When: 31 May 2024 - 2 Jun 2024
Where: Online Event
Tutor: Frits Koster
About the training:
It is not always easy to communicate in a wise and compassionate way but if we are able to speak and listen with an open and non-judgmental attitude, our work and life will be less exhausting and both participants and clients will benefit. This Interpersonal Mindfulness retreat offers you the opportunity to deepen your own mindfulness practice and to get to know a method that supports you in developing mindfulness, empathy and compassion in the interpersonal sphere.
It is based on the practice of Insight Dialogue (ID) as developed by Gregory Kramer (see www.insightdialogue.org). With Kramer’s permission, two leading mindfulness trainers from the USA, Florence Meleo-Meyer and Phyllis Hicks, have designed a programme based on the principles of ID and intended for mainstream settings. This training is called the Interpersonal Mindfulness Program (IMP) and applies the six guidelines of ID into secular domains of work, such as health and education.
This retreat is aimed at those with an existing mindfulness practice including mindfulness teachers, health care professionals, coaches and other professionals who work with people are also welcome. This experiential exploration of practices and key elements of IMP will take place online which we hope will make it supportive and accessible for people to join. The weekend will include periods of silence and participants are encouraged to maintain silence or minimal verbal contact during the breaks and in the evenings in order to support a deepening of practice.
This weekend could form part of the retreat requirement as part of the BAMBA Good Practice Guidelines for Mindfulness Teachers. However, please note that this retreat does not replace the participation in an 8-week Interpersonal Mindfulness Training or replace participation in an Insight Dialogue Retreat, which are prerequisites for the IMP Teacher Training Programme.
Objectives:
- Becoming familiar with interpersonal mindfulness experientially. - Deepening one's own mindfulness practice and applying it to communication in general.
- Practising with the interpersonal mindfulness guidelines (in pairs or in groups of 3/4) as used in Insight Dialogue: "Pausing", "Relaxing", "Opening", "Attuning to Emergence", "Listening Deeply" and "Speaking the Truth".
- Exploring life themes in meditative dialogue (e.g. reactivity in body and mind, ageing, evaluating, comparing, feelings of superiority and inferiority, desire, different roles in private and social life, change and cultivating healing qualities in communication).
- Refreshing and deepening the practice of mindfulness and compassion.
Scientific background:
Empathy is an important quality in any teacher-student relationship and, as scientific studies have shown, is also very important in the therapist-client relationship (Hick & Bien, 2008; Wilson & Dufrene, 2008). Professionals who work with people are often susceptible to empathy fatigue. Here, MBP‘s can prevent empathy fatigue and other symptoms of burnout and contribute to increased self-compassion, wise self-regulation and empathy skills (Karpowicz et al., 2009; Saunders et al., 2007; Shapiro et al., 2005, 2007). In addition, Porges (2011) and Siegel (2007) have shown that attentive and careful interpersonal attunement has calming effects and leads to a deep inner resonance at the neurobiological level (Porges, 2011; Siegel, 2007). Click here for a first feasibility study on IMP in which Frits Koster was involved as teacher.
Recommended reading:
Kramer, G. (2007). Insight Dialogue - The Interpersonal Path to Freedom. Boston, MA: Shambhala. ·
Koster, F., Heynekamp, J.H., & Norton, V. (editors, 2023): Mindful Communication – Speaking and Listening with Wisdom and Compassion. London: Routledge.
Who is the Training for?:
The Interpersonal Mindfulness retreat weekend is suitable for all who have followed a foundational Mindfulness-Based Programme such as MBSR or MBCT before. All MBP teachers, as well as healthcare professionals, teachers, coaches and other professionals, who wish to experientially deepen the practice of mindfulness in an interpersonal way are welcome.
Pre-requisites:
- Attendance at a mindfulness-based programme such as MBCT or MBSR.
Participants must commit to the entire weekend. Unless there are exceptional circumstances, we are unable to negotiate late arrivals or early leaving. If this is not possible, please contact us to discuss before submitting an application.
Preparation for the event and what you will need:
To participate in the retreat you will need:
- A room where you can close the door and engage in the workshop away from family distractions. Confidentiality must be maintained by ensuring that those who are not at the event cannot see your screen or hear the audio. It may be helpful to use headphones.
- Log in via a computer that is resting on a hard surface and which has audio and a webcam. Please don’t use handheld devices.
- A space for practice, a mat, cushion, and blanket may be helpful for your comfort.
The trainers:
Frits Koster's biography is in a link at the top of this page - just click on his name to find out more about him.
Location:
The retreat will take place via Zoom - a weblink and joining instructions will be sent to you before the workshop takes place.
Please add mindfulness-network.org to your safe senders list and check your spam/junk folder for communication from us.
Timings:
Friday 6.30pm - 8.30pm; Saturday 9.30am - 12.30pm, 2-5pm and optional evening session 7-8.30pm; Sunday 9.30am-12.30pm and 2-5pm;
The weekend will include periods of silence and participants are encouraged to maintain silence or minimal verbal contact during the breaks and in the evenings in order to support a deepening of practice.
Please note all times are UK, BST (British Summer Time).
Our rates:
Our rates have no hidden extras.
Standard rate - £229
Bursary-assisted places are available on this event until three months before the event starts. If it is less than three months before the start date of the event, please get in touch to discuss if an application is possible. When applying for a bursary-assisted place, please first register on the event and select the fee ‘I’m applying for a bursary- assisted place’. Once you have registered for the event you will also need to complete and return a bursary application form.
To find out more about our bursary schemes, criteria for bursary applications and to complete the bursary application form please visit: https://home.mindfulness-network.org/bursaries/
Employer’s rate: Recognising the administrative overhead of dealing with employers, we will add a £50 surcharge if the employer is paying directly; where possible we would advise applicants to pay themselves and reclaim on expenses to avoid the charge.
The application and payment process:
Our application and payment process involves the following steps:
- We receive your application form and assess it to ensure that this event is suitable for you. We endeavour to make assessments within a week.
- Upon offering you a place we will then invoice for the full amount.
- Your place is fully confirmed once we receive your full payment.
- We will email you the joining instructions in advance of the course.
Payment and cancellation policy:
Please read our Terms and Conditions for information regarding payments and cancellations.
Other information:
Please see the British Association of Mindfulness-Based Approaches (BAMBA) for good practice guidelines and other information for mindfulness-based teachers.
Contact us:
Please feel free to email us at training@mindfulness-network.org to discuss any questions you may have about the course or whether it is appropriate for you at this time. We will ensure that your query reaches the correct person.
Click here to sign up to this event.
