Overview
Mindfulness
Mindfulness is a way of paying attention to the present moment, so we can bring awareness and acceptance. It involves:

• Focusing our attention on our present-moment experience, e.g., our breathing or bodily sensations
• Guiding the attention back to the present, each time the mind wanders (it will) 
• Doing so with a sense of patience and gentleness

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
MBCT is an established 8-week group course that helps people to understand the patterns of the mind and learn to work with them in a new way. It combines mindfulness meditation practice with the tools of cognitive therapy. It can help people learn to:

• Become more aware of their thoughts and feelings
• Notice unhelpful thoughts and feelings, accept them, and let them go
• Relate to themselves more kindly
• Respond to difficulties and stress more wisely

Benefits of MBCT

• Clinically proven for reducing symptoms of depression
• Can increase overall mental health and wellbeing
• Highly effective in preventing depressive relapse 

The strongest evidence is that MBCT can help people who are currently well but who have suffered from three or more episodes of depression in the past. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends MBCT for this group of people as a way to stay well and prevent relapse. It has been found to be as effective as maintenance doses of antidepressants. There is also growing evidence that mindfulness courses can help other problems as well, including chronic pain, stress and some types of anxiety.

Cost
£250 per person.

Format​

• 8 x 2 hour sessions, delivered weekly
• Delivered live online through video conferencing (zoom)
• Home practice activities for 45-60 minutes each day
• 6 hour all-day retreat on a Saturday or Sunday (does not require interaction, so it can also be followed independently at your own convenience)​
• 6-12 participants per course
• Each session includes a mixture of mindfulness practice, discussion about this practice and exercises from cognitive therapy
• Participants do not need to share their personal histories in the group, no one is asked to do anything they don’t want to

Takeaways
Everyone who completes the course gets:

• A certificate of attendance
• A handbook to refer to whenever you need it
• Access to guided meditations

Technical Requirements
For the best possible experience participants require:

• A computer, laptop, MacBook or tablet with speakers, microphone, and video capabilities 

joining from a smartphone is not recommended

• A stable high-speed internet connection
• Private space where you can work uninterrupted
• Access to zoom video conferencing (it is free to download)
• Click here to review the system requirements for zoom
• Click here to try out a zoom test meeting