Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction
This is the first of the secular 8 week courses to be ‘taught’ in a secular environment. Register for our Next CourseSummary
It was developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn in 1979 (initially to support people suffering from chronic pain). It’s benefits were quickly established in supporting individuals in this way – and also in many other ways. Many other developments of the course now exist but everything is based on this initial course.
Course Outline
| Introduction to Mindfulness and orientations session |
This session will outline the scientific basis behind the course and give participants an awareness of what to expect.
In addition ground rules and expectations will be established for participants to ensure clarity moving forward. |
121 sessions (meeting or telephone call) will follow this to establish participants suitability for this course |
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1. Moving from ‘doing to being’ |
In addition to extended periods of mindfulness meditation practice, participants will be guided to reflect upon what brought them to this course. This will bring clarity to how mindfulness meditation might benefit them. | Specific mindfulness practices will be set for daily home practice in addition to an ‘informal mindfulness activity’ |
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2. Perception and creative responding |
Participants will be given the opportunity to reflect of their Mindfulness practice so far and development of their practice will be extended in this session. Participants will be guided to notice their habits of reacting and responding in their own lives | Specific mindfulness practices will be set for daily home practice in addition to an ‘informal mindfulness activity’ |
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3. The Power of Being Present |
After an initial reflection, participants will be guided towards bringing mindfulness into their everyday life in a range of ways and mindfulness practice becomes more varied and in-depth. | Specific mindfulness practices will be set for daily home practice in addition to an ‘informal mindfulness activity’ |
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4. Meeting the Unwanted |
Using a specific activity, participants will be guided to reflect on how they respond to challenging situations. Participants will learn about the bodies stress response which will underpin the learning of why we respond the way we do to stress | Participants will complete a ‘half-way’ check-in survey as another method for the course leader to assess progress and deal with any specific challenges. On-going mindfulness practice will continue at home. |
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5. Awareness of habitual patterns |
This session develops the theme of the previous session as participants examine how they are responding to challenges. Extended mindfulness practice is a continued theme and development and variation continue. | Specific mindfulness practices will be set for daily home practice in addition to an ‘informal mindfulness activity’ |
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6. Communication and interpersonal relationships |
Structured activities and specific practices are used to reflect on how we communicate with ourselves and others. | Specific mindfulness practices will be set for daily home practice in addition to an ‘informal mindfulness activity’ |
| FULL DAY RETREAT | Participants will have the opportunity to really embed their mindfulness practice over a full day of silent meditation. | |
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7. Mindfulness and everyday life |
Participants will reflect on the broader picture of their everyday lives and consider how mindfulness can support a different approach to how they live their life. | Specific mindfulness practices will be set for daily home practice in addition to an ‘informal mindfulness activity’ |
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8. Mindfulness and the rest of your life |
This session will reflect on the learning from the course and guide participants to create a plan to continue their development of mindfulness practice in a way to further benefit their growth and development. |