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SUMMARY:Mindfulness-based approaches for fatigue management
DESCRIPTION:Supporting people to live with fatigue\, uncertainty and changing capacity\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThis one-day online workshop explores how mindfulness can offer a compassionate and practical approach to living with persistent and complex fatigue\, such as long COVID and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. It enables participants to consider appropriate adaptions of mindfulness-based approaches for people living with these long-term health conditions. \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\nContext\n\n\n\nFatigue can profoundly affect how people live\, work\, move\, relate to others and participate in everyday life. It is a common and often disabling feature of many long-term health conditions\, including Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)\, Long Covid\, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome\, functional neurological disorder and fibromyalgia. \n\n\n\n\nFor people living with persistent and complex fatigue\, self-management can be challenging. It may involve adjusting expectations\, changing familiar patterns of activity\, finding a different relationship with rest and activity\, and adapting to changes in identity\, roles and abilities. Alongside the symptoms themselves\, people may also experience uncertainty\, stigma and misunderstanding. \n\n\n\nWhat is covered?\n\n\n\nThis one-day online workshop explores how mindfulness can offer a compassionate and practical approach to some of these challenges. \n\n\n\nThe approach has been developed collaboratively with people living with fatigue within NHS services. Drawing on Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) and Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)\, the programme has been adapted to recognise the particular needs and experiences of people living with significant and fluctuating fatigue. \n\n\n\nThe workshop will explore not only how mindfulness practices can be adapted\, but also consider specific intentions in mindfulness programmes including  approaches to movement\, rest\, activity and participation. We will consider what it means to practise mindfulness when energy and capacity are limited or unpredictable. \n\n\n\nWhat’s the format?\n\n\n\nThe workshop will combine accessible teaching and discussion with experiential mindfulness practices. \n\n\n\nThere will be opportunities to reflect on the practices and concepts in small groups and to consider how the material relates to your own experience and/or professional work. \n\n\n\nYou are invited to come as you are. There is no expectation that you will participate in every practice or activity. The day will encourage awareness of your own energy\, capacity and self-management\, alongside consideration of how we can create safer and more inclusive mindfulness spaces for people living with fatigue. \n\n\n\nThe session will be recorded\, so that you can return to the material afterwards and pace your engagement with the workshop according to your own needs. \n\n\n\nWho is this for?\n\n\n\nThe workshop is intended for: \n\n\n\n\nMindfulness teachers and trainees.\n\n\n\nTherapists and other health professionals working with people experiencing persistent or complex fatigue.\n\n\n\nPeople living with ME/CFS\, Long Covid and other fatiguing conditions who are interested in mindfulness-based approaches.\n\n\n\nOthers with an interest in developing more compassionate and accessible approaches to mindfulness and fatigue.\n\n\n\n\nNo previous experience of mindfulness teaching is required. \n\n\n\nWhere?\n\n\n\nThe workshop will be online\, and you will receive your link after you have booked. \n\n\n\nThe facilitator \n\n\n\n Fiona Mckechnie\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFiona is an Occupational Therapist with over 35 years’ experience of meditation and yoga and completed an MSc in Mindfulness-Based Approaches at Bangor University in 2016. She is a mindfulness supervisor and trainer and is currently Joint Service Lead for the Bristol NHS Foundation Trust ME/CFS Service. \n\n\n\nShe has worked in NHS and independent ME/CFS services since 1998 and is a Trustee of the British Association of Clinicians in ME/CFS (BACME).Fiona has several publications including Mindfulness based therapy for fatigue  Mckechnie 2023 and chapters in  Occupational Therapists guide to sleep  2015(ed Brown and Green\, Jessica Kinglesy publications and in The Palgrave Handbook of Third-Wave Psychotherapies. She was contributor to and editor of British Association of Clinicians in ME/CFS (BACME) therapy Guide 2015 and 2024 \n\n\n\nShe was a contributor to\, and editor of\, the British Association of Clinicians in ME/CFS (BACME) Therapy Guide (2015 and 2024). \n\n\n\n\n\n\nCertificate\n\n\n\nIf you would like a certificate of attendance\, you can request this after the event. \n\n\n\nBooking\n\n\n\nThe cost of the workshop 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.   \n\n\n\nYou can book here
URL:https://sussexmindfulnesscentre.nhs.uk/event/mindfulness-based-approaches-for-fatigue-management/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:Masterclass,Workshop
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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:20260909T092721Z
CREATED:20251215T160427Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260909T092721Z
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\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 14 November 2026.\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.\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 & Compassion 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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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20270420T150000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20270420T170000
DTSTAMP:20260728T113618Z
CREATED:20260610T134736Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T113618Z
UID:10003065-1808233200-1808240400@sussexmindfulnesscentre.nhs.uk
SUMMARY:Compassionate Leadership Training course for health and social care leaders -Thursday afternoon
DESCRIPTION:Compassionate Leadership Training for health and social care leaders. Compassionate leadership is linked with improved learning and innovation\, and reduced staff stress\, injuries and absenteeism\, and even reduced patient mortality. \n\n\n\nThere are six online two-hour sessions on Thursdays (3-5pm) from 20 April until 25 May 2027.  \n\n\n\nFollowing this\, there will be optional monthly follow-up sessions to review our learning and practice. The dates for these are Thursday 10 Jun 4-5pm\, Wednesday 14 July 4-5pm\, Wednesday 15 September 4-5pm\, Tuesday 19 October 4-5pm\, Monday 15 Nov 4-5pm\, Thursday 16 December 4-5pm. \n\n\n\nOverview \n\n\n\nAt the heart of compassion is the notion that everyone experiences difficulty\, and that we can all play a role in alleviating our own difficulties and those of others. Whether this is compassion for ourselves or the people we lead\, people who lead us\, colleagues or service users. We won’t always feel like helping and will sometimes be tired or overwhelmed or unable to connect. \n\n\n\nAlthough it helps to have positive feelings\, we do not have to feel compassion to be compassionate. We can recognise our physical and mental state\, resource ourselves as best we can\, and respond from our firm compassionate intention\, rather than from impulse or intense emotion. \n\n\n\nHow does this translate into compassion in health\, social care and other organisations? How might we think about compassionate leadership\, working with colleagues\, service users and their friends and families? Prof Michael West has spent his career answering this question\, pointing to research that shows how compassionate leadership is linked with improved learning and innovation\, and reduced staff stress\, injuries and absenteeism\, and even reduced patient mortality. In short\, compassion is essential to high quality healthcare. \n\n\n\nWho is the course for?\n\n\n\nThe course is for anyone in a leadership role within Health and Social Care and will combine experiential practice and reflection\, as well as home practice to help cultivate compassion for ourselves and the people we lead. \n\n\n\nWhat is the format of the course?\n\n\n\nThe course combines in-session mindfulness and compassion practice with reflection and discussion\, as well as an invitation for home mindfulness and compassion practice to help cultivate compassion for ourselves and the people we lead and work with. \n\n\n\nFacilitators\n\n\n\nClara Strauss\n\n\n\n\n\n\nProfessor Clara Strauss\n\n\n\nClara is Co-Lead (Research) for the Sussex Mindfulness & Compassion. She is a consultant clinical psychologist\, mindfulness teacher and clinical researcher. In her research\, Clara is particularly interested in developing and evaluating new forms of mindfulness-based intervention (MBI)\, especially for those people who may not be willing or able to access MBCT. Along with other members of her research team\, Clara has been evaluating MBIs for people experiencing depression\, for people distressed by hearing voices and for people experiencing obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). This research has also included research with NHS staff\, university students and the wider population. \n\n\n\n\n\n\nNicky Mouat\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nNicky is a Registered Nurse and Mental Health Practitioner with more than thirty years of experience working in both mental health and general nursing for the NHS and equivalent\, in the UK and Australia. \n\n\n\nShe completed her mindfulness training at the Sussex Mindfulness & Compassion in 2015 after finding mindfulness practice transformative in her personal life. She is now a freelance mindfulness practitioner and teaches mindfulness for wellbeing\, depression\, addiction\, and long-term health conditions in the NHS and charity settings. She is also a supervisor\, assessor and trainer of mindfulness teachers. She has a Masters Degree in Medical Anthropology\, and specialised in how experiences of trauma are experienced and communicated across cultures. \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\nHow to book\n\n\n\nThe cost of this course is £200. \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. \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
URL:https://sussexmindfulnesscentre.nhs.uk/event/compassionate-leadership-training-course-for-health-and-social-care-leaders-thursday-morning-2/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:Compassion,Workplace
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20270507T090000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20270507T170000
DTSTAMP:20261023T120316Z
CREATED:20261023T095836Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261023T120316Z
UID:10003157-1809680400-1809709200@sussexmindfulnesscentre.nhs.uk
SUMMARY:Trauma-informed and effective mindfulness teaching
DESCRIPTION:This workshop draws on clinical research and lived experience to work with trauma in mindfulness-based work. \n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nWhat is covered?\n\n\n\nThis training will enable you to identify signs of trauma in your participants and provide practical ways of helping participants manage it. It will help you understand what challenges and adaptations you may need to make to your standard teaching to help support people with trauma histories. \n\n\n\nWe approach the training from different perspectives: clinicians working in the field of trauma\, researchers discussing the evidence base for what we know is effective\, and service users sharing their experience of what worked and what didn’t work.  \n\n\n\nThe masterclass will also cover ways of making mindfulness more inclusive and accessible for adults who identify as neurodivergent. \n\n\n\nWho is this for?\n\n\n\nThis masterclass is for those people working in the field of mindfulness. It is part of the core teacher training programmes. It is open to anybody who is trained or training to be mindfulness or mindful self-compassion teachers. \n\n\n\nPlease note\, current trainees on our teacher training courses (MBCT/MBSR and Brief 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\n\nRobert Marx\n\n\n\n\n\nRobert Marx\n\n\n\nRobert Marx is a clinical psychologist and psychotherapist and has been teaching mindfulness to patients and staff in the NHS for 18 years. He teaches Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy and Mindful Self-Compassion. He has been practising meditation for over 30 years. He is passionate about building compassionate cultures in organisations and about integrating relational and mindful approaches to work. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nClara Strauss\n\n\n\n\nClara Strauss\n\n\n\nClara is co-lead (Research) for the Sussex Mindfulness & Compassion. She is a consultant clinical psychologist\, mindfulness teacher and clinical researcher. In her research\, Clara is particularly interested in developing and evaluating new forms of mindfulness-based intervention (MBI)\, especially for those people who may not be willing or able to access MBCT. Along with other members of her research team\, Clara has been evaluating MBIs for people experiencing depression\, for people distressed by hearing voices and for people experiencing obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). This research has also included research with NHS staff\, university students and the wider population. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRichard Gilpin\n\n\n\n\n\nRichard Gilpin\n\n\n\nRichard is a mindfulness teacher\, counsellor and cognitive-behavioural psychotherapist. He has trained extensively in mindfulness-based practices since the 1990s and has been facilitating MBCT courses since 2007. He is the author of two self-help books: Mindfulness for Black Dogs and Blue Days (2012) and Mindfulness for Unravelling Anxiety (2016). His Masters research on MBCT was published in 2008. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\nHannah Rudd\n\n\n\n\n\nHannah Rudd\n\n\n\nHannah is autistic and works as an administrator for Sussex Mindfulness & Compassion. She is a volunteer advocate for Sussex Mindfulness & Compassion and also volunteers as a ward befriender in acute mental health wards at the Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. \n\n\n\nHannah is passionate about helping to make mindfulness and Mindful Self-Compassion courses more neuroinclusive and she is currently undertaking mindfulness teacher training with Sussex Mindfulness & Compassion\, and will soon be training to become a Mindful Self-Compassion teacher.  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCertificates\n\n\n\n If you would like a certificate of attendance\, you can request this after the event. \n\n\n\nBooking\n\n\n\nThe cost of the 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 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/trauma-informed-and-effective-mindfulness-teaching-4/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:Masterclass,Teacher training
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DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20271022T150000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20271030T160000
DTSTAMP:20261020T091226Z
CREATED:20260306T104835Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261020T091226Z
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 teacher training retreat 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\nTo find out more about how interpersonal mindfulness can be integrated into and benefit both everyday life and therapeutic settings\, you can read the article ‘Cultivating-Mindfulness-in-Relationship’ here. \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\nThe training is open to experienced MBCT/MBSR teachers who have taught at least 3 groups\, and to teachers of other recognised mindfulness programmes. Psychological therapists and counsellors will also be considered on a case-by-case basis. Applicants will have a personal regular meditation practice and will have sat a five-day silent retreat.  \n\n\n\nThe two pre-requisites are:  \n\n\n\n1) Participation 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 online or in person 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\n2) Participation in at least one 5 to 7 day in-person Insight Dialogue or Relational Mindfulness retreat. A list of upcoming retreats may be found here; \n\n\n\nIf you have not met both prerequisites\, it may still be possible to do the teacher training retreat.  Your experience will be considered on a case by case basis.  Please contact us to explore this option.  \n\n\n\nPlease note that a further 5 to 7 day in-person or online Insight Dialogue or Relational Mindfulness retreat is required before teaching the programme but this can be completed after the training \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\nregister your interest by 31 December 2026 by entering your email address at the bottom of the page\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 28 February 2027 \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 1 March 2027 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\n\nApplication process\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\nWe encourage you to please register your interest for this teacher training retreat by 31 December 2026\, by entering your email address below.\n\n\n\nClick here to complete an application form. It will then be sent to the teaching team for review.\n\n\n\nOnce your application has been accepted\, we will send you the deposit payment link to pay a £500 deposit.\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\nPlease register your interest for this teacher training here:
URL:https://sussexmindfulnesscentre.nhs.uk/event/teaching-presence-in-relationship-an-interpersonal-mindfulness-teacher-training/
CATEGORIES:IMP,Teacher training
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DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20271104T150000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20271104T170000
DTSTAMP:20260723T160108Z
CREATED:20260610T135519Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260723T160108Z
UID:10003066-1825340400-1825347600@sussexmindfulnesscentre.nhs.uk
SUMMARY:Compassionate Leadership Training course for health and social care leaders -Thursday afternoon
DESCRIPTION:Compassionate Leadership Training for health and social care leaders. Compassionate leadership is linked with improved learning and innovation\, and reduced staff stress\, injuries and absenteeism\, and even reduced patient mortality. \n\n\n\nSix two-hour online sessions on Thursdays\, from 4 November until 9 December 2027.  \n\n\n\nFollowing this\, there will be optional monthly follow-up sessions to review our learning and practice. The date for 2027 is Thursday 16 December 4-5pm. Dates for 2028 will be published here shortly. \n\n\n\nOverview \n\n\n\nAt the heart of compassion is the notion that everyone experiences difficulty\, and that we can all play a role in alleviating our own difficulties and those of others. Whether this is compassion for ourselves or the people we lead\, people who lead us\, colleagues or service users. We won’t always feel like helping and will sometimes be tired or overwhelmed or unable to connect. \n\n\n\nAlthough it helps to have positive feelings\, we do not have to feel compassion to be compassionate. We can recognise our physical and mental state\, resource ourselves as best we can\, and respond from our firm compassionate intention\, rather than from impulse or intense emotion. \n\n\n\nHow does this translate into compassion in health\, social care and other organisations? How might we think about compassionate leadership\, working with colleagues\, service users and their friends and families? Prof Michael West has spent his career answering this question\, pointing to research that shows how compassionate leadership is linked with improved learning and innovation\, and reduced staff stress\, injuries and absenteeism\, and even reduced patient mortality. In short\, compassion is essential to high quality healthcare. \n\n\n\nWho is the course for?\n\n\n\nThe course is for anyone in a leadership role within Health and Social Care and will combine experiential practice and reflection\, as well as home practice to help cultivate compassion for ourselves and the people we lead. \n\n\n\nWhat is the format of the course?\n\n\n\nThe course combines in-session mindfulness and compassion practice with reflection and discussion\, as well as an invitation for home mindfulness and compassion practice to help cultivate compassion for ourselves and the people we lead and work with. \n\n\n\nFacilitators\n\n\n\nRobert Marx\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRobert is Co-Lead (Training) for the Sussex Mindfulness & Compassion. He is a consultant clinical psychologist and has been involved in running mindfulness groups for staff and patients since 2006. He also trains and supervises others doing mindfulness work. He is interested in relational mindfulness and in adaptations of Mindfulness-based Interventions using compassion practices. \n\n\n\n\n\n\nRuth Sequeira\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRuth Sequeira is as senior trainer\, supervisor and mindfulness teacher for the Sussex Mindfulness & Compassion. 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\nBooking\n\n\n\nThe cost of this course is £200. \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. \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
URL:https://sussexmindfulnesscentre.nhs.uk/event/compassionate-leadership-training-course-for-health-and-social-care-leaders-thursday-morning-3/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:Compassion,Workplace
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