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UID:10002860-1781344800-1781370000@sussexmindfulnesscentre.nhs.uk
SUMMARY:Mindful Self-Compassion: Freeing the heart for joy
DESCRIPTION:Workshop: Exploring the power of tender and fierce mindful self-compassion to let in beneficial experiences more fully\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThis experiential workshop explores how joy and pleasure can strengthen resilience and wellbeing. \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\nWhat is covered?\n\n\n\nResearch consistently highlights the crucial role of joy and pleasure in building inner resilience and overall wellbeing. Positive experiences are vital for counteracting chronic stress and promoting feelings of safety\, connection\, and satisfaction. However\, numerous internal and external barriers often prevent us from embracing these nourishing experiences. The rising rates of burnout at work and at home underscore the urgent need to address this. Maybe this is true for you\, the people you care for or care about? Drawing upon the principles of Mindful Self-Compassion and the insights of Rick Hanson\, this experiential workshop will provide practical exercises\, meditations\, and contemplations designed to foster joy\, prioritise self-care\, and unlock inherent wisdom and wellbeing. \n\n\n\nWorkshop objectives\n\n\n\n\nTo cultivate a deeper sense of connection\, wisdom\, and understanding through an enhanced capacity for joy.\n\n\n\nTo understand and address the common blocks that prevent us from experiencing joy e.g. Fear of vulnerability and loss\, fear of addiction\, habits\, internalised culture\, perfectionism and misunderstandings about mindfulness and Buddhist psychology with regard to aversion and clinging.\n\n\n\nTo learn mindful self-compassion informal practices that support letting in positive experience and ‘hardwiring happiness’ (ie. sense and savour\, self-compassion in daily life\, gratitude\, mindful eating) and working towards greater fulfillment and providing for one’s own needs (the Compassionate Friend\, Fierce Self-Compassion gestures\, the Providing Self-compassion Break\, core values exercise).\n\n\n\n\nParticipants will leave with a greater understanding of the importance of joy in their lives\, practical tools for cultivating it\, an increased awareness of what gets in the way and approaches to encourage more openness to positive experience. \n\n\n\nThe format\n\n\n\nThe workshop will be interactive and practice-based\, incorporating discussions\, reflections\, and experiential exercises. The aim is to create a supportive and nurturing environment for participants to explore their relationship with pleasure and delight\, and leave with tools and skills they can weave into their existing meditation practice or informally into daily life.   \n\n\n\nThe workshop will last six hours: \n\n\n\n\nMorning session from 10am to 1pm\n\n\n\nLunch break \n\n\n\nAfternoon session from 2pm to 5pm\n\n\n\n\nWho is this for?\n\n\n\nThis workshop is suitable for those who have some experience of mindfulness or Mindful Self-Compassion\, as well as teachers and trainee teachers. \n\n\n\nThe facilitator\n\n\n\n\n\nZoe Shobbrook-Fisher\n\n\n\n\nZoe Shobbrook-Fisher \n\n\n\nZoe is an accredited counsellor/psychotherapist\, Certified Mindfulness and Mindful Self-Compassion Teacher\, Trainer and Supervisor. She has been delivering beginner and deeper-dive mindfulness-based programmes and popular retreats since 2009. She is a teacher trainer and mentor at the Centre for Mindful Self-Compassion and a retreat lead and supervisor for the Mindfulness Network. Based in south-west London she specialises in trainings that are accessible\, inclusive and creative in the workplace\, community settings\, mental health charities and the NHS. She has always been dedicated to paths of the heart and authenticity and her own practice includes wild swimming and conscious dance. \n\n\n\n\n\n\nCertificates\n\n\n\nThis masterclass is valid for ongoing personal development in mindfulness or as part of the Sussex Mindfulness Centre teacher training pathway. Certificates of attendance can be supplied on completion of the day’s training\, if requested. \n\n\n\n\n\nWhere?\n\n\n\nThe workshop will take place at the Sussex Education Centre\, Neville Avenue\, Hove\, BN3 7HZ. The buses 5a\, 16\,16a\, 3X and 93 go there. There is free parking on the grounds. \n\n\n\nHow to book\n\n\n\nYou can book your place using form at the bottom of the page. \n\n\n\nAs part of our equity\, diversity and inclusion policy\, we also have a limited number of concessionary tickets available on a first-come\, first-served basis. These are for people who are facing acute financial hardship and who would otherwise not be able to attend. To request a concession ticket please email spft.smc@nhs.net. \n\n\n\nWe are striving to make our courses accessible for all. If you have additional needs or learning styles\, please let us know so we can support you.
URL:https://sussexmindfulnesscentre.nhs.uk/event/freeing-the-heart-for-joy/
CATEGORIES:Advanced,Masterclass,Mindful Self-Compassion,Workshop
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260708T170000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260708T180000
DTSTAMP:20260629T115430Z
CREATED:20260605T105229Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260629T115430Z
UID:10003063-1783530000-1783533600@sussexmindfulnesscentre.nhs.uk
SUMMARY:Fierce Self-Compassion information session
DESCRIPTION:Are you interested in Fierce Self-Compassion? We have an eight-week course starting soon. This sessions lets you know all you need to know about the course.   \n\n\n\nWho’s it for\n\n\n\nIt’s for you if you are thinking of attending the eight-week Fierce Self-Compassion course and want to find out more and meet the teacher. Also if you are a Mindful Self-Compassion teacher considering the teacher training practicum\, you may attend this session to find out about both.  \n\n\n\nWhat’s included\n\n\n\nThe first 45 minutes will give you a flavour of the eight-week course\, including a short practice\, and you will have an opportunity to ask questions. Zoe Shobbrook-Fisher\, the teacher leading the course will run the the session. For those interested in the teacher training you can stay on for the last 15 minutes to find out more about the practicum and get your questions answered. \n\n\n\nBook your place\n\n\n\nBook your place by emailing spft.smc@nhs.net and you will be sent a joining link.
URL:https://sussexmindfulnesscentre.nhs.uk/event/fierce-self-compassion-teacher-training-information-session/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:FSC TT information,MSC TT information
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260905T093000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260905T120000
DTSTAMP:20260819T071307Z
CREATED:20260506T100135Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260819T071307Z
UID:10003053-1788600600-1788609600@sussexmindfulnesscentre.nhs.uk
SUMMARY:Fierce Self-Compassion: A course for empowered care
DESCRIPTION:Fierce self-compassion means taking empowered action to protect\, provide for\, and motivate ourselves to alleviate suffering and thrive. This new and unique eight-week course explores the more action-oriented side of self-compassion\, supporting you to do the inner work needed to speak up\, set boundaries\, change habits\, claim your power and feel fulfilled. \n\n\n\nOverview​\n\n\n\nSelf-compassion is often associated with gentleness and comfort\, yet it also encompasses a more dynamic\, brave dimension. This aspect of care is expressed through strength\, courage and determination — qualities that are essential for protecting\, motivating and providing for ourselves and others. \n\n\n\nIn taking this course you will develop the capacity to: \n\n\n\n\nMotivate yourself using encouragement rather than self-criticism.\n\n\n\nIdentify and overcome obstacles that prevent you from setting effective boundaries.\n\n\n\nLearn to harness anger as a constructive force for protection and growth.\n\n\n\nRecognise and honour your personal needs.\n\n\n\nUnderstand the contribution of fierce self-compassion to social change.\n\n\n\n\nWho is this course for?\n\n\n\nThis course is intended for the general public and Mindful Self-Compassion teachers. It is a prerequisite for the Fierce Self-Compassion teacher training programme. \n\n\n\nThis may be of particular interest to anyone who needs to draw on strong energy to care for themselves and the world\, such as those in family care roles\, healthcare workers\, therapists\, teachers\, coaches and activists\, charity workers as well as mindfulness\, meditation and yoga practitioners and teachers. \n\n\n\nWhen? \n\n\n\nThere will be an orientation session on Saturday 5 September\, from 9.30 to 11.00. The eight-week course starts 19 September and runs until 7 November 2026 without a break\, Saturday mornings from 09.30 to 12 midday. \n\n\n\nIf you are interested in this course you can watch the information session here led by Zoe Shobbrook-Fisher\, the teacher leading the programme. \n\n\n\nWhere?\n\n\n\nOnline. You will get Zoom log-in details when your place is confirmed. \n\n\n\nThe format of the course?\n\n\n\nThe course is delivered over eight weekly sessions\, each lasting two and a half hours\, with a 10 min break in the middle. Each session builds on what’s been introduced before\, so it’s important to attend all the sessions if possible. (If you know you’re going to miss a session please let your teacher know) \n\n\n\nYou’ll be in a group of up to 14 people\, led by Zoe Shobbrook-Fisher (see profile below). Each session starts with a guided meditation. You will be invited to practice the meditations in any posture that best supports your focus and comfort\, including lying down\, sitting\, walking\, or other forms of movement. Following this\, we’ll discuss the previous week’s home practice experiences and then introduce the weekly theme. This theme is explored through further meditations\, small and large group discussions\, and self-reflection exercises. These exercises are designed to help participants connect personally with the curriculum material and see how it applies practically to their own lives. \n\n\n\nThe encouraged home practice includes formal meditations and informal practice in daily life from 10 to 20 minutes a day. You may find the practices bring up strong emotions at times\, which is all part of the process\, and we will explore this further in the weekly sessions. \n\n\n\nEach week there will be optional reading suggested from Kristin Neff’s book ‘Fierce Self-Compassion: How to Harness Kindness to Speak Up\, Claim Your Power\, and Thrive.’ Audio recordings for continued home practice\, weekly notes\, and supplementary resources for further exploration will be shared via email. \n\n\n\nSome experience of mindfulness or Mindful Self-Compassion is helpful but not essential before taking this course. \n\n\n\nFacilitator \n\n\n\n\n\nZoe Shobbrook-Fisher \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nZoe has been a Mindful Self-Compassion teacher trainer since 2019. For the last 16 years\, after a decade working as a student/staff counsellor and group facilitator in higher education\, she set up her own company in southwest London\, offering beginner and deepening practice Mindful Based Stress Reduction and MSC courses\, residential retreats and self-compassion informed therapy. She is a director at The Mindfulness Project and co-founded the thriving In Good Company practice community. She delivers programmes to a wide range of groups\, reflecting her commitment to making these approaches accessible to diverse populations; in the workplace\, charity and clinical settings. A lifelong yoga and meditation practitioner she has always been dedicated to paths of the heart and authenticity. Her practice includes her love of singing and conscious dance. \n\n\n\n\n\n\nHow to book\n\n\n\nPlease note\, we ask all those who book a place on this course to fill in an application form here that will be sent to the facilitator. If you haven’t already\, please head here to the fill in the form. \n\n\n\n\n\nThe cost of the eight-week course is £300.  We also offer a choice of two other options: \n\n\n\n\n£325 – Supporting rate. You can support other participants to attend who are on a low income.\n\n\n\n£275 – Supported rate\, if you are on a low income and can’t afford the general admission price.\n\n\n\n\nAs part of our equity\, diversity and inclusion policy\, we also have a limited number of concessionary tickets available on a first-come\, first-served basis. These are for people who are facing acute financial hardship and who would otherwise not be able to attend. To request a concession ticket please email spft.smc@nhs.net. \n\n\n\nWe are striving to make our courses accessible for all. If you have additional needs or learning styles\, please let us know so we can support you.   \n\n\n\nYou can book your place below
URL:https://sussexmindfulnesscentre.nhs.uk/event/fierce-self-compassion-a-course-for-empowered-care/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:Course,Mindful Self-Compassion
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260920T170000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260925T140000
DTSTAMP:20260723T151450Z
CREATED:20260304T165758Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260723T151450Z
UID:10002988-1789923600-1790344800@sussexmindfulnesscentre.nhs.uk
SUMMARY:Foundations of mindfulness: Five-day retreat
DESCRIPTION:Drawing on Buddhist conceptualisations of the nature of experience\, suffering and the self\, the retreat will offer a bridge into contemporary secular mindfulness practice\, teaching and life. The five-day retreat takes place at Ammerdown Retreat Centre\, near Bath. It is led by Ruth Sequeira\, Chris Barker\, Jo Cromarty and Robert Marx. \n\n\n\nThe retreat\n\n\n\nThis retreat will support a deepening of participants’ mindfulness practice using the framework of the four Foundations of Mindfulness (satipatthana) and the Four Divine Abidings (brahma vihara). Drawing on Buddhist conceptualisations of the nature of experience\, suffering and the self\, the retreat will offer a bridge into contemporary secular mindfulness practice\, teaching and life. The retreat will use a traditional retreat structure which allows us to simplify our life in order to see more clearly how we relate to ourselves and the world\, and to respond with kindness and compassion. There will be periods of teaching\, guided and unguided practice\, dialogue and unstructured time. Most of the week will be held in silence with opportunities to for a one-to-one meeting with a retreat leader and for optional peer sharing groups. \n\n\n\nWhere and when is it?  \n\n\n\nThe retreat is at the beautiful Ammerdown Retreat Centre\, near Bath. The accommodation is single rooms with ensuite bathrooms. There are a limited number of single rooms with shared bathrooms offered at a reduced rate. The retreat starts on Sunday\, 20 September and finishes at 2pm on Friday\, 25 September 2026. You can arrive between 5pm and 6pm on the Sunday. \n\n\n\nWho is the retreat for? \n\n\n\nThe retreat is suitable for mindfulness teachers in training\, qualified mindfulness teachers and those simply wanting to deepen their practice and bridge contemplative wisdom traditions and secular practice and teaching. The retreat will count as their retreat for those training in mindfulness-based approaches with the Sussex Mindfulness Centre MC or NHS Talking Therapies; and for those applying to\, or renewing their membership on the BAMBA Register\, this retreat meets the requirement for mindfulness teachers to do an annual\, mostly silent retreat. \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nWhat requirements are there to attend? \n\n\n\nCompletion of an eight-week mindfulness course (MBCT/MBSR)\, or similar eight-week programme\, and participation in at least a day of guided silent mindfulness practice. Please ensure you are able to attend the entire event. If this is not possible\, please contact us at spft.smc@nhs.net to discuss before submitting an application. \n\n\n\nHow should I prepare? \n\n\n\nWe will offer a short online orientation meeting a few weeks before the retreat to help you think about the optimal conditions to support you in the retreat.  A zoom link will be sent nearer to the start date for this. \n\n\n\nWhat participants say\n\n\n\n\n“This experience will stay with me forever. It’s been transformational.” \n\n\n\n“It was an amazing experience\, I returned home with a gift\, I have rediscovered myself\, and my own kindness. Words can’t describe how transformative it has been for me.” \n\n\n\n“I felt a strong sense of belonging… I really felt I’d experienced something special – something life changing.” \n\n\n\n\nRetreat leaders\n\n\n\nAs with all Sussex Mindfulness Centre retreats\, events and training\, we have an exceptionally experienced group of mindfulness teachers supporting you at this retreat. Find out more about your teachers below.  \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\nRobert Marx\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRobert Marx is co-lead for the Sussex Mindfulness Centre\, lead for the MBCT in NHS TT   training centres collaboration.  He is a clinical psychologist and psychotherapist and has been teaching mindfulness groups to patients and staff in the NHS for over 20 years. He teaches MBCT and Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC).  He is a longstanding Buddhist practitioner\, initially in the Theravadan tradition and then in the Tibetan tradition.  He is passionate about compassionate culture-building in organisations \n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nChris Barker\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nChris Barker leads mindfulness for the National Centre for Integrative Medicine\, based in Bristol\, as well as the BAMBA MBCT-Cancer Special Interest Group. His main mindfulness work is with those living with and beyond a cancer diagnosis. Originally a PE teacher\, Chris discovered in 2012 how transformative mindfulness can be when he was a stressed Head of Department in a large secondary school. Seeing how much it had changed his life he now teaches school children mindfulness and leads international training courses for other schoolteachers to do likewise. He also teaches mindfulness to health and social care staff. \n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRuth Sequeira\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRuth Sequeira is a senior trainer\, supervisor and mindfulness teacher for the Sussex Mindfulness Centre. She is also a psychological therapist and the Mindfulness and Compassion Training and Retreat Lead at the Mindfulness Network. Ruth has a history of working in mental health services and until recently worked as a Clinical Lead in the Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) in Sussex. Ruth has a longstanding interest in mindfulness\, meditation and movement\, and is passionate about increasing access to mindfulness courses in different populations. \n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\nJo Cromarty\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nJo Cromarty is an Occupational Therapist by training and has worked in various mental health settings within the NHS for many years. She has developed a meditation practice from within the contemplative tradition since her teenage years. She was first introduced to Mindfulness in 2010 and was privileged to be trained as an MBCT teacher by Prof Mark Williams and Dr Paul Bernard in 2011. ‘It’s been a joy to integrate my personal and professional interests’. Jo leads the training in one of the sites of the MBCT TT training and is a supervisor and MBCT teacher. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nHow much does it cost? \n\n\n\nThe prices below are fully inclusive of your room\, all meals and teaching guidance. \n\n\n\nEarly bird rates\n\n\n\nIf you book by 5 June 2026\, the cost is £700 for a single occupancy ensuite room. \n\n\n\nStandard rates\n\n\n\nFrom 6 June 2026 the cost is £800 for a single occupancy ensuite room. \n\n\n\nThere is limited availabilty of single rooms with a shared bathroom offered at £600.  \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nHow do I apply? \n\n\n\nYour place is confirmed once we receive full payment. If there are financial barriers to attendance\, please let us know. If you are unable to pay the full fee now\, we can offer you the chance to pay in up to three instalments. To secure your spot\, please complete your payment using the form at the bottom of the page. Once we have received the booking and payment\, we will send you the application form to complete.  \n\n\n\nPlease note the terms below for refunds. \n\n\n\nWhat is the cancellation policy?\n\n\n\nYou may withdraw your application up to three months prior to the event start date at which point you will be offered a full refund\, minus £50 admin fee.  \n\n\n\nIf you cancel your place less than three months before the event start date\, no refund will be available. If you received an NHS England funded place and you cancel less than three months before the start\, you will be liable for the full payment. \n\n\n\nIn the unlikely event that the event has to be cancelled by us\, we will offer an alternative retreat\, either residential or online\, or a refund.  Our liability is limited to crediting only our event fees\, and not any personal expenses you may have incurred.
URL:https://sussexmindfulnesscentre.nhs.uk/event/foundations-of-mindfulness-retreat-2/
LOCATION:Ammerdown Retreat Centre\, Ammerdown Retreat Centre\, Radstock\, Somerset\, BA3 5SW\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Retreat
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260921T170000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260921T193000
DTSTAMP:20260814T081627Z
CREATED:20260511T095129Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260814T081627Z
UID:10003056-1790010000-1790019000@sussexmindfulnesscentre.nhs.uk
SUMMARY:Mindful Self-Compassion course: eight weeks on Monday evenings
DESCRIPTION:Our eight-week Mindful Self-Compassion course teaches core principles and practices that enable participants to respond to challenges and difficult emotions with care and understanding. \n\n\n\nMonday evenings\, from 5 to 7.30pm. The orientation is on 21 September followed by the eight-week course from 28 September to 16 November. \n\n\n\nOverview​\n\n\n\nHow we respond to those around us is fundamental to a happy life. We are often encouraged to be kind to people. But in trying to show compassion towards others\, we may forget to look after ourselves. Can we truly be kind to anyone else if we cannot be kind to ourselves? \n\n\n\nIn the Mindful Self-Compassion course we offer ways to meet our own challenges with greater care. Through the course we will learn how to be more mindful of our own feelings in response to others. And we learn how this can help us to be more resilient in difficult situations. We also learn to be less judgemental and more caring. We will learn how this can reduce anxiety\, leaving us more open to making helpful changes in our lives. \n\n\n\nThe course creates a safe\, supportive environment. There are three core components: \n\n\n\n\nmindfulness (being present with whatever is happening)\n\n\n\nself-kindness (treating ourselves with care\, rather than criticism)\n\n\n\ncommon humanity (recognising our suffering as part of the shared human experience)​\n\n\n\n\nSome of the main topics we cover are: \n\n\n\n\nhandling difficult emotions\n\n\n\ntransforming the inner critic\n\n\n\ncultivating core values\n\n\n\nmeeting unmet needs\n\n\n\n\nThe weekly sessions include: \n\n\n\n\nguided meditations\n\n\n\nshort talks\n\n\n\ndiscussion\, including in small groups\n\n\n\nexperiential exercises\n\n\n\nresources to support home practice\n\n\n\n\nThe course creators are Kristin Neff\, researcher in the field of self-compassion. And Christopher Germer\, leader in the integration of mindfulness and psychotherapy. They have each published books on the subject. You can find out more about our Mindful Self-Compassion course here. \n\n\n\nWho is this course for?\n\n\n\nThis course is designed for the general public\, so you do not need to have attended a mindfulness course before. Please note\, this courses 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. \n\n\n\nWhen? \n\n\n\nMonday evenings from 5pm to 7.30pm (BST). The course starts with an orientation of up to 2.5 hours on 14 September 2026 at 5pm\, and then continues until 16 November 2026. In total the course runs for 9 weeks including the orientation. See below: \n\n\n\nOrientation: 21 September 2026Session 1: 28 September 2026 Session 2: 5 October 2026 Session 3: 12 October 2026 Session 4: 19 October 2026Session 5:  26 October 2026 Session 6: 2 November 2026 Session 7: 9 November 2026Session 8: 16 November 2026 \n\n\n\nWhere?\n\n\n\nOnline. You will get Zoom log-in details when your place is confirmed. \n\n\n\nThe format of the course?\n\n\n\n\nOrientation session lasting up to two and a half hours.\n\n\n\nEight weekly classes\, each lasting two and a half hours\, with a 15-minute break in the middle.\n\n\n\nThe course follows the programme outlined in the Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook by Christopher Germer and Kristin Neff. It is suggested you buy this book to accompany the course. It’s particularly helpful if you have to miss a ssion\, but it’s not essential.\n\n\n\nDaily meditation home practice of up to 30 minutes is suggested.\n\n\n\n\nFacilitators\n\n\n\nAnnie Akasati McAuley\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMindfulness meditation has been a source of creativity and joy throughout my life. I am a freelance mindfulness teacher and supervisor. I also work with the Sussex Mindfulness Centre\, Suzy Bolt\, and the Brighton Buddhist Centre. I am DBS checked and a registered member of the British Association of Mindfulness-based Approaches (BAMBA). \n\n\n\nI write a monthly blog on themes related to mindfulness\, compassion and wisdom. This is available on our website and other publications. I have a teaching background and have worked with adults and young people over four decades. I am an ordained Buddhist since 1999\, leading courses and retreats using my Buddhist name\, Akasati. \n\n\n\n\n\nJulia Powell \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMindfulness has been a huge part of my life ever since I first attended a course in 2007. Having trained to teach with the Oxford Mindfulness Centre I have been teaching mindfulness courses since 2017. Apart from Mindful Self-Compassion\, I also teach Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy\, Mindfulness for Life and Finding Peace in a Frantic World. I’m a trained supervisor and run mindfulness coaching sessions for individuals. \n\n\n\n\n\nHow to book\n\n\n\nPlease note\, we ask all those who book a place on this course to fill in an application form here that will be sent to the facilitators. If you haven’t already\, please head here to the fill in the form. \n\n\n\nThe cost of the eight-week course is £300. We also offer a choice of two other options: \n\n\n\n\n£325 – Supporting rate. You can support other participants to attend who are on a low income.\n\n\n\n£275 – Supported rate\, if you are on a low income and can’t afford the general admission price.\n\n\n\n\nAs part of our equity\, diversity and inclusion policy\, we also have a limited number of concessionary tickets available on a first-come\, first-served basis. These are for people who are facing acute financial hardship and who would otherwise not be able to attend. To request a concession ticket please email spft.smc@nhs.net. \n\n\n\nWe are striving to make our courses accessible for all. If you have additional needs or learning styles\, please let us know so we can support you.   \n\n\n\nYou can book here below.
URL:https://sussexmindfulnesscentre.nhs.uk/event/mindful-self-compassion-course-eight-weeks-on-monday-evenings/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:Course,Mindful Self-Compassion
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260921T170000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260921T193000
DTSTAMP:20260824T093321Z
CREATED:20260824T093227Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260824T093321Z
UID:10003092-1790010000-1790019000@sussexmindfulnesscentre.nhs.uk
SUMMARY:Mindful Self-Compassion course: eight weeks on Monday evenings
DESCRIPTION:Our eight-week Mindful Self-Compassion course teaches core principles and practices that enable participants to respond to challenges and difficult emotions with care and understanding. \n\n\n\nMonday evenings\, from 5 to 7.30pm. The orientation is on 21 September followed by the eight-week course from 28 September to 16 November. \n\n\n\nOverview​\n\n\n\nHow we respond to those around us is fundamental to a happy life. We are often encouraged to be kind to people. But in trying to show compassion towards others\, we may forget to look after ourselves. Can we truly be kind to anyone else if we cannot be kind to ourselves? \n\n\n\nIn the Mindful Self-Compassion course we offer ways to meet our own challenges with greater care. Through the course we will learn how to be more mindful of our own feelings in response to others. And we learn how this can help us to be more resilient in difficult situations. We also learn to be less judgemental and more caring. We will learn how this can reduce anxiety\, leaving us more open to making helpful changes in our lives. \n\n\n\nThe course creates a safe\, supportive environment. There are three core components: \n\n\n\n\nmindfulness (being present with whatever is happening)\n\n\n\nself-kindness (treating ourselves with care\, rather than criticism)\n\n\n\ncommon humanity (recognising our suffering as part of the shared human experience)​\n\n\n\n\nSome of the main topics we cover are: \n\n\n\n\nhandling difficult emotions\n\n\n\ntransforming the inner critic\n\n\n\ncultivating core values\n\n\n\nmeeting unmet needs\n\n\n\n\nThe weekly sessions include: \n\n\n\n\nguided meditations\n\n\n\nshort talks\n\n\n\ndiscussion\, including in small groups\n\n\n\nexperiential exercises\n\n\n\nresources to support home practice\n\n\n\n\nThe course creators are Kristin Neff\, researcher in the field of self-compassion. And Christopher Germer\, leader in the integration of mindfulness and psychotherapy. They have each published books on the subject. You can find out more about our Mindful Self-Compassion course here. \n\n\n\nWho is this course for?\n\n\n\nThis course is designed for the general public\, so you do not need to have attended a mindfulness course before. Please note\, this courses 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. \n\n\n\nWhen? \n\n\n\nMonday evenings from 5pm to 7.30pm (BST). The course starts with an orientation of up to 2.5 hours on 14 September 2026 at 5pm\, and then continues until 16 November 2026. In total the course runs for 9 weeks including the orientation. See below: \n\n\n\nOrientation: 21 September 2026Session 1: 28 September 2026 Session 2: 5 October 2026 Session 3: 12 October 2026 Session 4: 19 October 2026Session 5:  26 October 2026 Session 6: 2 November 2026 Session 7: 9 November 2026Session 8: 16 November 2026 \n\n\n\nWhere?\n\n\n\nOnline. You will get Zoom log-in details when your place is confirmed. \n\n\n\nThe format of the course?\n\n\n\n\nOrientation session lasting up to two and a half hours.\n\n\n\nEight weekly classes\, each lasting two and a half hours\, with a 15-minute break in the middle.\n\n\n\nThe course follows the programme outlined in the Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook by Christopher Germer and Kristin Neff. It is suggested you buy this book to accompany the course. It’s particularly helpful if you have to miss a ssion\, but it’s not essential.\n\n\n\nDaily meditation home practice of up to 30 minutes is suggested.\n\n\n\n\nFacilitators\n\n\n\nAnnie Akasati McAuley\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMindfulness meditation has been a source of creativity and joy throughout my life. I am a freelance mindfulness teacher and supervisor. I also work with the Sussex Mindfulness Centre\, Suzy Bolt\, and the Brighton Buddhist Centre. I am DBS checked and a registered member of the British Association of Mindfulness-based Approaches (BAMBA). \n\n\n\nI write a monthly blog on themes related to mindfulness\, compassion and wisdom. This is available on our website and other publications. I have a teaching background and have worked with adults and young people over four decades. I am an ordained Buddhist since 1999\, leading courses and retreats using my Buddhist name\, Akasati. \n\n\n\n\n\nJulia Powell \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMindfulness has been a huge part of my life ever since I first attended a course in 2007. Having trained to teach with the Oxford Mindfulness Centre I have been teaching mindfulness courses since 2017. Apart from Mindful Self-Compassion\, I also teach Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy\, Mindfulness for Life and Finding Peace in a Frantic World. I’m a trained supervisor and run mindfulness coaching sessions for individuals. \n\n\n\n\n\nHow to book\n\n\n\nHow to book \n\n\n\nPlease fill in the application form here. We will be in touch once your place is confirmed. \n\n\n\nWe are striving to make our courses accessible for all. If you have additional needs or learning styles\, please let us know so we can support you.  
URL:https://sussexmindfulnesscentre.nhs.uk/event/mindful-self-compassion-course-eight-weeks-on-monday-evenings-2/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:SPFT staff only
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20261001T184500
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20261119T211500
DTSTAMP:20260819T071705Z
CREATED:20260213T120303Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260819T071705Z
UID:10002980-1790880300-1795122900@sussexmindfulnesscentre.nhs.uk
SUMMARY:Interpersonal Mindfulness: Eight-week course
DESCRIPTION:This eight-week Interpersonal Mindfulness programme was developed to support people in integrating their mindfulness practice into their relationships with others. \n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\nOverview​\n\n\n\nRelating to others is a fundamental aspect of our everyday lives\, with family\, friends\, in the workplace and in our wider community. For some of us\, it is at the core of our professional practice. Our relationships can be a source of well-being where we feel connected to others and also a source of stress when miscommunication and disconnection inevitably happens.  \n\n\n\n\n\nThe Interpersonal Mindfulness Program (IMP) has been developed by the Centre for Mindfulness and the Metta Foundation in the US. It has been designed to teach those with prior mindfulness/ meditation training to integrate the benefits of their personal meditation practice into the context of their relational lives: deepening presence\, empathy and compassion. Click here for a first feasibility study on IMP. \n\n\n\nWho is this course for?\n\n\n\nThis course is developed for the general public and will be of particular interest to health care professionals wishing to deepen their presence in their working relationships. It also fulfils the pre-requisite for professional teacher training in Interpersonal Mindfulness Programme Teacher Training (IMPTT) offered by the Sussex Mindfulness Centre in October 2027. \n\n\n\nWhen? \n\n\n\nThursday evenings 6.45pm to 9.15pm (GMT). The eight-week course starts on 1 October and runs until 19 November 2026 with a full day (10am-4pm) on 24 October.  \n\n\n\nWhere?\n\n\n\nOnline. You will get Zoom log-in details when your place is confirmed. \n\n\n\nThe format of the course?\n\n\n\n\nEight weekly two-and-a-half-hour sessions and a full day session where you will learn and practice six relational meditation guidelines. \n\n\n\nWe will work with carefully guided and timed contemplations drawn from Eastern and Western wisdom traditions to support the development of insight and self-understanding. We will do this in pairs or in small groups\, as well as engage in group conversations.\n\n\n\nDaily meditation home practice of between 20-40 minutes.\n\n\n\n\nFacilitator \n\n\n\nRosalie Dores\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRosalie Dores is a mindfulness teacher\, supervisor and trainer. She completed a five-year masters degree in teaching mindfulness at Bangor University\, with distinction as well as holding a Certificate of Teacher Competency. She teaches general and workplace populations\, as well as one-to-one Distance Learning Programmes. She offers supervision and personal practice mentoring for The Mindfulness Network CIC\, as well as conducting MBI-TAC assessments. She has been practicing mindfulness and yoga since 1992. She also teaches Insight Dialogue retreats and Interpersonal Mindfulness courses. Her website is www.optimalliving.co.uk. \n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nHow to book\n\n\n\nPlease note\, we ask all those who book a place on this course to fill in an application form here that will be sent to the facilitators. If you haven’t already\, please head here to the fill in the form. \n\n\n\nThe cost of the eight-week course is £300.  We also offer a choice of two other options: \n\n\n\n£325 – Supporting rate. You can support other participants to attend who are on a low income. \n\n\n\n£275 – Supported rate\, if you are on a low income and can’t afford the general admission price. \n\n\n\nAs part of our equity\, diversity and inclusion policy\, we also have a limited number of concessionary tickets available on a first-come\, first-served basis. These are for people who are facing acute financial hardship and who would otherwise not be able to attend. To request a concession ticket please email spft.smc@nhs.net. \n\n\n\nWe are striving to make our courses accessible for all. If you have additional needs or learning styles\, please let us know so we can support you. \n\n\n\nYou can book your place here
URL:https://sussexmindfulnesscentre.nhs.uk/event/interpersonal-mindfulness-eight-week-course/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:Course,IMP,Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20261009T093000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20261009T163000
DTSTAMP:20260407T112208Z
CREATED:20260210T174403Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260407T112208Z
UID:10002979-1791538200-1791563400@sussexmindfulnesscentre.nhs.uk
SUMMARY:Buddhist Foundations of Mindfulness
DESCRIPTION:This workshop explores the Buddhist origins and intentions of mindfulness practice. \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nWhat is covered?\n\n\n\nEven though it is common to deliver secular mindfulness-based programmes\, many of the ideas in these programmes make more sense when we understand their origins and intentions. \n\n\n\nJohn Peacock is one of the few people who can expertly make this bridge and we are delighted to welcome him back again. \n\n\n\nWho is this for?\n\n\n\nThis masterclass is suitable for anyone involved in teaching\, or training to teach\, mindfulness; or anyone with a particular interest in the Buddhist underpinnings of mindfulness practice.  \n\n\n\nYou can join this online workshop from anywhere\, as long as you have a stable internet connection.   \n\n\n\nPlease note\, current trainees on our teacher training courses (Foundation and Adapted Mindfulness Based Interventions) are automatically on the attendance list for this masterclass\, as it forms part of the syllabus. If this is you\, you do not need to book a place. \n\n\n\nThe facilitator\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nJohn Peacock\n\n\n\n\nJohn Peacock is an academic and a Buddhist practitioner of nearly fifty years. Trained initially in the Tibetan Gelukpa tradition in India\, he then spent time in Sri Lanka studying Theravāda. Following a doctorate in philosophy\, he taught Buddhist and Western philosophy as well as Buddhist studies at the University of Bristol. He went on to be an Associate Director of the Oxford Mindfulness Centre and co-direct the Master of Studies programme in Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy at the University of Oxford. John is now retired from academia and continues to teach meditation and courses on Buddhism and Western philosophy internationally. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCertificates\n\n\n\nThis is valid for ongoing personal development in mindfulness or as part of the Sussex Mindfulness Centre teacher training pathway. Certificates of attendance can be supplied on completion of the day’s training\, if requested. \n\n\n\n\n\nBooking\n\n\n\nThe cost of this masterclass is £75. We also offer a choice of two other options: \n\n\n\n£100 – Supporting rate. You can support other participants to attend who are on a low income. \n\n\n\n£50 – Supported rate\, if you are on a low income and can’t afford the general admission price. \n\n\n\nAs part of our equity\, diversity and inclusion policy\, we also have a limited number of concessionary tickets available on a first-come\, first-served basis. These are for people who are facing acute financial hardship and who would otherwise not be able to attend. To request a concession ticket please email spft.smc@nhs.net. \n\n\n\nWe are striving to make our courses accessible for all. If you have additional needs or learning styles\, please let us know so we can support you.  
URL:https://sussexmindfulnesscentre.nhs.uk/event/buddhist-foundations-of-mindfulness-4/
CATEGORIES:Masterclass,Teacher training
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20261010T100000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20261010T110000
DTSTAMP:20260717T093159Z
CREATED:20260717T090448Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260717T093159Z
UID:10003077-1791626400-1791630000@sussexmindfulnesscentre.nhs.uk
SUMMARY:Teaching Presence in Relationship; taster and teacher training information session
DESCRIPTION:Are you interested in teaching the eight-week Interpersonal Mindfulness Programme? This programme offers participants a systematic method for cultivating mindfulness within the context of their relational lives. Join this free session to find out what’s involved. \n\n\n\nWhat’s included\n\n\n\nThis session will include a taster of interpersonal mindfulness\, and provide all you need to know about the steps to becoming a teacher of the Interpersonal Mindfulness Programme. Rosalie Dores and Kevin Fong\, trainers on the teacher training course\, will be leading the session. The session will provide an comprehensive overview\, after which there will be an opportunity to ask questions. \n\n\n\nBook your place\n\n\n\nBook your place by emailing spft.smc@nhs.net and you will be sent a joining link.
URL:https://sussexmindfulnesscentre.nhs.uk/event/teaching-presence-in-relationship-taster-and-teacher-training-information-session/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:IMP TT information
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20261106T090000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20261106T170000
DTSTAMP:20260529T110958Z
CREATED:20260305T100330Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260529T110958Z
UID:10002990-1793955600-1793984400@sussexmindfulnesscentre.nhs.uk
SUMMARY:Can we heal healthcare? Caring for doctors with evidence-based practice
DESCRIPTION:Medical mindfulness conference\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nA one‑day conference bringing doctors together to explore wellbeing\, leadership\, and evidence‑based mindfulness in healthcare in Brighton. \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nKeynote speaker: Professor Gwen Adshead (BBC Reith Lecturer)\n\n\n\nOverview\n\n\n\nThe event will explore how evidence‑based mindfulness and compassion can support doctors working under increasing pressure in healthcare systems. \n\n\n\nHosted by the Sussex Mindfulness Centre\, the programme brings together doctors\, medical leaders\, and educators to reflect on individual and systemic approaches to wellbeing. \n\n\n\nKeynote speaker Dr Gwen Adshead\, forensic psychiatrist and former BBC Reith Lecturer\, will share reflections from over 30 years of clinical practice\, including her experience of Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy. She is joined by national and international leaders in medical wellbeing\, mindfulness\, and system‑level change. \n\n\n\nThe day combines keynote talks\, personal perspectives\, and experiential workshops\, offering space for reflection\, learning\, and connection with colleagues. \n\n\n\nHeld at the Friends Meeting House in Brighton\, the conference offers a supportive environment to pause\, think\, and engage with others committed to caring for those who care for patients. \n\n\n\nWho is this for?\n\n\n\nThis conference is for doctors and managers working in the NHS\, whether you have an interest in improving wellbeing for your organisation\, team or for yourself it promises to be an inspiring\, informative and nourishing day. \n\n\n\nSpeakers\n\n\n\nKeynote speakers include Dr Gwen Adshead who will discuss her experience of training as a therapist and what she has learned about changing minds after thirty years of working as a therapist. She will focus especially on her experience of training in Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy\, and what she has learned and is still learning from patients and colleagues.  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nGwen is a consultant forensic psychiatrist and psychotherapist with over 30 years’ experience in offender rehabilitation and therapy with people who have committed serious violence. She has published widely on ethics\, trauma\, and personal change\, co-authoring The Devil You Know and Unspeakable. Her work emphasises compassion\, reflection\, and lasting change. \n\n\n\nOther speakers include international and national leaders in medical wellbeing\, mindfulness and system level change: Dr Umakant Dave MBE\, Consultant Gastroenterologist\, Swansea; Dr Florian Ruths\, Consultant Psychiatrist\, Clinical Lead\, Maudsley Medical Psychotherapy Service; Dr Manuel Villareal\, GP\, Chipping Campden\, Gloucestershire/Director Centre Mindfulness Univ. Albert Einstein Mexico; Dr Carter Lebares\, Associate Professor of Surgery University of California\, San Francisco; Director\, UCSF Center for Mindfulness in Surgery\, Co-Founder/-Director UCSF UCLA Wellbeing In Surgery (WISe) Collaborative. \n\n\n\n\nRead keynote speaker\, Umakant Dave’s blog post to see his reasons for inspiring this conference. From Burnout to Resilience: How mindfulness restored a doctor’s wellbeing at work. \n\n\n\nProgramme\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nYou can download the full programme with all the talks and workshops. It includes the names and biographies of all the national and international speakers. Download your programme here. \n\n\n\nTickets\n\n\n\nEarly Bird tickets are £80 and available for a limited time. Once these are sold out\, the standard ticket price of £99 will apply. You can book your tickets by clicking on this link.
URL:https://sussexmindfulnesscentre.nhs.uk/event/can-we-heal-healthcare-conference/
LOCATION:Friends Meeting House\, Ship Street\, Brighton\, Sussex\, BN1 1AF\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Conference
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20261120T093000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20261120T163000
DTSTAMP:20260514T095053Z
CREATED:20260217T171322Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260514T095053Z
UID:10002984-1795167000-1795192200@sussexmindfulnesscentre.nhs.uk
SUMMARY:Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy: The evolving story
DESCRIPTION:This masterclass will explore the story behind Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy\, its research and practice\, as well as dilemmas that practitioners may face today. \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nWhat is covered?\n\n\n\nThe day will chart the unfolding of the story of Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) research and practice\, interweaving presentations with practice and dialogue. \n\n\n\nParticipants will be supported to situate themselves within the evolving story and invited to inquire into the role we are all playing – how is our MBCT practice situated? What are the questions and dilemmas we are experiencing? \n\n\n\nWho is this for?\n\n\n\nThis workshop is suitable for anyone involved in teaching\, or training to teach\, mindfulness. \n\n\n\nYou can join this online workshop from anywhere\, as long as you have a stable internet connection.   \n\n\n\nPlease note\, current trainees on our teacher training courses (Foundation and Adapted Mindfulness Based Interventions) are automatically on the attendance list for this masterclass\, as it forms part of the syllabus. If this is you\, you do not need to book a place. \n\n\n\nThe facilitators\n\n\n\n\n\n\nProfessor Clara Strauss\n\n\n\n\n\n\nProfessor Clara Strauss\n\n\n\nClara Strauss 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. This research has also included research with NHS staff\, university students and the wider population. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTaravajra\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTaravajra\n\n\n\nTaravajra has been teaching mindfulness in Sussex since 2005 to community groups\, carers\, teachers and NHS staff. Taravajra gained a Masters degree in mindfulness-based approaches in 2010 at Bangor University. Since 2011\, he has been part of the core training team at Bangor\, teaching on the Masters programme and teacher training pathway in the English and Spanish speaking worlds. \n\n\n\nSince 2011 he has been one of the main trainers on the Sussex Mindfulness Centre’s teacher training programme. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCertificates\n\n\n\nThis masterclass is valid for ongoing personal development in mindfulness or as part of the Sussex Mindfulness Centre teacher training pathway. Certificates of attendance can be supplied on completion of the day’s training\, if requested. \n\n\n\nBooking\n\n\n\nThe cost of the eight-week course is £75. We also offer a choice of two other options: \n\n\n\n£100 – Supporting rate. You can support other participants to attend who are on a low income. \n\n\n\n£50 – Supported rate\, if you are on a low income and can’t afford the basic rate. \n\n\n\nAs part of our equity\, diversity and inclusion policy\, we also have a limited number of concessionary tickets available on a first-come\, first-served basis. These are for people who are facing acute financial hardship and who would otherwise not be able to attend. To request a concession ticket please email spft.smc@nhs.net. \n\n\n\nWe are striving to make our courses accessible for all. If you have additional needs or learning styles\, please let us know so we can support you.  
URL:https://sussexmindfulnesscentre.nhs.uk/event/mindfulness-based-cognitive-therapy-the-evolving-story-3/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:Advanced,Masterclass
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20261205T100000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20261205T160000
DTSTAMP:20260707T121151Z
CREATED:20260616T125357Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260707T121151Z
UID:10003068-1796464800-1796486400@sussexmindfulnesscentre.nhs.uk
SUMMARY:One-day online mindfulness retreat
DESCRIPTION:This one-day online mindfulness retreat offers an opportunity to extend and deepen your mindfulness practice\, within a supportive environment. \n\n\n\nContent of the day\n\n\n\nThis day will be facilitated by our experienced teachers and will include a series of different mindfulness and compassion practices. It will be held mostly in silence as a way of supporting your practice. As this retreat is online you will be given guidance about how to create retreat like conditions at home. \n\n\n\nWhy a one-day retreat?\n\n\n\nA one-day mindfulness retreat is an important part of the eight-week mindfulness course. It also offers an opportunity to extend your practice within a supportive environment. For people who meditate regularly the retreat offers a great way to deepen and refresh your practice. Read more about the benefits of a day long retreat. \n\n\n\nWho’s it for?\n\n\n\nThis online retreat is right for you if: \n\n\n\n\nyou are currently attending one of our eight-week mindfulness courses;\n\n\n\nyou have completed an eight-week Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy\, Mindfulness for Life\, Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction or Finding Peace course with the Sussex Mindfulness Centre or elsewhere\, or have an established mindfulness practice.\n\n\n\n\nPlease note\, this is not a clinical intervention and it is not advisable to do this day in the heat of a crisis\, when it would be important to access your GP or your designated mental health clinician. \n\n\n\nReserving your place\n\n\n\nThis retreat is free to attend. When you sign up\, you’ll have the option to make a donation if you would like to and feel able. A suggested donation of £20 (or any amount you can afford) helps us offer mindfulness courses to communities who otherwise face barriers to taking part. \n\n\n\nAttendance certificates\n\n\n\nThis all-day retreat counts towards the requirements to attend silent retreats as part of your BAMBA registration as a mindfulness teacher. Certificates of attendance can be supplied on completion of the day’s training\, if requested. \n\n\n\nFor all enquiries\, please email us at spft.smc@nhs.uk
URL:https://sussexmindfulnesscentre.nhs.uk/event/one-day-online-mindfulness-retreat-3/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:Retreat
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20270119T173000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20270119T193000
DTSTAMP:20260811T143803Z
CREATED:20250904T114912Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260811T143803Z
UID:10002864-1800379800-1800387000@sussexmindfulnesscentre.nhs.uk
SUMMARY:Deeper Mindfulness: Frame by Frame
DESCRIPTION:‘Deeper Mindfulness: exploring feeling tone Frame by Frame‘ is a new eight-week course developed for people who want to explore mindfulness more deeply. The online course runs on Tuesday evenings from 19 January 2027 and includes an optional one-day retreat in 2027. \n\n\n\nOverview​\n\n\n\nThis course allows people to explore an aspect of mindfulness that isn’t covered explicitly in other courses: ‘feeling tone.’ Feeling tone is a sense of the positive or negative that every human experiences and is the tipping point for our mood.  \n\n\n\nDeeper Mindfulness is informed by recent psychological findings that reveal that every waking moment\, our understanding of the world is dominated by imagining how we can take action within it\, coloured by what is called ‘feeling tone.’ Feeling tone is the moment-by-moment ‘read-out’ of how much a sensation\, thought\, or emotion feels pleasant\, unpleasant\, or neither. Based on this moment-by-moment ‘read out\,’ the body allocates its resources as it gears up for real or imagined action. This can prepare us well for action\, but it can also put us at risk of becoming exhausted without our realising it.  \n\n\n\nDuring the eight weekly sessions\, you will learn meditations that help you tune into feeling tone moment by moment\, frame by frame. This provides an opportunity to see more clearly both the tipping points for distress and exhaustion\, and also how to flourish by freeing yourself to appreciate life again\, even in the midst of difficulty. \n\n\n\nWho is the course for?\n\n\n\nThis course is designed for those who have already completed an eight-week mindfulness-based programme and want to explore mindfulness more deeply. Please note\, this courses is designed for the general population and may not be suitable for everyone. If you are experiencing significant mental health issues\, you should talk to your GP about being referred to the appropriate clinical service. \n\n\n\nWhen? \n\n\n\nTuesdays\, 5.30pm to 7.30pm\, starting 19 January and running until 16 March 2027 (no session on 16 February). \n\n\n\nWhere?\n\n\n\nOnline. The zoom link will be sent closer to the time of the course. \n\n\n\nThe format of the course\n\n\n\nThe course is delivered over eight weekly sessions\, each lasting two hours. Each session builds on what’s been introduced before\, so it’s important to attend all the sessions if possible. (If you know you’re going to miss a session\, please let your teacher know). You’ll be in a group of up to 16 people. \n\n\n\nEach session begins with a short\, guided meditation\, then (with the exception of the first session) there’s a review and inquiry into the past week. The second half of the session introduces the theme for the week and includes a meditation. There’ll be space to review what you and others experienced or discovered during the practice. The sessions are followed by suggestions for home-based personal practice of around 20 minutes per day. This includes both recommended guided practices for the week\, and also ways to cultivate mindfulness in everyday life. \n\n\n\nYou’ll have access to guided practices and written materials to support each session. \n\n\n\nIf you’d like to find out more\, you can watch the short video in which Taravajra talks about this course. \n\n\n\nFacilitators\n\n\n\nWe have two experienced teachers leading this course. Apart from being experienced in many aspect of teaching mindfulness\, Taravajra and Bridgette O’Neill are supervisors and are key members of our team of teacher trainers\, leading courses for others who want to become teachers themselves. \n\n\n\n\n\nTaravajra\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTaravajra has been teaching mindfulness in Sussex since 2005 to community groups\, carers\, teachers and NHS staff. Taravajra gained a Masters degree in mindfulness-based approaches in 2010 at Bangor University. Since 2011\, he has been part of the core training team at Bangor\, teaching on the Masters programme and teacher training pathway in the English and Spanish speaking worlds. He holds a British Wheel of Yoga teaching diploma and is a Focusing practitioner. Since 2011 he has been one of the main trainers on the Sussex Mindfulness Centre’s teacher training programme. \n\n\n\n\n\n\nBridgette O’Neill\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBridgette is a clinical psychologist by professional training and has taught mindfulness-based approaches in NHS mental health services for staff and clients since 2002. She is a senior lecturer\, trainer\, and supervisor with the Centre for Mindfulness Research and Practice and the Mindfulness Network as well as a trainer with the Sussex Mindfulness Centre. Bridgette has a particular interest in mindfulness and compassion-based approaches in relation to social and environmental challenges and is part of the author group of the paper ‘Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Our Time: A Curriculum that is up to the Task’. \n\n\n\n\n\n\nHow to book\n\n\n\nPlease note\, we ask all those who book a place on this course to fill in an application form here that will be sent to the facilitator. If you haven’t already\, please head here to the fill in the form. \n\n\n\nThe eight-week course is £250\, with options of supporting and supported tickets. \n\n\n\nAs part of our equity\, diversity and inclusion policy\, we also have a limited number of concessionary tickets available on a first-come\, first-served basis. These are for people who are facing acute financial hardship and who would otherwise not be able to attend. To request a concession ticket please email spft.smc@nhs.net. \n\n\n\nWe are striving to make our courses accessible for all. If you have additional needs or learning styles\, please let us know so we can support you.  \n\n\n\nYou can book your place below.
URL:https://sussexmindfulnesscentre.nhs.uk/event/deeper-mindfulness-frame-by-frame-2/
CATEGORIES:Course,Teacher training
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DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20270212T140000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20270214T130000
DTSTAMP:20260814T082510Z
CREATED:20260612T093753Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260814T082510Z
UID:10003067-1802440800-1802610000@sussexmindfulnesscentre.nhs.uk
SUMMARY:Compassion retreat: Welcoming the stranger
DESCRIPTION:A long-weekend retreat from your own home. You’ll be supported to deepen your mindfulness and compassion practice with a particular emphasis on intention\, on why we are practising.   \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\nBrief overview\n\n\n\nHow well do we really know ourselves? How well do we know our neighbours\, our community\, our fellow inhabitants of this island\, this continent\, this planet? Although psychological wisdom – ancient and modern – emphasises connection as the quintessential factor in wellbeing and thriving\, we struggle so much to practice this – particularly when we encounter the unfamiliar\, the unexpected\, the unpleasant. The ‘not-me’\, ‘them’: the stranger within and without. \n\n\n\nWe have been hearing the term ‘stranger’ weaponised in public discourse across the political spectrum in recent months. The term tends to be used in a negative way to identify certain groups of people deemed to be ‘not me’ and therefore somehow outside our legitimate field of care.  \n\n\n\nWe can begin to challenge this notion in a meditative context\, explicitly inviting hospitality internally to parts of ourselves that we want to banish; but also clarifying the implication of that contemplation in terms of how we act in the world and how we relate to people that it might feel more convenient to avoid or exclude.  Bernie Glassman\, founder of the Zen Peacemaker Order\, says “I’m drawn to those aspects of myself that I do not understand\, that I fear\, that are a mystery. I’m drawn to enter that realm…[and if I can do that] there comes a healing of myself and others that I would never have expected.”  \n\n\n\nTo do this work\, we will draw on multiple sources of inspiration from a wide variety of faith\, philosophical and psychological traditions that all point in the same direction: to cultivate open-hearted\, unconditional hospitality for the stranger\, inner and outer. \n\n\n\nThe programme will run through the Friday afternoon and early evening\, all day Saturday and Sunday morning.  There will be a mix of teaching\, guided and unguided practice\, and unstructured time. Most of the retreat will be held in silence. There is the possibility to talk to either of the teachers individually. \n\n\n\n\nWhere is it?  \n\n\n\nOnline. You can attend from your own home. You will be given guidance on how to prepare for this in an online orientation meeting a week or two before the retreat. \n\n\n\nWho is the retreat for? \n\n\n\nThe retreat is designed for people with some experience of mindfulness and/or compassion practice who want to deepen their practice in a supportive\, safe environment. As a minimum\, you should have a regular practice and should have done an eight-week mindfulness-based or compassion-based course and/or have attended at least a one-day\, silent retreat. It is also a great opportunity for mindfulness-based and compassion-based teachers to approach this area in a new way. The retreat will count towards the annual retreat requirement for teachers and supervisors on the BAMBA Register. \n\n\n\nRetreat leaders\n\n\n\nPaul Johanson\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPaul Johanson is a social worker\, mindful self-compassion teacher and cognitive analytic therapist in private practice. He has worked in many areas of health and social care\, including criminal justice\, substance misuse\, serious mental illness\, psychological therapies\, cancer and palliative care.  \n\n\n\nPaul has worked as a strategic leader for the NHS in implementing national programmes in mental health\, psychological therapies and patient experience. Paul is a long-term Buddhist practitioner\, beginning his journey over 35 years ago in the Rinzai Zen Buddhist tradition\, and has been a student in the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism since 1991. He has been the Buddhist Chaplain at the University of Sussex since 2013. \n\n\n\n\nRobert Marx\n\n\n\n\nRobert Marx\n\n\n\nRobert Marx is co-lead for the Sussex Mindfulness Centre and leads the national Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) in Talking Therapies in NHS services training centres collaboration. He is a clinical psychologist and psychotherapist and has been teaching mindfulness to patients and staff in the NHS for over 20 years. He mainly teaches MBCT and the SMC compassionate leadership training.  He has been practising Buddhist meditation for over 30 years\, initially in the Theravadan tradition and then in the Tibetan tradition but he also draws inspiration from multiple other contemplative traditions. His focus is currently on wanting to help build compassionate cultures in organisations and on strengthening intentionality and meaning frameworks for practice.    \n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nBooking \n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nHow much does it cost?\n\n\n\nPlease note\, we ask all those who book a place on this course to fill in an application form here that will be sent to the facilitators. \n\n\n\nThe cost of this retreat is £200. We also offer a choice of two other options: \n\n\n\n£150 – Supported rate\, if you are on a low income and can’t afford the general admission price. \n\n\n\n£250 – Supporting rate. You can support other participants to attend who are on a low income. \n\n\n\nAs part of our equity\, diversity and inclusion policy\, we also have a limited number of concessionary tickets available on a first-come\, first-served basis. These are for people who are facing acute financial hardship and who would otherwise not be able to attend. To request a concession ticket please email spft.smc@nhs.net. \n\n\n\nWe are striving to make our courses accessible for all. If you have additional needs or learning styles\, please let us know so we can support you.   \n\n\n\nHow do I apply?\n\n\n\n\nPlease request an application form from spft.smc@nhs.net\, and when completed return it to the same email address. The purpose of this is to understand what we need to know to support you properly. If we have any concerns about anything in your form\, we will contact you.\n\n\n\nOn offering you a place we will issue an invoice for the full amount.\n\n\n\nYour place is confirmed once we receive full payment. \n\n\n\n\nYou can book here:
URL:https://sussexmindfulnesscentre.nhs.uk/event/compassion-retreat-opening-the-heart/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:Compassion,Retreat
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DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20270313T120000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20270313T190000
DTSTAMP:20260811T165356Z
CREATED:20260805T104615Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260811T165356Z
UID:10003082-1804939200-1804964400@sussexmindfulnesscentre.nhs.uk
SUMMARY:Opening to the unconditional love and wisdom of our innate awakened nature
DESCRIPTION:One-day online retreat\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThis day-long retreat\, led by John Makransky\, PhD\, introduces Sustainable Compassion Training — a practice drawn from Tibetan Buddhism and modern psychology to help participants connect with innate qualities of awareness\, warmth\, and unconditional compassion. Through guided meditations\, talks\, and discussion\, it offers those with some prior mindfulness or compassion practice a supportive space to deepen that practice further. \n\n\n\nThe retreat\n\n\n\nThe programme of training introduced in this retreat\, adapted from Tibetan Buddhism with input from modern psychology\, is called Sustainable Compassion Training. From a Tibetan Buddhist perspective\, our innate awakened nature\, often referred to as ‘Buddha nature’\, is the basic space of our being undivided from tremendous capacities of awareness\, warmth\, unconditional love\, compassion\, and wisdom.  \n\n\n\nThese awakened capacities are always available below our surface consciousness\, in the ground of our experience\, but hidden by our habits of self-clinging thought and reaction.  \n\n\n\nIn this retreat\, we will explore several ways derived from Tibetan Buddhism to become increasingly receptive and transparent to qualities of this innate nature – through sense experience\, through relational fields of loving connection\, and by settling directly into the intrinsic openness\, luminosity\, and unconditional warmth of our pre-conceptual awareness. These qualities help us start to unify with their source in the ground of our experience\, our Buddha nature. From that depth\, we can learn to sense others in their depth\, and to hold them in the same unconditional\, compassionate qualities.  \n\n\n\nThis contemplative process also empowers our ability to discern the empty\, constructed nature of all thoughts and reactions that ordinarily impede care and compassion\, freeing the mind for further access to innate awakening capacities that are prior to such constructions. \n\n\n\nIn this day-long retreat\, we will adapt this pattern of practice from Tibetan Buddhism\, with some assistance from modern psychology\, to make it accessible for people of all backgrounds and faiths who have previous contemplative experience and seek an accessible way to cultivate unconditional love and wisdom. \n\n\n\nThe retreat is running from 12 to 7pm (GMT time)\, with a break between 3pm and 4pm. It will include short talks that introduce guided meditations\, Q&A\, and discussion. \n\n\n\n\nWho’s it for?\n\n\n\n\nThe retreat is designed for people with some experience of mindfulness and/or compassion practice who want to deepen their practice in a supportive\, safe environment. At a minimum participants should have a daily practice of meditation or prayer and have previously done a daylong retreat or more. \n\n\n\nPlease note\, this is not a clinical intervention and it is not advisable to do this day in the heat of a crisis\, when it would be important to access your GP or your designated mental health clinician. \n\n\n\nTeacher\n\n\n\nJohn Makransky\, PhD\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nJohn Makransky\, PhD\, has been a professor of Buddhism and Comparative Theology at Boston College\, senior academic advisor and lecturer for the Centre of Buddhist Studies at Rangjung Yeshe Institute in Nepal\, a contemplative fellow of the Mind and Life Institute\, past president of the Society of Buddhist-Christian Studies\, and developer of the Sustainable Compassion Training model for accessing innate capacities of compassion and awareness (www.sustainablecompassion.org). John’s scholarly writings have focused on connections between practices of devotion\, compassion and non-dual wisdom in Indo-Tibetan Buddhism\, on adapting Buddhist practices to meet contemporary minds\, and on theoretical issues in interfaith learning. In 2000\, John was ordained a Lama\, a meditation teacher of innate compassion and wisdom\, within the Nyingma Dzogchen tradition of Tibetan Buddhism.  Since 2000\, John has taught meditations of innate compassion and wisdom\, adapted from Tibetan Buddhism\, for modern Buddhists\, those in other spiritual traditions\, and for people in caring roles and professions who seek an accessible way to access an unconditional power of love\, compassion and wisdom. \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nPrerequisites\n\n\n\nBefore the retreat\, John recommends reading his book “How Compassion Works: A step by step guide to love\, wellbeing and wisdom\,” (Shambhala 2025\, co-authored with Paul Condon). The book is widely available and can be bought second-hand for around £14.   \n\n\n\nAlternatively\, read “Sustainable Compassion Training” by Condon and Makransk (download PDF)\, Frontiers in Psychology\, 2020:  \n\n\n\nAttendance certificates\n\n\n\nThis all-day retreat counts towards the requirements to attend silent retreats as part of your BAMBA registration as a mindfulness teacher. Certificates of attendance can be supplied on completion of the day’s training\, if requested. \n\n\n\nFor all enquiries\, please email us at spft.smc@nhs.uk \n\n\n\nBooking\n\n\n\nThe cost for the day is £75. We also offer a choice of two other options: \n\n\n\n£100 – Supporting rate. You can support other participants to attend who are on a low income. \n\n\n\n£30 – Supported rate\, if you are on a low income and can’t afford the general admission price. \n\n\n\nAs part of our equity\, diversity and inclusion policy\, we also have a limited number of donation tickets only\, available on a first-come\, first-served basis. These are for people who are facing acute financial hardship and who would otherwise not be able to attend. To know more about a donation option\, please email spft.smc@nhs.net. \n\n\n\nWe are striving to make our courses accessible for all. If you have additional needs or learning styles\, please let us know so we can support you.  
URL:https://sussexmindfulnesscentre.nhs.uk/event/opening-to-the-unconditional-love-and-wisdom-of-our-innate-awakened-nature/
CATEGORIES:Retreat
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DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20270314T150000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20270320T120000
DTSTAMP:20260612T115156Z
CREATED:20251215T160427Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260612T115156Z
UID:10002945-1805036400-1805544000@sussexmindfulnesscentre.nhs.uk
SUMMARY:Mindful Self-Compassion residential teacher training
DESCRIPTION:This week-long Mindful Self-Compassion teacher training course is the first step of the teacher training that will enable you to run the eight-week Mindful Self-Compassion course. You’ll learn how to present the Mindful Self-Compassion curriculum and develop your own teaching presence. This is the start of your training journey to teach Mindful Self-Compassion. \n\n\n\nThe six-day intensive training is held at Sharpham House\, in Devon from 14 March 2027. \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nThe practical details \n\n\n\nThe training runs from Sunday 14 March to Saturday 20 March 2027. It will take place at the peaceful and beautiful Sharpham House residential retreat\, near Totnes\, in Devon. It is 2.5 hours away by direct train from London Paddington. Arrival on Sunday 14 March is from 3pm and orientation day formally starts at 4.30pm. On Saturday 20 March we end at 12pm. It is essential that you are able to complete the training in full.  \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nBrief overview\n\n\n\nThe residential training is Step 3 on the pathway to becoming a recognised trained teacher of the eight-week Mindful Self-Compassion programme. The teacher training is built around the eight weekly sessions of the foundational Mindful Self-Compassion programme. Each half day is dedicated to a condensed\, experiential review of one of the weekly sessions. These are followed by small group activities designed to give trainees opportunities to practice teaching\, guiding meditations and facilitating discussion\, with the close consultation of one of the teacher trainers. In addition\, the training includes short talks\, group exercises\, discussion\, and periods of silence which contribute to a retreat feel at times. Progression on the pathway is to Step 4. However\, it is possible that during the training\, members of the teaching training team may ask you to strengthen various personal or professional skills prior to your enrolling in the Teacher Training Practicum. \n\n\n\nWho is the training for?\n\n\n\nThis six-day residential teacher training is intended for those who wish to teach the Mindful Self-Compassion programme\, those who would like to integrate mindfulness and self-compassion in their ongoing professional activities (i.e.\, psychotherapy\, coaching\, nursing\, teaching\, etc.)\, and individuals who have a professional interest in the field (i.e.\, researchers etc.). \n\n\n\nThe teacher training team\n\n\n\nAli Lambie\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAli Lambie has a Masters degree in teaching Mindfulness-Based Approaches from the University of Bangor. Prior to training as a mindfulness teacher she was a counsellor for many years and spent eight years as manager of a counselling service within the NHS. \n\n\n\nAli lives in the south of England and set up Mindfulness Hampshire in 2011. Since that time she has offered regular courses\, workshops and retreats locally and further afield. In 2013\, Ali came across the work of Dr Chris Germer and Dr Kristin Neff in the form of Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC). This made a huge impact and she immersed herself in this field\, gradually becoming a certified teacher and then teacher trainer of MSC: this work is her passion. These days Ali is fully self-employed teaching MSC and supervising and training others both in the UK and internationally with the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion in the USA. Ali enjoys supporting other teachers in her various roles and often has newer teachers working alongside her too. She has a deep love of the countryside and part of her practice is mindful walking in the woods each day. \n\n\n\n\nZoe Shobbrook-Fisher \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nZoe has been an MSC teacher trainer since 2019. For the last 16 years\, after a decade working as a student/staff counsellor and group facilitator in higher education\, she set up her own company in southwest London\, offering beginner and deepening practice Mindful Based Stress Reduction and MSC courses\, residential retreats and self-compassion informed therapy. She is a director at The Mindfulness Project and co-founded the thriving In Good Company practice community. She delivers programmes to a wide range of groups\, reflecting her commitment to making these approaches accessible to diverse populations; in the workplace\, charity and clinical settings. A lifelong yoga and meditation practitioner she has always been dedicated to paths of the heart and authenticity. Her practice includes her love of singing and conscious dance. \n\n\n\n\nHow to apply\n\n\n\nFirstly\, please make sure you meet all the pre-requisites below. Please watch this useful video where the teacher provides you with detailed information about the training programme. \n\n\n\nYou will be asked to complete a thorough application form\, which will be carefully reviewed by the teacher training team.  Acceptance decisions are made with care to ensure participants are well-prepared and the training space remains safe\, supportive\, and effective for everyone involved. Sometimes this involves a follow up call to talk the training process through a bit further and make sure it’s the right training at the right time for you. If you are also interested in Step 4\, the online Teacher Training Practicum (TTP) that follows Step 3\, we’ll send you the TTP application form once you’ve been accepted for the Residential Teacher Training. Or if you’re not sure you can commit to those TTP dates yet you can simply express interest via spft.smc@nhs.net. \n\n\n\nTeacher training application pre-requisites\n\n\n\nYou must have: \n\n\n\n\nCompleted a full-length or intensive MSC course \n\n\n\nA five-day or multiple shorter silent teacher-led meditation retreats\n\n\n\nA six-month gap between your MSC course and the teacher training\n\n\n\nHave an established ongoing\, daily\, mindfulness meditation practice\n\n\n\nHave an established ongoing practice of loving-kindness and self-compassion formally and informally\n\n\n\n\nYou do not have to be a mental health professional to participate in the MSC teacher training. \n\n\n\nPlease note: You are expected to allow a six month gap between completing your MSC course and beginning the teacher training. This is to deepen your personal practice\, integrating what you’ve learned and ensure you’re truly ready for the time\, energy\, and financial commitment of teacher training. However\, you may register for teacher training at any time after you complete the MSC course. \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nCost of residential teacher training \n\n\n\nEarly bird rates\n\n\n\nBelow are the early bird rates (which include full board for six nights and all tuition fees and materials) if you pay your non-refundable deposit before 1 Aug 2026. Please indicate your room type preferences on your application form.  \n\n\n\nRoom types will be allocated on a first come\, first served basis and will also take into account any accessibility or support needs.   \n\n\n\n\nSingle occupancy ensuite room: £1800\n\n\n\nSingle occupancy room with a bathroom shared between two rooms: £1700\n\n\n\nShared ensuite twin room (with another trainee): £1600\n\n\n\n\nStandard rates\n\n\n\nStandard rates (which include full board for six nights and all tuition fees and materials) if you pay your non-refundable deposit between 1 Aug and 14 Nov 2026. Please indicate your room type preferences on your application form \n\n\n\n\nSingle occupancy ensuite room: £1950\n\n\n\nSingle occupancy room with a bathroom shared between two rooms: £1850\n\n\n\nShared ensuite twin room (with another trainee): £1750\n\n\n\n\nApplication process\n\n\n\n\nSubmit your registration form and pay the £500 non-refundable deposit as soon as possible to request your preferred room type\, and by 1 August 2026 to secure an early bird rate.\n\n\n\n\nOnce your application has been received\, you will receive a confirmation email which will include a longer online MSC Teacher Training Application  This application includes a brief 200-word statement where you can share your reasons for taking the teacher training and your reflections. \n\n\n\n\nIf your application is not accepted\, a full refund will be granted. If your application is approved\, the relevant balance of your payment will need to be made. The amount depends on the date you apply (before or after the early bird rate).\n\n\n\n\nBursary places \n\n\n\nWe would like to make this training available to as many people as possible and there are limited number of bursaries. In the past\, it has been possible to give a discount of around £300 to most people who needed it but the decision about how much discount can be offered is dependent on how many applicants we have and is made shortly before the start of the training. \n\n\n\nPeople applying for the bursaries are asked to register for the training\, pay the deposit as soon as possible to request their preferred room type (i.e. stage 1 above) and at the same time complete and return a Bursary Application Form to the Sussex Mindfulness Centre at spft.smc@nhs.net which should address the following questions: \n\n\n\n\nWhy do you wish to attend this training\, and what are the specific financial or other barriers to your attending?\n\n\n\nHow do you imagine implementing or integrating MSC into your life / teaching?\n\n\n\n\nPlease contact spft.smc@nhs.net for a bursary application form and to request the link to pay your £500 deposit.
URL:https://sussexmindfulnesscentre.nhs.uk/event/mindful-self-compassion-residential-teacher-training/
CATEGORIES:MSC TT information,Teacher training
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DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20271022T150000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20271030T160000
DTSTAMP:20260729T111619Z
CREATED:20260306T104835Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260729T111619Z
UID:10002978-1824217200-1824912000@sussexmindfulnesscentre.nhs.uk
SUMMARY:Teaching Presence in Relationship: an Interpersonal Mindfulness teacher training retreat
DESCRIPTION:The residential “Teaching Presence in Relationship” teacher training retreat\, is designed to prepare teachers of mindfulness-based programmes to teach the Interpersonal Mindfulness Programme. This residential training course will take place at the Ammerdown Retreat Centre in Somerset\, near Bath\, from 22 to 30 October 2027. \n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\nOverview\n\n\n\nThe Interpersonal Mindfulness Programme offers participants a systematic method for cultivating mindfulness within the context of their relational lives. Extending practice beyond the personal to the interpersonal and social domains of life allows for healing and growth for everyone.  \n\n\n\n\nThe philosophical and scientific roots of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction and other mindfulness based-interventions help reduce suffering and and increase wellbeing. They are a force for good in public health\, offering accessible and empowering ways for people to actively participate in their own health and wellness.  \n\n\n\n\nThe Interpersonal Mindfulness Programme goes a step further\, offering a relational mindfulness practice drawn from the foundations of Insight Dialogue (Interpersonal Meditation). Designed specifically to be practiced within live interaction\, this approach cultivates awareness in the midst of relationship\, fostering insight into the stress\, reactivity\, and habitual patterns that arise in connection with others.  \n\n\n\nWhat’s the format?\n\n\n\n\n\nThe residential training is offered over nine days in person at the Ammerdown Retreat Centre. \n\n\n\nThe first two and a half days of this training are presented primarily in retreat form. During this period\, participants will be immersed\, experientially\, in the nine-session course curriculum. Silence is practiced throughout this part of the retreat except when meditators are guided in dialogue together. This immersive\, experiential approach to learning allows participants to internalise the relational meditation guidelines before going on to teach them.  \n\n\n\nDuring the subsequent six-day training period\, participants engage in relational practice as well as guiding and being guided in teach-backs and in small and large groups. These interactive exercises deepen participants’ experiential understanding of the meditation guidelines\, contemplative themes\, and cultivate their teaching presence and skill. A comprehensive handbook containing the full curriculum will be supplied to participants to support learning and teaching.  \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nThe training objectives\n\n\n\nThe training objectives include: \n\n\n\n\nCultivating the skills required to guide Insight Dialogue–based practices\, including guidelines\, themes\, and choreographed relational practice sequences; \n\n\n\nDeveloping a theoretical understanding of relational mindfulness methods\, skills and practices;\n\n\n\nExploring and experiencing the six guidelines of Insight Dialogue within the Interpersonal Mindfulness Programme;\n\n\n\nExpanding and enriching teachers’ embodied capacity as a vehicle to communicate and interact effectively with programme participants;\n\n\n\nDeepening understanding of the dialogue themes included in the programme\, as well as the nature and causes of relational stress.\n\n\n\n\nWho is the training for?\n\n\n\nThe programme is for mindfulness teachers who wish to teach the Interpersonal Mindfulness programme to graduates of an eight-week mindfulness course or to people who have prior meditation experience and the permission of the teacher. The training may also be of interest to health care professionals\, who fulfil the prerequisites\, who wish to deepen their presence in working relationships. \n\n\n\nYou do not need a clinical or psychotherapy background to do this training. \n\n\n\nThe teacher trainers\n\n\n\n\n\nRosalie Dores\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRosalie Dores is a mindfulness teacher\, supervisor and trainer. She teaches Insight Dialogue retreats and Interpersonal Mindfulness courses. She is an associate of The Mindfulness Network CIC.. She serves on the Insight Dialogue Community Teachers’ Council and mentors new teachers. Rosalie is dedicated to offering teachings that engage at the interface between ancient wisdom and the challenges of our modern world. She recognises interpersonal meditation addresses the urgent need for a meditative practice that incorporates the social and interpersonal domains of human experience as intrinsic to awakening. She co-teaches courses and workshops dedicated to raising awareness about climate and social justice. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPhyllis Hicks \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPhyllis K Hicks has been practicing insight meditation since 1998.  She is inspired by the transformative power of bringing mindfulness and wisdom to relational practices and everyday life.  Invited to train as an Insight Dialogue teacher in 2003\, she began co teaching retreats with Gregory Kramer and has offered ID retreats internationally with many in the ID Teaching Community. With Florence Meleo Meyer and Gregory Kramer\, she co-developed the Interpersonal Mindfulness Program (IMP).  She and Florence lead IMP Teacher Trainings and guide an international team of IMP Teachers called the “Gardeners” who tend the ongoing development of the program. Retiring as a psychotherapist and Counseling Institute Director of 35 years\, she continues to offer retreats\, teacher training\, serve on the IDC Teachers Council\, and teach Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) at Duke Integrative Medicine.  \n\n\n\nKevin Fong\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nKevin Fong is a teacher trainer\, supervisor\, and certification assessor for MBSR (Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction). As an International Advisor\, trainer\, and Retreat Lead for the Oxford Mindfulness Foundation (UK)\, he has been teaching Insight Dialogue and Interpersonal Mindfulness programs since 2016. His work focuses on integrating evidence-based approaches with ancient wisdom for modern living\, with a particular interest in relational mindfulness and deepening practice through retreats. Kevin offers silent retreats\, classes\, and workshops in English\, Cantonese\, and Mandarin Chinese. \n\n\n\n\n\n\nPrerequisites for the training \n\n\n\n\n\nA regular personal silent meditation practice;\n\n\n\nParticipation in at least one 5-10 day in person\, residential silent retreat led by a teacher;\n\n\n\nParticipation in at least one 5 to 7 day in-person Insight Dialogue or Relational Mindfulness retreats. A list of upcoming retreats may be found here;\n\n\n\nParticipation in an eight-week Interpersonal Mindfulness Programme course (in your native language if possible). Find the eight-week Interpersonal Mindfulness Programme here. You can also find this eight-week course offered by our collaborating partners on Relational Mindfulness Collaborative’s website and in Cantonese and Mandarin on ATINAT’s website\, and on teacher Rosalie Dores’ website;\n\n\n\nHave undergone professional training as an MBCT/MBSR teacher (or another recognised mindfulness programme. Other professional training backgrounds can be considered on a case-by-case basis);\n\n\n\nHave taught at least three cycles of MBCT/MBSR or have equivalent experience or accreditation as a mindfulness teacher.\n\n\n\n\nIf you have met most of the prerequisites but not all\, it may still be possible to do the teacher training retreat.  Please contact us to explore this option.  \n\n\n\nIf you are interested in this training you can either \n\n\n\n\nwatch the Interpersonal Mindfulness information & taster session or\n\n\n\njoin an online information & taster session 10 October 2026\, both led by Rosalie Dores and Kevin Fong of the IMP teaching team.\n\n\n\n\nVisit this page to see the full teacher training pathway to becoming a teacher of the eight-week Interpersonal Mindfulness Programme. \n\n\n\nCost of residential teacher training \n\n\n\nThe prices below include full board (room and all meals) and all tuition fees and materials. Please indicate your room type preferences on your application form. Room types will be allocated on a first come\, first served basis and will also take into account any accessibility or support needs.   \n\n\n\nEarly birds rates until 1 December 2026 (pay non-refundable deposit)\n\n\n\n\nSingle occupancy ensuite room: £2200\n\n\n\nSingle occupancy with shared bathroom (bathroom is shared between two bedrooms) £2000\n\n\n\n\nStandard rates from 2 December 2026 and later\n\n\n\n\nSingle occupancy ensuite room: £2500\n\n\n\nSingle occupancy with shared bathroom (bathroom is shared between two bedrooms) £ 2300\n\n\n\nNon-refundable deposit £700 \n\n\n\n\nApplication process\n\n\n\n\nClick here to complete an application form. It will then be sent to the teaching team for review.\n\n\n\n\n\nOnce your application has been accepted\, we will send you the deposit payment link to pay your £700 non-refundable deposit.\n\n\n\n\n\nThe relevant balance of your payment will need to be made. The amount depends on the date you apply (before or after the early bird rate).\n\n\n\n\nBursaries\n\n\n\nWe have a limited number of modest bursary places which offer a small reduction of not more than several hundred pounds reduction.  If you would not otherwise be able to attend without this\, please specify this in the application form. As we need to cover our costs\, we may not be able to decide on bursary places until a few months prior to the event itself. \n\n\n\nIf you have any questions about this training\, please don’t hesitate to email us at spft.smc@nhs.net. \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nYou can book your place here:
URL:https://sussexmindfulnesscentre.nhs.uk/event/teaching-presence-in-relationship-an-interpersonal-mindfulness-teacher-training/
CATEGORIES:IMP,Teacher training
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