills needed to teach mindfulness-based approaches in the forms of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT). The module learning will also support those who want to integrate mindfulness-based approaches into their professional practice in other ways but will not focus directly on this.

Course content

In depth exploration of the curriculum of MBCT and MBSR with an emphasis both on direct personal experience and detailed understanding of the core elements, themes and teaching processes.
Exploration of the ways through which those who engage in mindfulness practice come to insight and understanding.
Development of skills to deliver core elements of a mindfulness-based programme.

Assessment

Assessment is through written assignments, which encourage a deepening of the investigative process that the module emphasises, and through a practical assignment which involves students demonstrating skills in the teaching strategies used in mindfulness-based approaches. There is some flexibility in the assignment process to enable students to investigate particular applications of the work.

Arrangements for the module

Successful completion of the ‘Mindfulness-Based Approaches: Foundation’ module is a prerequisite for acceptance but does not guarantee a place on this module. Given the particular nature of the process of teaching mindfulness-based approaches, we are looking for students with an appropriate professional background, who are willing to engage in an ongoing in depth personal exploration of their mindfulness process and have developed this to a depth that enables them to begin an exploration of teaching issues. The decision to offer a place on the module will be made following an interview with the module tutor together with consideration of the applicant’s approach during the foundation module.

The module will be taught on four Saturdays; one Friday session adjacent to a Saturday teaching day, and a 2 night residential block from Thursday to Saturday.

During the year in which the module is taken students are required to:

Be engaged in an individual supervision/mentoring process with an experienced teacher of mindfulness-based approaches agreed with the module tutor.
Attend a 7-10 day residential taught mindfulness training/retreat.

Please contact the Centre for Mindfulness Research and Practice for further details and information on these requirements.