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  • Mindfulness eight-week course: Friday mornings

    Mindfulness eight-week course: Friday mornings

    23 January 2026 at 09:30 to 11:30

    This course will help improve wellbeing and give you tools to respond to the stresses and strains of everyday life. It has been developed for the general population, and is based on the original Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy course .

    Overview​

    This course helps participants develop greater awareness of their thoughts, emotions, and experiences which in turn helps cultivate resilience and reduce low-mood and anxiety. It combines mindfulness practices and cognitive-behavioural techniques. There is increasing evidence that shows mindfulness is effective for reducing low-mood, and helping to improve wellbeing and resilience.

    Who is it for?

    This course has been adapted for members of the general public who are looking to improve their wellbeing and discover tools to help with the general stresses and strains of everyday life. Taking this course also counts as one of the requirements for joining our mindfulness teacher training, if this is something you may be interested in.

    Please note, this course may not be suitable for everyone. If you are experiencing mental health issues, you should talk to your GP about being referred to the appropriate clinical service. Many NHS services now provide MBCT free of charge for people with mental health difficulties. You can find details on referrals and self-referral here.

    When?

    Friday mornings from 9.30 to 11.30 starting on 30 January and running to 20 March 2026. The orientation session is on Friday 23 January.

    To get the benefits of this course it is helpful if you can attend all the sessions. If you cannot attend all the sessions (see above dates) then it may be better for you to wait for another course when you can.

    Where?

    Online. You will get Zoom log-in details when your place is confirmed.

    The format of the course?

    The course will involve:

    • Two-hour orientation session at the start to find out what to expect during the course and ask any questions you may have
    • Daily meditation home practice of between 20 to 40 minutes
    • Eight weekly two-hour classes including mindfulness practices, discussion and exercises
    • An optional one-day online retreat

    The course involves mindfulness meditation practices of up to 30 minutes in each group session, and recommended daily home practice of between 20-40 minutes. These will be guided by the mindfulness teacher in each session, and via audio recordings for the home practice. Everything is optional, and you are encouraged only to do what feels safe and comfortable for you. The practices may involve lying down, sitting, walking and other forms of movement.

    In the sessions, the mindfulness teacher will invite group members to share their experiences of practice. Again this is completely optional, and you are encouraged to share only what you are comfortable with. The sessions will include smaller-group discussions, typically with two to four people. If the class is online these discussions will be via break out rooms.

    Facilitator

    Robert Marx

    Portrait of Robert Marx

    Robert is Co-Lead (Training) for the Sussex Mindfulness Centre. He is a consultant clinical psychologist and has been involved in running mindfulness groups for staff and patients since 2006. He also trains and supervises others doing mindfulness work. He is interested in relational mindfulness and in adaptations of Mindfulness-based Interventions using compassion practices.

    Robert Marx will be supported by assistant teacher trainee Sadie Lunn.

    How to book

    Please note, we ask all those who book a place on this course to fill in an application form that will be sent to the facilitators. If you haven’t already, please head here to fill in the form.

    he cost of the eight-week course is £250. We also offer a choice of two other options:

    • £275 – Supporting rate. You can support other participants to attend who are on a low income.
    • £225 – Supported rate, if you find yourself on a low income.

    You can book here below

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  • Mindfulness eight-week course for SPFT staff: Wednesday evenings

    Mindfulness eight-week course for SPFT staff: Wednesday evenings

    21 January 2026 at 18:00 to 20:00

    This course will help improve wellbeing and give you tools to respond to the stresses and strains of everyday life. It has been developed for the general population, and is based on the original Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy course .

    Overview​

    This course helps participants develop greater awareness of their thoughts, emotions, and experiences which in turn helps cultivate resilience and reduce low-mood and anxiety. It combines mindfulness practices and cognitive-behavioural techniques. There is increasing evidence that shows mindfulness is effective for reducing low-mood, and helping to improve wellbeing and resilience.

    Who is it for?

    This course has been adapted for members of the general public who are looking to improve their wellbeing and discover tools to help with the general stresses and strains of everyday life. Taking this course also counts as one of the requirements for joining our mindfulness teacher training, if this is something you may be interested in.

    Please note, this course may not be suitable for everyone. If you are experiencing mental health issues, you should talk to your GP about being referred to the appropriate clinical service. Many NHS services now provide MBCT free of charge for people with mental health difficulties. You can find details on referrals and self-referral here.

    When?

    Wednesday evenings from 6pm to 8pm starting on 28 January and running to 25 March 2026. (No session 18 February). The orientation session is on Wednesday 21 January.

    To get the benefits of this course it is helpful if you can attend all the sessions. If you cannot attend all the sessions (see above dates) then it may be better for you to wait for another course when you can.

    Where?

    Online. You will get Zoom log-in details when your place is confirmed.

    The format of the course?

    The course will involve:

    • Two-hour orientation session at the start to find out what to expect during the course and ask any questions you may have
    • Daily meditation home practice of between 20 to 40 minutes
    • Eight weekly two-hour classes including mindfulness practices, discussion and exercises
    • An optional one-day online retreat

    The course involves mindfulness meditation practices of up to 30 minutes in each group session, and recommended daily home practice of between 20-40 minutes. These will be guided by the mindfulness teacher in each session, and via audio recordings for the home practice. Everything is optional, and you are encouraged only to do what feels safe and comfortable for you. The practices may involve lying down, sitting, walking and other forms of movement.

    In the sessions, the mindfulness teacher will invite group members to share their experiences of practice. Again this is completely optional, and you are encouraged to share only what you are comfortable with. The sessions will include smaller-group discussions, typically with two to four people. If the class is online these discussions will be via break out rooms.

    Facilitator

    Nicky Mouat

    Portrait of Nicky Mouat

    Nicky 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.

    She completed her mindfulness training at the Sussex Mindfulness Centre 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.

    As a BAMBA UK registered teacher, she follows the Good Practice Guidelines, receives supervision for her teaching, and attends regular retreats and training.

    Nicky Mouat will be supported by assistant teacher trainee Georgie Hobbs.

    How to book

    Please fill in the application form here . We will be in touch once your place is confirmed.

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  • Mindful Self-Compassion course: eight weeks on Wednesday evenings

    Mindful Self-Compassion course: eight weeks on Wednesday evenings

    15 October at 18:15 to 21:00

    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.

    Overview​

    How 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?

    In 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 how this can help us to be more resilient in difficult situations. We also learn to be less judgemental and more caring. And we will see how this can reduce anxiety, leaving us more open to making helpful changes in our lives.

    The course creates a safe, supportive environment. There are three core components:

    • mindfulness (being present with whatever is happening)
    • self-kindness (treating ourselves with care rather than criticism)
    • common humanity (recognising our suffering as part of the shared human experience)
      ​

    Some of the main topics we cover are:

    • handling difficult emotions
    • transforming the inner critic
    • cultivating core values
    • meeting unmet needs

    The weekly sessions include:

    • guided meditations
    • short talks
    • discussion, including in small groups
    • experiential exercises
    • resources to support home practice

    The 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.

    ​ Find out more about our Mindful Self-Compassion course here.

    Who is this course for?

    This course is designed for the general public, 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.

    When?

    Wednesday evenings from 6.15pm to 9pm (BST). The course starts with a 1.5 hour orientation on 15 October 2025 at 6.15pm and then runs until 17 December 2025, including a retreat session. In total the course runs for 10 weeks. See below

    Orientation: 15 October 2025 (1.5 hours)
    Session 1: 22 October 2025 (2.75 hours)
    Session 2: 29 October 2025 (2.75 hours)
    Session 3: 5 November 2025 (2.75 hours)
    Session 4: 12 November 2025 (2.75 hours)
    Retreat Session: 19 November 2025 (2.75 hours)
    Session 5: 26 November 2025 (2.75 hours)
    Session 6: 3 December 2025 (2.75 hours)
    Session 7: 10 December 2025 (2.75 hours)
    Session 8: 17 December 2025 (2.75 hours)

    Where?

    Online. You will get Zoom log-in details when your place is confirmed.

    The format of the course?

    • Orientation session of 1.5 hours.
    • Eight weekly two and three quarter hour classes with a 15 minute break in the middle
    • A two and three quarter hour retreat session.
    • The course follows the programme outlined in the Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook by Christopher Germer and Kristin Neff. It is recommended that you buy this book to accompany the course, but it’s not essential.
    • Daily meditation home practice of up to 30 minutes is suggested.

    Facilitators

    Annie Akasati McAuley

    Portrait of Annie Akasati

    Mindfulness 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).

    I 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.

    Julia Powell

    Julia Powell

    Mindfulness 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 in 2017, I have been teaching mindfulness courses since then. Apart from Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy, I am also trained to teach Mindfulness for Life, Finding Peace in a Frantic World and Mindful Self-Compassion. I offer 121 mindfulness coaching sessions, am a mindfulness teaching supervisor and run mindfulness courses for the Sussex Mindfulness Centre.

    ​

    How to book

    Please note we ask all those who book 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 fill in the form.

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  • Compassionate Leadership Training for health and social care leaders on Monday afternoons

    Compassionate Leadership Training for health and social care leaders on Monday afternoons

    9 February 2026 at 15:00 to 17:00 GMT

    Compassionate leadership is linked with improved learning and innovation, and reduced staff stress, injuries and absenteeism, and even reduced patient mortality.

    There are six online sessions on Mondays from 9 February until 16 March. Following this, there will be monthly follow-up sessions to review our learning and practice. The dates for this are currently being organised. 

    Overview

    At 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, the people we lead, colleagues or service users. We won’t always feel like helping and will sometimes be tired or overwhelmed or unable to connect. Although 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.

    How does this translate into compassion in health and social care 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.

    Dr Robert Marx and Professor Clara Strauss have designed a training programme of six weekly sessions, lasting two hours each.

    Find out more about Compassionate Leadership Training here. Hear from participants who have done the training in this short video.

    Who is the course for?

    The course is for anyone in a leadership role within health and social care. It will combine experiential practice and reflection, as well as home practice to help cultivate compassion for ourselves and the people we lead.

    Course requirements

    To participate in this course you will need to be able to attend all six sessions. You will need to use Zoom and to be in a private space (not in an open plan office) with the camera on throughout the sessions. This will help you and others to feel more comfortable and able to participate freely. A link will be supplied ahead of the course starting so you can check your equipment is working.

    Please take some time to check that the technical aspects of joining on the Zoom link all work for you and make sure you read the guidelines here ahead of the first session.

    Certificate of attendance

    Attendance is required for all six sessions of this course. If you attend a minimum of four sessions, you can request a Certificate of Attendance on completion of the course. You can request the certificate by dropping us a line at spft.smc@nhs.net.

    Facilitators

    Ruth Sequeira

    Ruth Sequeira

    Ruth 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.

    Catherine Cameron

    Catherine Cameron

    Catherine is a clinical psychologist working within the community-based eating disorders service. She has a particular interest in self-compassion in eating disorders treatments. She co-facilitates the mindful self-compassion course for staff with Robert Marx having trained to facilitate the MSC course in 2014 and before that running MBCT-based Mindfulness for Pain courses in Hove Polyclinic. She is also involved in the mindfulness all day retreats run for those who have attended the eight-week courses within Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

    As a BAMBA UK registered teacher, she follows the Good Practice Guidelines, receives supervision for her teaching, and attends regular retreats and training.

    Waiting list

    This course is now full. If you would like to be added to a waiting list, we can let you know if a space becomes available. We can also let you know as soon as our next course is available to book. Please drop us a line at spft.smc@nhs.net


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  • One-day online mindfulness retreat

    One-day online mindfulness retreat

    6 December at 10:00 to 16:00

    This one-day online mindfulness retreat offers an opportunity to extend and deepen your mindfulness practice, within a supportive environment.

    Content of the day

    The day will be facilitated by the Sussex Mindfulness Centre’s 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.

    Why a one-day retreat?

    A 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.

    Who’s it for?

    This day is right for you if you have attended an eight-week Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy, Mindfulness for Life or Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction course, or have an established mindfulness practice.

    Please 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.

    Certificate of attendance

    This all-day retreat counts towards the requirement to attend silent retreats as part your BAMBA registration as a mindfulness teacher. Certificates of attendance can be supplied on completion of the day’s training, if requested.

    Please note, you’ll need to attend for the whole day. It’s not possible to only come for a portion of the day. The retreats run from 10am to 4pm, and we ask people to join from 9.45am to ensure a prompt start.

    Reserving your place

    This retreat is free to attend, but we would be very grateful for any donations you can spare to help us fund our community courses for disadvantaged populations. You will be invited to add a donation when you book. If you have enquiries please drop us a line at spft.smc@nhs.uk.

    To secure your place you can book here:

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  • Mindfulness eight-week course for SPFT staff: Monday evenings

    Mindfulness eight-week course for SPFT staff: Monday evenings

    13 October at 18:00 to 20:00

    This course will help improve wellbeing and give you tools to respond to the stresses and strains of everyday life. It has been developed for the general population, and is based on the original Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy course .

    Overview​

    This course helps participants develop greater awareness of their thoughts, emotions, and experiences which in turn helps cultivate resilience and reduce low-mood and anxiety. It combines mindfulness practices and cognitive-behavioural techniques. There is increasing evidence that shows mindfulness is effective for reducing low-mood, and helping to improve wellbeing and resilience.

    Who is it for?

    This course has been adapted for members of the general public who are looking to improve their wellbeing and discover tools to help with the general stresses and strains of everyday life. Taking this course also counts as one of the requirements for joining our mindfulness teacher training, if this is something you may be interested in.

    Please note, this course may not be suitable for everyone. If you are experiencing mental health issues, you should talk to your GP about being referred to the appropriate clinical service. Many NHS services now provide MBCT free of charge for people with mental health difficulties. You can find details on referrals and self-referral here.

    When?

    Monday evenings from 6.30pm to 8pm starting on 20 October and running to 15 December 2025, (no session 24 November). The orientation session is on Monday 13 October.

    To get the benefits of this course it is helpful if you can attend all the sessions. If you cannot attend all the sessions (see above dates) then it may be better for you to wait for another course when you can.

    Where?

    Online. You will get Zoom log-in details when your place is confirmed.

    The format of the course?

    The course will involve:

    • Two-hour orientation session at the start to find out what to expect during the course and ask any questions you may have
    • Daily meditation home practice of between 20 to 40 minutes
    • Eight weekly two-hour classes including mindfulness practices, discussion and exercises
    • An optional one-day online retreat

    The course involves mindfulness meditation practices of up to 30 minutes in each group session, and recommended daily home practice of between 20-40 minutes. These will be guided by the mindfulness teacher in each session, and via audio recordings for the home practice. Everything is optional, and you are encouraged only to do what feels safe and comfortable for you. The practices may involve lying down, sitting, walking and other forms of movement.

    In the sessions, the mindfulness teacher will invite group members to share their experiences of practice. Again this is completely optional, and you are encouraged to share only what you are comfortable with. The sessions will include smaller-group discussions, typically with two to four people. If the class is online these discussions will be via break out rooms.

    Facilitator

    Fergal Jones

    Fergal Jones

    Fergal Jones is the convenor for the teacher training programmes for Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy and adapted mindfulness-based interventions. He is a clinical psychologist and cognitive behavioural therapist who completed mindfulness teacher training at the University of Bangor. He currently works part time in Health in Mind, the primary care well-being service that serves East Sussex. He uses mindfulness in his clinical work, supervises other mindfulness teachers and is involved with a number of research projects concerning mindfulness-based interventions.

    Fergal Jones will be supported by assistant teacher trainee Mahsa Akbarzadeh.

    How to book

    Please fill in the application form here. We will be in touch once your place is confirmed.

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