Train to teach mindfulness and mindful self-compassion

Photo by Lance Bellers

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Sussex Mindfulness Centre has been offering mindfulness teacher training since 2011. We have 60 members of staff trained in mindfulness-based approaches and a thriving team researching various mindfulness interventions. We are also embedded in a large national network of teachers, trainers and researchers and it is with the collaboration of our partners that we can provide much of this training. Sussex Mindfulness Centre is a member of the British Association of Mindfulness-Based Approaches (BAMBA) – formerly the UK Network of Teacher Training Organisations, which recognises training programmes that meet agreed national minimum standards.

Training programme in adapted mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) 2021
Foundation training in mindfulness-based approaches (MBCT/MBSR) 2021
Mindful Self-compassion (MSC) Teacher Training 2021
UK Mindfulness Centres Collaboration Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) Teacher Training for Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) Services

Training programme in adapted mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs)

2021 Training

Adapted Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBI) Training from SMC on Vimeo.

An ever growing number of people are drawing on mindfulness in their work and using adapted mindfulness based approaches. This training course is for people who wish to train to deliver mindfulness based interventions that are not eight-week programmes such as MBCT or MBSR. It is intended for those who don't need to complete the extensive training required to deliver MBCT/MBSR but who wish to be equipped to use adapted mindfulness based approaches safely and effectively.

The training will start online and then transition to in person delivery as and when it is safe to do so. If/when this happens, participants will retain the option of continuing to join remotely, rather than in person. In 2020, we’ve found that the delivery of the training largely online (via Zoom) has worked well.

Applications are closed for 2021.

Course handbook

Foundation training in mindfulness-based approaches (MBCT/MBSR)

2021 Training

Foundation training in Mindfulness-Based Approaches (MBCTMBSR) from SMC on Vimeo.

This course is designed for people wishing to teach the eight-week MBCT/MBSR programmes. The training uses an apprenticeship approach with a strong emphasis on supervised group facilitation, resting on a firm foundation of theory, regular feedback on teaching practice and daily personal mindfulness practice. Graduates of the training, who have taught two groups of the same curriculum of MBCT or MBSR, are eligible to apply for the national register of teachers.

Course handbook

Mindful Self-compassion (MSC) Teacher Training March 2022

It is with regret that we have had to cancel our course in 2021 due to current Covid-19 restrictions.

We have arranged another face-to-face training course at Ammerdown as part of the MSC European and US events programme. which will run from Monday 21st - Sunday 27th November 2022. The course will be led by Ali Lambie and Zoe Shobbrook-Fisher. Details will be posted here.

As you may be aware it is possible to take MSC Teacher training online in a 12-week non-intensive format instead.

For more details about the programme of online MSC teacher training organised by the Center for Mindful Self-compassion, see their website here

See more about the training pathway here

Please take a look at a f ilm, recorded by Center for MSC Executive Director, Steve Hickman, for people who have signed up for teacher training to to prepare them and outline what to expect both during and after the residential teacher training.

UK Mindfulness Centres Collaboration Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) Teacher Training for Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) Services

We are delighted to announce another fantastic training opportunity for staff in improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) services to train as Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) teachers. The training is being delivered in multiple sites across England from March 2021 up to the end of March 2022 by a collaboration of UK Mindfulness Centres. The teaching and supervision are funded by Health Education England and are provided free of charge to IAPT staff, who, on successful completion of the training, will be able to deliver this NICE approved evidence-based therapeutic approach for people with recurrent depression within IAPT services.

This training is for High Intensity CBT therapists with at least one year’s post-qualification experience, working in IAPT Services. We are enriched by people's diversity on our training and would particularly welcome applications from people from a BAME background. IAPT services are invited to apply to a training course in their assigned locality. IAPT services should work with interested staff to identify their preferred applicants for the training. Closing date: Friday 20th November 2020. For more information, see the training information or contact your lead for your area:

Paul Bernard (tewv.mindfulness@nhs.net) for the North (North East and North West, including Cheshire, Yorkshire and Humberside and further north).
Tim Sweeney (tim.sweeney@nottshc.nhs.uk) for Central England (Midlands and East of England, including Stafford, Derby, Notts and Lincolnshire and as far south as, and including, Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Northants, Essex, East Anglia and Hertfordshire).
Nicole Jamani (mindfulness@exeter.ac.uk) for the South and South-West (including Bucks, Berks, Oxfordshire, Hampshire and further south-west).
Robert Marx (smc@sussexpartnership.nhs.uk) for the South East (covering Greater London, Kent, Surrey, Sussex and Isle of Wight).

Find out more and apply:

For further information about training, please contact smc@sussexpartnership.nhs.uk or call our Sussex Mindfulness Centre Administrator on 0300 304 2057.