When: 2 Feb 2022 - 23 Mar 2022
Where: Online Event
Tutors: Bridgette O'Neill, Sud Ubayasiri, Pauline Gibbs
About the training:
This Teacher Training Course Level One (TTC1) is particularly aimed at people from Black, African, Asian or Caribbean heritage (Africans/Asians/Caribbean of any descent and the African/Asian diaspora) and is also open to other People of Colour who are affected by prejudice due to the colour of their skin.
The training will be led by a multi-cultural team and is part of a broader project which aims to address the current mainstream mindfulness sector’s unbalanced demographic. The learning from this project will inform future initiatives to broaden access to groups/populations/communities who are underrepresented within the mainstream mindfulness world. We encourage you to engage with the training through a curious, critical lens, knowing that the exploration of your lived experience is the central curriculum.
TTC1 is the equivalent to the Teacher Training Retreat Level 1 and shares the same curriculum. However, because the TTC1 takes place over eight weeks, it allows participants to more fully experience the unfolding of the eight-week course structure and to embed the learning in their own practice and life more broadly.
Please note that the first week is an orientation session, followed by seven weeks of practice and learning.
This programme is designed to immerse participants in the principles and practice of mindfulness-based teaching. It starts from the premise that as teachers we need to embody mindfulness-based practice in our own lives before we can attempt to teach it to others. The programme facilitates an opportunity for sustained inner work through practice and learning alongside peers. It is designed to be a collaborative and participatory learning experience.
The training primarily focuses on the teaching process and curriculum of the group-based, eight-week Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) programmes. The underpinning experience and understanding is also valuable for those who wish to integrate mindfulness into individual therapeutic work or teach mindfulness in a different form.
On TTC1, you will learn to teach the Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR) curriculum. The foundational skills, approach and practices that you learn are common to both MBSR and MBCT.
This training offers you an opportunity to learn and practise:
· embodiment
· inquiry
· guiding practices
· professional good practice
The intention is to create a group process that feels safe and trustworthy; an open, spacious learning environment that encourages spontaneity and creativity; and structured learning together.
Learning outcomes:
Teaching skills:
By the end of the training, participants will have:
- practised and developed skills and understanding in guiding mindfulness-based practices and the inquiry process that follows the practice
- experienced the curriculum and themes of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction as the basis of all Mindfulness-Based Programmes (MBP)
- developed an understanding of the ways of learning and teaching within Mindfulness-Based Programmes, including:
- teaching out of one’s own direct embodied experience
- bringing Investigation/exploration/inquiry/curiosity to the learning process
Personal practice:
By the end of the training participants will have:
- developed a grounded understanding of mindfulness as an approach cultivated through on-going personal awareness, in both formal and informal everyday practice, in silence and in dialogue.
- explored the value of mindfulness-based practice as a way of relating to difficulty
- experienced being part of a practice community with a sense of common purpose
Theory and professional issues:
By the end of the training participants will learn about:
- the origins and context of mindfulness in contemporary settings
- the central importance of a commitment to a sustained path of personal development and practice
- the process of assessment and orientation as a vital part of the delivery of mindfulness courses
- the importance of committing to personal/professional supervision and self care for mindfulness teachers
- some of the ethical issues which arise in this work
Please note that participants must commit to the entire training and to doing home practice for up to one hour per day for six days each week; this is a vital ingredient in the learning process.
This course is primarily offered to those who are at an early stage in developing their use of mindfulness-based approaches in their work context. It is also appropriate for those who wish to support their ongoing development in this field, but who have not previously participated in a Teacher Training Retreat Level 1.
Pre-requisites for attending:
- Completion of either a group-based, eight-week MBCT/MBSR course or a nine-week CMRP distance learning MBSR programme (please note if you have an established mindfulness practice but have not yet completed an eight-week course, you could do this during the autumn term 2021. Please email Pauline on pgibbs63@gmail.com or Bridgette on b.oneill@bangor.ac.uk for further details).
- Commitment to an ongoing daily personal mindfulness-based practice, based on MBSR/MBCT practices.
- Priority will be given to people from a Black, African, Asian or Caribbean heritage (Africans/Asians/Caribbean of any descent and the African/Asian diaspora). It is also open to other People of Colour who are affected by prejudice due to the colour of their skin.
- Please indicate your heritage using the 'any other information' box at the bottom of the application form.
- Other applicants who do not fall within this priority group are welcome to apply and will be placed on a waiting list which will be opened up after 16th October 2021.
After completion of the TTO1 retreat:
One of our priorities is to establish high standards for teacher training and development. This programme is designed to begin the process of training to be a teacher of mindfulness-based approaches. Participants come to this programme with varying skills and experience and levels of practice. Inevitably, not everyone will be ready to begin to teach on completion of this programme. Further development may be required. At the end of the programme, there is an opportunity to discuss this and other matters in a one-to-one meeting with one of the programme tutors. This can be a helpful way to reflect on next steps and to review your learning and development needs after your TTC1.
About the trainers:
This training will be led by a multi-cultural team, carefully selected for their skills, knowledge and experience. To find out more about the trainers, click on the trainers' names.
Online information:
We will be using the Zoom platform for our classrooms, which offers facilities for online meetings and also online ‘break-out‘ rooms for smaller group work. A Zoom link will be sent to you for the whole event prior to the start date, along with joining instructions. You will also be given a login to our Community area, a place for online learning and shared resources.
Dates:
Running from 2nd Feb - 23rd March 2022 - 6 full days and two half days - an afternoon orientation on 2nd February and a morning closing session on 23rd March.
Timings:
Please note: these timings are in Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)
Orientation - Wednesday 2nd Februray: 1pm - 5.30pm
Wednesday 9th, 16th, 23rd February & 2nd, 9th, 16th March: 9.30am - 5.30pm
Closing session on Wednesday 23rd March: 9.30am - 1pm
There will be breaks for lunch, tea and coffee. Please login via Zoom to start at least 5 minutes ahead of the start time.
All times are UK. If you are attending from a different time zone, please check equivalent timings in your time zone.
Preparation for the event and what you will need:
In order to participate in the training, you will need:
- A room where you can close the door and engage in the training away from family distraction. It is particularly important that confidentiality is maintained by ensuring that those who are not on the training cannot see your screen or hear the audio. It may be helpful to use headphones.
- Log in via a computer which is resting on a hard surface and which has audio and webcam. Please don’t use handheld devices.
- A space for practice, a mat, cushion and blanket may be helpful for your comfort.
Our rates:
Our rates have no hidden extras.
Standard rate – £971
TTP & CMRP Master’s discount rate – £874
Standard Rate– The rate for accessing this training as a ‘stand-alone’ training event and not part of a CMRP teacher training pathway
TTP & CMRP Master’s discount rate – 10% reduction of the training cost, excluding accommodation, for those currently on the Teacher Training Pathway (TTP) or the CMRP Master’s programme.
Bursary Rate - We are also able to offer bursary assisted places for this training, whereby part or all of your place may be financially supported. Please only request this if you would otherwise find it inaccessible to attend due to the fee. If you would like to apply for a bursary rate, please select this fee option; ‘Apply for a bursary supported place’ within the application form. Once your application has been assessed, we will be in touch with a bursary application form to complete. We have a panel that meets each month to consider bursary applications.
Employer's rate - Recognising the administrative overhead of dealing with employers, we will be adding 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.
Application and payment process:
Our application and payment process involve 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 you either a £200.00 deposit or for the full amount, depending which option you choose when you complete your application.
- Your place is fully confirmed once we receive your deposit or full payment.
- If you selected to pay the deposit only, we will invoice you for the balance four months before the event starts.
- If you have applied for bursary support, we will be in contact separatey to confirm the next steps.
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 also see the British Association of Mindfulness-Based Approaches (BAMBA) for good practice guidelines and other information for mindfulness-based teachers.
Certificate of Attendance. Please note that we give a Bangor University Certificate of Attendance that details the nature of the course and the hours involved. However, this does not constitute an authorisation to teach mindfulness-based approaches. The development and interest in the potential of mindfulness within a range of settings is rapidly growing and training processes are therefore becoming more structured. Within the UK, though, there are currently no formal qualifications/certification processes which regulate competency in teaching mindfulness-based approaches. This requires those of us working in this developing field to inquire deeply into our own practice, our integrity and our intentions, as well as the boundaries of our skills, competencies and understandings.
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.
