Mindfulness eight-week course for SPFT staff: Tuesday evenings
19 January 2027 at 17:30 to 19:30
This course will help improve wellbeing and give you tools to respond to the stresses and strains of everyday life. It has been developed for the general population, and is based on the original Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy course.
Overview​
This course helps participants develop greater awareness of their thoughts, emotions, and experiences which in turn helps cultivate resilience and reduce low-mood and anxiety. It combines mindfulness practices and cognitive-behavioural techniques. There is increasing evidence that shows mindfulness is effective for reducing low-mood, and helping to improve wellbeing and resilience.
Who is it for?
This course has been adapted for members of the general public who are looking to improve their wellbeing and discover tools to help with the general stresses and strains of everyday life. Taking this course also counts as one of the requirements for joining our mindfulness teacher training, if this is something you may be interested in.
Please note, this course may not be suitable for everyone. If you are experiencing mental health issues, you should talk to your GP about being referred to the appropriate clinical service. Many NHS services now provide MBCT free of charge for people with mental health difficulties. You can find details on referrals and self-referral here.
When?
Tuesday evenings from 5.30 to 7.30pm. The orientation session is on Tuesday 19 January 2027 and the eight-week course runs from 26 January to 16 March 2027 (no breaks).
To get the benefits of this course it is helpful if you can attend all the sessions. If you cannot attend all the sessions, then it may be better for you to wait for another course when you can.
Where?
Online. You will get Zoom log-in details approximately one week before the start date.
The format of the course?
The course will involve:
- Two-hour orientation session at the start to find out what to expect during the course and ask any questions you may have
- Daily meditation home practice of between 20 to 40 minutes
- Eight weekly two-hour classes including mindfulness practices, discussion and exercises
- An optional one-day online retreat
The course involves mindfulness meditation practices of up to 30 minutes in each group session, and recommended daily home practice of between 20-40 minutes. These will be guided by the mindfulness teacher in each session, and via audio recordings for the home practice. Everything is optional, and you are encouraged only to do what feels safe and comfortable for you. The practices may involve lying down, sitting, walking and other forms of movement.
In the sessions, the mindfulness teacher will invite group members to share their experiences of practice. Again this is completely optional, and you are encouraged to share only what you are comfortable with. The sessions will include smaller-group discussions, typically with two to four people. If the class is online these discussions will be via break out rooms.
Facilitators
Julia Powell
Julia Powell is a mindfulness teacher and coach. She leads mindfulness courses to help people find more balance in their lives, improve their wellbeing and flourish. While caring for her mother who lived with dementia, Julia used her mindfulness practice to help navigate the challenging times. She now draws on that experience in the training she offers to both carers of people living with dementia and people with mild to moderate dementia.
Having trained to teach with Oxford Mindfulness Centre, and taught with Sussex Mindfulness & Compassion, Julia is registered with the British Association of Mindfulness Based Approaches. Julia runs three mindfulness courses for the general population: Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy, Mindfulness for Life and Finding Peace in a Frantic World.
Julia Powell will be supported by assistant teacher Momina Mukhtar.
How to book
Please fill in the application form here . We will be in touch regarding your application soon.
