Our team
We are the core team of the Sussex Mindfulness Centre, that keeps the show on the road. Together, we develop strategy, deliver courses and training, and conduct research.
Clara Strauss
Clara is Co-Lead (Research) for the Sussex Mindfulness Centre. She is a consultant clinical psychologist, mindfulness teacher and clinical researcher. In her research, Clara is particularly interested in developing and evaluating new forms of mindfulness-based intervention (MBI), especially for those people who may not be willing or able to access MBCT. Along with other members of her research team, Clara has been evaluating MBIs for people experiencing depression, for people distressed by hearing voices and for people experiencing obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). This research has also included research with NHS staff, university students and the wider population.
Robert Marx
Robert is Co-Lead (Training) for the Sussex Mindfulness Centre. He is a consultant clinical psychologist and has been involved in running mindfulness groups for staff and patients since 2006. He also trains and supervises others doing mindfulness work. He is interested in relational mindfulness and in adaptations of Mindfulness-based Interventions using compassion practices.
Indi Angel
Indi values mindfulness and the holistic recovery model for chronic health challenges. Indi is adapting mindfulness interventions to support both colleagues and service users who aren’t able to do the eight-week courses. As a former peer trainer, she brings a diverse range of skills as well as lived experience to her work. Indi uses her experience to help improve the Trust’s services: Quality Improvement, Clinical Governance, Suicide Prevention and the Sussex Mindfulness Centre.
Zoe Baty
Zoe provides administrative support for the many and varied courses and events offered by the SMC, including the mindfulness masterclasses and the Trust staff 8-week mindfulness groups. She has a background in journalism and events, and is currently studying for an MSc in Psychology through the Open University. A long-time yoga devotee, Zoe is also a recent convert to mindfulness practice and is undertaking the 8-week Trust staff mindfulness course.
Bushra Farooq
Bushra is a Senior Assistant Psychologist for the MBCT in IAPT training centres collaboration and is responsible for the administration and evaluation of the MBCT in the IAPT training programme. She is a passionate advocate for nutrition and mental health, focusing on incorporating mindfulness practices in daily life. Bushra got interested in mindfulness during her undergraduate degree in Malaysia, which led to her completing the Jose Silva Ultramind System meditation practice through Mindvalley. She has completed a Masters in Clinical Psychology from the University of Sussex and a Professional certification from Precision Nutrition. She has received a Positive Psychology Showcase award for her contribution to the Older Adults Mental Health Service.
Fergal Jones
Fergal Jones is the convenor for the teacher training programmes for mindfulness-based cognitive therapy and adapted mindfulness-based interventions.
He is a clinical psychologist and cognitive behavioural therapist who completed mindfulness teacher training at the University of Bangor. He currently works part time in Health in Mind, the primary care well-being service that serves East Sussex. He uses mindfulness in his clinical work, supervises other mindfulness teachers and is involved with a number of research projects concerning mindfulness-based interventions.
Faylee Kirk
Faylee is a Sussex Mindfulness Centre volunteer, providing support in communications and business development. She is currently a second year psychology student studying at the University of Sussex.
Her passion for mindfulness continues into her personal life where she regularly practices meditation and slow living. In the future she would like to become a trained mindfulness teacher and aims to promote meditation and slow living where she can. Alongside her mindfulness practices, she is beginning to get into yoga.
Niki Larsen-Johnson
Niki is the Administration Manager for the Sussex Mindfulness Centre. She has worked for the NHS in various roles for over 25 years, and for the Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust for 15 years. She has a background in retail management. Niki provides managerial and administrative support to the Sussex Mindfulness Centre, supporting the smooth running of our courses, as well as overseeing the day to day work of the admin team.
Niki enjoys walking her rescue dog on the South Downs, and also follows Formula One attending races around the world.
Susie Muszynska
Susie Muszynska is a Psychology Graduate Volunteer in the Sussex Mindfulness Centre (SMC) at the East Brighton Community Mental Health Centre. Before joining SMC, Susie completed her MSc degree in Experimental Psychology at the University of Sussex, and received the Spirit of Sussex Gold Award for concomitantly working in a CAHMS mental health care setting.
Susie became interested in mindfulness during her undergraduate degree in philosophy, and plans to pursue a path towards becoming a Clinical Psychologist, integrating mindfulness into her practice.
Julia Powell
Julia Powell is the Communications Lead for the Sussex Mindfulness Centre. She has a long track record leading communications and campaigns strategy in the international development, human rights and social justice sectors. Using strategic communications as a tool to help organisations achieve their mission, Julia has worked for charities such as the Fairtrade Foundation, Fairtrade International and UNICEF.
In this role for Sussex Mindfulness Centre, Julia marries her keen interest in mindfulness as a trained mindfulness teacher, with her passion for strategic communications. She will help the Centre achieve its goals to enable more people to improve their wellbeing through mindfulness training, and make the training more accessible to the diverse communities who can benefit from it.
Kate Webb
Kate is the Project Manager at Sussex Mindfulness Centre responsible for operations and business development. She comes from a long career in the Third Sector, developing and managing community mental health projects and where she completed the 8-week MBSR course in 2009 and has practiced ever since. She is particularly interested in how Mindfulness Based Interventions can help create positive workplace cultures through focusing on wellbeing and looks forward to helping external organisations create bespoke programmes for their workforces. She is also a devotee of mindful sea swimming.