PROFESSIONAL MINDFULNESS

PRACTITIONER TRAINING

CORE SKILLS CERTIFICATE

IN MINDFULNESS BASED INTERVENTIONS

JUNE - DECEMBER 2017 PROSPECTUS

Tel: 01202 021 063

E: info@dorset-mindfulness.co.uk

W: www.dorset-mindfulness.co.uk

Dorset Mindfulness Centre 348 Poole Road

Bournemouth BH12 1AW

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CONTENTS

A message from Robert – the Centre Director.............................................. 1 What people say about our training......................................................... 2 About the Dorset Mindfulness Centre....................................................... 3 Good reasons to train with us.................................................................4 We support evidence based research........................................................4 We are quality checked........................................................................4 Training aims and learning outcomes ...................................................... 5 Competencies upon completion .............................................................5 Admission and selection.......................................................................6 Training philosophy and approach........................................................... 6 Application process and costs................................................................ 7 Training structure...........................................................................8-13 Registration with the National Counselling Society......................................14 Training curriculum and modules.......................................................14-16 Training calendar & important dates...................................................... 17 Your training team............................................................................18 Board of advisors..............................................................................19 Accreditation and professional bodies.....................................................19 Assessment.....................................................................................20 Volunteering palcements.................................................................... 20 Ethical practice and complaints procedure...................................... ........ 20 General terms and conditions.......................................................... 21-23 Course reading.................................................................................24

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WELCOME FROM ROBERT GEBKA – THE TRAINING DIRECTOR

Welcome to our Professional Mindfulness Practitioner training.

I would like to share a little bit about my own journey through

mindfulness with you. I established the Dorset Mindfulness Centre

in 2012 shortly after arriving in Bournemouth from the Isle of Skye

in Scotland where I spent half a year on a personal meditation

retreat. When I came to Bournemouth I was broke,

unemployed, homeless and desperate, materially at least. I

remember sitting and meditating on the beach one evening.

My mind felt like a calm within a storm. As I was sitting there I had

a palatable insight, a clear understanding that within this

adversity there was also an opportunity.

Something told me “trust and stay awake, don‟t give into the fear” and so I did. I

practiced trusting, trusting my deep heart. After that day I began to see my difficulty as

a challenge, an opportunity to learn and to refocus my career to something more within

mental health and mindfulness. I also felt a deep sense of being guided, feeling that I

had some deeper purpose. Following that day I felt that I came to Dorset in order to do

something meaningful. Following that experience I started volunteering for the NHS and

was offered a paid position shortly afterwards. It was then that I started introducing

mindfulness to the NHS.

I must say though that I didn‟t learn mindfulness via the NHS clinical pathway, but rather

via the traditional Buddhist route, from the horse‟s mouth, so to speak. I was introduced

to mindfulness more than 17 years and was fortunate to have studied meditation with

various teachers both from the Chinese Zen as well as Tibetan traditions having spent

five years at the Nan Hua Zen Buddhist Monastery in South Africa. These teachers did

not only instil in me the essence of what mindfulness is but more importantly, through the

way they were living their lives, they inspired in me the importance to constantly reflect

on compassion. One of the greatest influences of that time period was personally

meeting HH the 14th Dalai Lama when he was visiting South Africa in December 1999

when I was still a monk myself. Following my monastic training I completed a two year

clinical project in Mindfulness Based Interventions in a NHS psychiatric hospital and

continued onto the MBSR Teacher training with the University of California San Diego

Medical School, USA.

I can truly say that mindfulness has been deeply valuable in my life and I am grateful

that I came across it. This is our third Professional Mindfulness Practitioner training

programme which was designed in collaboration with my friend and colleague

Jonathan Stock. I feel deeply honoured to be part of your process of self-discovery and

it is a joy be able to share this with you. I trust that you will find this journey a deeply

rewarding one.

Dorset Mindfulness Centre Executive Director

Qualified MBSR Teacher: University of California San Diego Medical School, USA

Accredited Psychological Counsellor: National Counselling Society

Author of Managing Depression with Mindfulness for Dummies

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WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT OUR TRAINING

The training was simply fantastic and I really enjoyed it. There were many opportunities to guide practices on each other and to share our experiences. The weekend sessions were delivered in a very safe and warm environment with a balanced mix of theory and practice. I found it fun and would recommend this to anyone who wants to grow personally as well as professionally.

Deborah Howard, Joint Head of Mental Health Services at Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group & Somerset County Council.

This was a very powerful and deep training. I signed up for the professional training because I wanted to deepen my own connection to mindfulness and because I wanted to be able to teach it effectively to my students. I found the training very interactive and stimulating. It was run over the weekend which made it possible for me to attend. We covered numerous subjects related to mindfulness and had lots of opportunity to put the theory into practice. I can definitely recommend this training and honestly say that this training will change your life.

Dr. Tim McClellan, University lecturer

I work as a registered Social Worker with Children and Families. I found the training to be very informative and deeply enjoyable. The training offered me many opportunities to practice guiding mindfulness meditations in a supportive and safe group environment. I gained so much from the training, not only a solid foundation of practical knowledge but also the scientific and psychological research related to mindfulness. This has given me the confidence to use mindfulness both with children as well as adults, supporting them to regulate their emotions during stressful times. I would highly recommend this training to anyone working with others. Tracy Blake, Registered Social Worker, Poole Borough Council.

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ABOUT THE DORSET MINDFULNESS CENTRE

The Dorset Mindfulness Centre is a safe space for personal

growth, stress reduction and wellbeing. The Centre is also a

platform for research and a collaborative coming

together of like-minded individuals for the purpose of

sharing mindfulness with the world. Even though our work is

deeply connected to and informed by, reflective practice

it is nonetheless entirely secular in how it is delivered to

others. We follow a humanistic and integrative approach

and promote mindfulness as a therapy, a life skill and

above all, a way of life.

Our office is situated at The Consulting Centre

348 Poole Road, Bournemouth BH12 1AW

We offer the following services:

Introductory Mindfulness Wellbeing Seminars

Mindfulness for Life 8-Week MBSR/MBCT course

6-Week One to One Mindfulness courses.

Mindful Practice Drop-in Groups

6-Week Mindfulness for Life Self-compassion course

Silent Mindfulness Day Retreats

Dharma for Life Group

Mindfulness at Work programmes

OUR TRAINING WILL EMPOWER YOU TO:

Bring mindfulness into the emerging modern 21st century culture.

Transform your own life in a way that is deeply nourishing, positive and

sustainable.

Understand the neuroscience and psychology of mindfulness as well as it‟s

ancient Buddhist roots.

Teach Mindfulness one-to-one and in groups, in a broad range of settings

such as education, social work, business, Human Resources, medicine, mental

health, coaching, psychotherapy and other related professions.

Develop and refine your own practice of embodied mindfulness and

connect with the compassion aspect of the practice.

Understand the modern aspects of mindfulness such as MBSR, MBCT, DBT, ACT

and how this might relate to your area of professional work.

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GOOD REASONS TO TRAIN WITH US

We are committed to you and your unique and personal journey of growth,

healing and empowerment and are there to support you every step of the

way.

We are the largest mindfulness organisation in Dorset and have taught

mindfulness to nearly 3000 individuals over the last 4 years.

We are winners of the Runner Up NHS Award for Innovation for our

contribution to NHS staff wellbeing as well as finalists at the Association of

Professional Coaches, Trainers and Consultants 2015 awards, London.

OUR TRAINING HAS SPECIALIST TRAINING STATUS

This professional training has been assessed, approved

and quality checked by the NCS (National Couselling

Society) and was awarded their Quality Approved

Status. The training also meets the requirements of NCS

Advanced Specialist Training status.

WE SUPPORT EVIDENCE BASED RESEARCH

Dorset Mindfulness Centre is collaborating with Exeter

University and University of Derby on a research project

investigating how our MBSR/MBCT courses can benefit people

affected with stress, depression and insomnia.

WE ARE MEMBERS OF THE FOLLOWING ORGANISATIONS

UK NETWORK OF MINDFULNESS BASED

TEACHER TRAINING ORGANISATIONS

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TRAINING AIMS & LEARNING OUTCOMES

The aim of this course is two-fold, namely professional and personal development.

The professional and the personal are mutually inclusive. In terms of mindfulness

training, personal practice is the basis for professional development.

Professional development – To offer you the necessary skills to be able to bring

mindfulness into your existing or desired field of professional work. This is

accomplished in two ways: the direct and indirect.

Direct way: To enable you to facilitate mindfulness based group sessions and to use

mindfulness with individuals on a one to one basis.

Indirect way: To enable you to integrate the principles of mindfulness in the way you

work with others so that you can relate to others in a more mindful way.

Personal growth and development – To support your own healing, empowerment

and sense of wellbeing. This course will be deeply nourishing to you and support you

to enhance your own inner wisdom and compassion.

COMPETENCIES UPON COMPLETION

On completion of the Professional Mindfulness Practitioner training, you will

be able to demonstrate the competencies set out below:

Continue with your established and deeply embedded daily formal mindfulness

practice which will support your ability to teach mindfulness to others.

Have started the process of integration of mindfulness into your professional

discipline and work with others.

Be able to assess to what extent and in what sense mindfulness might be an

appropriate approach for your prospective clients.

Be competent and confident in facilitating a minimum of three mindfulness

practices (based on the ABC model) to both individuals and/or small groups,

depending on your existing one to one and group facilitation skill-base prior to

entering the training.

Have an understanding of the theoretical underpinnings of Mindfulness Based

Interventions generally and within your chosen professional speciality.

Have a basic understanding of the neuroscience of mindfulness and be able to

use this knowledge in a practical way to explain mindfulness to your clients.

Have a basic understanding of the evidence base for Mindfulness Based

Interventions within your chosen area of speciality.

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Have a very good understanding of the role of a Professional Mindfulness

Practitioner and be familiar with similarities and differences between the roles of

a mindfulness practitioner and other relevant and applicable therapeutic

disciplines.

Take responsibility for your Continuing Professional Development as a Professional

Mindfulness Practitioner.

ADMISSION CRITERIA AND SELECTION

We welcome applications from individuals who have the following:

A strong interest in self-development and personal growth as well as a passion for

learning how you could use Mindfulness to support people on their life journey.

An established regular mindfulness meditation practice

If candidates do not have a regular and well established mindfulness practice of

at least 6 months it is important that candidates have completed either a One-

to-One or a recognised group 8-Week Mindfulness Based course (for example

MBSR, MBCT or other 8-Week course).

Relevant life experience and current or previous professional background which

entails working with people.

TRAINING PHILOSOPHY AND APPROACH

Our professional mindfulness training is based on three domains, namely: direct

experiencing, theoretical framework and teaching practice. Each of these domains

support each other working in unison to help support an effective training

experience. (see diagram below).

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1. Direct Experiencing: This aspect is very much related to embodying

mindfulness through daily formal and informal practice It is mainly for this

reason that you need to maintain your daily formal mindfulness meditation

practice in order to support this aspect of the training. We can only teach

mindfulness if we ourselves are truly engaged in the practice and are

connected to the heart of the experience in a deeply personal way.

2. Theoretical Framework: This involves placing the learning in a wider context

of theoretical understanding including learning about the theory of

everything that is related to mindfulness such as the psychology and

philosophy of mindfulness and how this theory can be applied in a practical

manner.

3. Teaching Practice: This involves guiding mindfulness practices with fellow

students and receiving feedback from tutors and other participants. It also

includes conducting dialogue about your experiences, both in terms of

formal inquiry and peer to peer discussion. We believe that the group in itself

has a certain wisdom in terms of individual and collective experience. We

hope to draw on this wisdom in the training and believe that so doing

facilitates the development of the skills required to communicate the ideas,

qualities and approach of mindfulness-based work.

We strongly suggest that you do not formally lead mindfulness

practices in a professional capacity until later in the training.

You will be encouraged to guide peer practices with other students in

an informal way from the start of the training, but there will be more

focus placed on this from Month 4 onwards.

APPLICATIONS

Applications must be submitted electronically or by post. Applications close on 10

June. Please note that no late applications can be accepted. Applicants will be

notified within 5 working days whether they have been successful

COST

Total cost for the six month Professional Mindfulness Practitioner training is £1595.

Payment Option Two: Payment of £594 on acceptance onto the course,

followed by 6 monthly installments of £167. Payments can be made via bank

transfer, cheque or Paypal.

In some cases you may be able to receive financial support from your employer to

either full or part fund the training. The cost of training programme includes all

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tuition as defined in the “Training Structure” of this prospectus. You will need to

organize and pay for any accommodation if required. We are happy to provide a

list of B&B‟s and/or hotels in the area.

TRAINING STRUCTURE

The six month training programme consists of the following ten set components as

set out below, all of which have to be completed in order to meet the set

requirements for the Professional Mindfulness Practitioner certification:

The training programme is based on a total of 230 hours. This consists of the

following:

100 classroom contact hours (including a two-day retreat and volunteering

placements),

130 non-contact hours consisting of:

o 48 hours mandatory self-directed research & study and

o 82 hours mandatory daily formal mindfulness practice hours.

Each component is explained in detail on the following pages.

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Although it looks like the training components are numerous, please rest assured that

it is all spaced out well enough for the training experience to be fairly relaxed and

achievable. Please note that we are here to support you at every step of the

training to ensure that you gain the most out of the training experience and that the

training remains deeply enjoyable and positively challenging for you.

1. Monthly training retreats:

Six monthly training weekend retreats, with two modules per retreat each

consisting of one and a half days, 6pm to 9pm Saturday and 8am to 5pm

Sunday, except for Month 6 which ends at 7pm on Sunday.

The first Saturday of Month 1 is an overview of the course as a whole.

Subsequent Saturdays are an opportunity for reflection based on previous

learning. This will be an opportunity for peer sharing and reflection. You will

be offered a safe space to share insights and/or questions with the group.

Sundays are allocated for module presentation on each relevant topic.

All dates and module names are enclosed in the training calendar section

of the prospectus, on page 17.

Please note that there is a 100% attendance policy and that we can only

issue a certificate upon the successful completion of all training retreats.

If you are following the Tailored Pathway programme then the training

dates are negotiated with the trainer.

We do have a process in place should you miss training retreats due to

illness or other unexpected circumstances. Such situations will be

considered on an individual basis following an interview with the director

of training.

2. Self-directed study between 3 to 5 hours a week.

The training is structured in a way that encourages a continuous flow of

learning between the training retreats. It is important that you continue with

your self-directed study and revision of material previously covered and bring

your focus to the area of knowledge that you wish to specialise in and

develop. You are required to choose two books for reading purposes during

the six month training. A reading list has been provided. This is located on the

last page of this handbook on page 24.

3. Two-day teacher led silent meditation retreat.

This is a wonderful opportunity to deepen your practice as well support your

own sense of connection to mindfulness. This two day retreat is conducted in

the spirit if silence with some mindful movement, dialogue and reflective

enquiry.

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Please bring a few pillows and wear comfortable clothing. Also please

bring your own lunch and a little to share with others.

Please note that these days are a required part of the training and

need to be completed in order for you to qualify for a certificate.

The date for the silent retreat is Saturday, 30 September and Sunday, 1

October (9am to 5pm both days).

4. Monthly mentoring: Monthly half hour telephone or via zoom (Skype type

software) mentoring session with one of our trainers (6 half hour sessions in

total).

The mentoring session (though not counselling sessions in themselves) are

there to support your learning and personal and professional growth and

development.

We will offer you the trainer‟s time availability and the mentoring slots

will have to be booked within the specific time frame.

The time slots are Monday to Friday between 10am and 4pm (last

session 4pm)

We can in exceptional circumstances offer time slots later in the

afternoon after 4pm.

Your particular mentor will be allocated to you by the training team.

Please note that we have a 24 hour cancellation policy which means

that you have to let the relevant allocated trainer know in advance if

you cannot make the mentoring session, otherwise you will forfeit the

session and this will affect your end of training assessment.

In the event that a 24 hour notice has not been received you may be

able to rebook the session at an additional fee of £40 per session.

Please make sure that you have a whole half hour of protected time

for the mentoring session.

Should the trainer need to cancel or postpone a mentoring session, he

or she will always aim to offer a 24 hour notice.

Please note that these are a required part of the training and need to

be completed in order to qualify for the certificate.

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5. Daily personal mindfulness practice.

Our personal mindfulness practice is what makes it possible for us to teach

mindfulness authentically to others.

For the duration of the training it is important that you commit to a daily

formal mindfulness meditation practice ranging between 30 to 45 minutes.

We strongly suggest that you keep a reflective diary of your practice to

support this. We always aim to support you in establishing and maintaining

your daily practice and are available if you need to speak to us.

We strongly encourage that you suspend or at least separate other

non-mindfulness based personal practices (such as self-guided

visualization, TM meditation, self-healing, etc to name just a few for

example) from your daily mindfulness practice so support a deepening

of your mindfulness experience.

Please contact us if you have any questions on the above and we will

be more than happy to assist you.

We suggest that you consider utilising our soundcloud online audio resource

to support your own daily practice. Here is a link to our online audio channel.

http://www.dorset-mindfulness.co.uk/free-mindfulness-cd-2

However we would like you feel free to find your own secular mindfulness

based resources and not limit yourself only to our style of guided meditation.

You may wish to explore teachings by Ven Ajahn Sumedho, Tara Brach, Jon

Kabat-Zinn, Jack Kornfield, Prof Mark Williams, etc.

6. Audio recordings:

Part of this training programme is learning how to guide mindfulness to others.

You will need to submit two recordings within the 6 months training, one mid

way and the other at the end of training.

Mid training recording: You will be required to submit a 20 to 30 minute

maximum ABC – Awareness of Breath Meditation audio recording.

We are aware that your first recording might be a completely new and

potentially a daunting experience for you. The aim here is simply for you to

dive in and try recording a guided session. So please remember that the aim

of this task is more about learning rather than getting it “right” or “perfect”.

Please remember that we are NOT assessing your recording at this point.

We will listen to your recording and offer some supportive feedback during

your next telephone mentoring session.

Mid-training recording needs to be submitted by 20 August.

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We will email you a reminder as well as a guidance sheet with tips on how to

do a recording, but it is your responsibility to please take care of any

equipment/ software needed for the recording.

If you are following the Tailored Pathway programme then the mid-way

recoding submission date is agreed upon mutual availability with the trainer.

End of training recording:

This recording will be assessed and needs to be submitted at Month 6 of the

training (last month) by 20 November.

Please note that your final recording needs to be different to the mid training

recording.

Again we will email you a reminder as well as a guidance sheet with tips on

how to do a recording, but it is your responsibility to take care of any

equipment/software needed for the recording:

Your recording needs to be one from the list below.

a) ABC – Awareness of breath meditation

b) ABC – Grounding practice

c) ABC -- Body scan mindfulness practice

d) ABC – Soothing breath

e) ABC – Self Compassion meditation

f) ABC – Mindful Movement practice

You have to follow the ABC model of guiding mindfulness. However

please ensure that you use your own words and creativity in how you

approach this task.

Please note that we cannot accept late recordings.

The recordings can be submitted either on an audio CD and posted to us

or in mp3 format via email.

7. Theory test:

Our training places a very strong focus on the experiential and embodiment

aspect of mindfulness. The training also encourages a strong understanding of

the theoretical principles.

To help support this part of the learning there will be a multiple question test

which will be done in pairs with another fellow student to support the

collaborative learning experience. This will count towards your end of training

assessment.

There is only one mid training test will be on Saturday evening at Month 4

on 16 September.

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8. End of training presentation: At the end of training on (Month 6) on 6

November you will be required to facilitate a 15 minute group presentation, in

your own style, on your chosen subject as related to the professional training

programme. You can use PowerPoint and other means of presentation.

This is an opportunity to share with us what you have learned during the

training and develop your own understanding of your chosen specialty. We

will offer you a guidance sheet as well as a reminder by email.

A mark will be allocated which will count towards your end of training

assessment.

Please note that this is a required part of the training and need to be

completed in order to qualify for the certificate.

9. Volunteering placements:

You will be required to complete a two 3 hour evening volunteering

placements during the 6 month training.

You can choose to volunteer at two of the three type of mindfulness events

named below:

Mindfulness Wellbeing Seminar

8 Week Mindfulness for Life course

Mindful Practice Group.

Please contact Mandy Jennings on mandy@dorset-mindfulness.co.uk for a list of

dates so that she can allocate you the volunteering placement.

10. Graduation ceremony:

Once the training is completed we will take 3 weeks to do the following:

Review your end of training presentation.

Assess your end of training audio recording,

Review your learning profile and

Offer a supportive assessment to help you with your continuous

learning and development.

At the successful completion of the training we will offer you:

A Record of Learning stating all the completed training activities

A Statement of Progress indicating your natural progression throughout the

training and any areas that might need further support.

A Professional Mindfulness Practitioner Certificate indicating the

completion of the programme.

We will also have details of a CPD programme as well as details of our

licensed mindfulness progammes that you may wish to purchase should

you want to choose to teach mindfulness via our Mindfulness for Life

certified programme.

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REGISTRATION WITH THE NATIONAL COUNSELLING SOCIETY

You will be required to register as a student/affiliate member with the National

Counselling Society at the commencement of the training. Your registration must

be complete with the first month of training. The cost for student registration needs to

be covered by you the student. Upon the successful completion of the training you

will be able to upgrade and register as a Qualified Mindfulness Practitioner (QMP)

with the Society. This will make it possible for you to obtain professional indemnity

insurance and practice mindfulness in a professional capacity. Please contact

Megan Nunn on AdminManager@nationalcounsellingsociety.org or 01903 200666 for

more details.

OPEN TO PUBLIC VIA MASTERCLASSES

Please note that this training is open to other professionals on a masterclass basis. This means that from time to time we might have other new people join in for some

of the modules. We will ensure that this will continue to be a mutually enriching

experience for all students involved.

TRAINING CURRICULUM AND MODULES

Below is a short description of all the 12 modules involved. Please note that the dates

are included in the “training calendar” section below. The modules are subject to

change with short notice.

Month 1

Module A: THE PSYCHOLOGY OF MINDFULNESS What are the fundamentals of mindfulness based psychology? Here we will explore the

definitions of mindfulness, awareness and attention. We will also introduce some other ideas

which will support your individual practice as well as form the basis for introducing

mindfulness to others in a way which is simple and easy to understand.

Module B: BUDDHIST PSYCHOLOGY & PHILOSOPHY

What are the roots of mindfulness? In this session we will explore the Buddhist principles that

mindfulness rests upon. We will also compare mindfulness -as practised within traditional

Buddhism – with its secular equivalent. Buddhist texts relevant to the origins of mindfulness will

be discussed and reflected upon.

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Month 2

Module A: THE NEUROSCIENCE & PHYSIOLOGY OF MINDFULNESS What happens in the body and the brain when you practice mindfulness? We will give

particular attention to the stress response and perform an experiment using EEG(brain waves)

GSR (Galvanic Skin Resistance) and other equipment demonstrating the effects of

mindfulness on our physiology. We will also touch on current research into mindfulness and its

benefits.

Module B: INTRODUCTION TO MINDFULNESS MODALITIES What are some of the recognised specialities within secular mindfulness? Here we aim to give

an overview of MBCT, MBSR, MBRP, MBPM, MSC, .b, ACT and DBT. This session will also help

clarify how mindfulness might be applied to specific difficulties as well as offer insight into

what speciality you may wish to draw upon for resources.

Month 3 Module A: FACTORS THAT SUPPORT FORMAL PRACTICE

What are the factors that make for a successful and sustained practice and how are these

maintained when using specific techniques? We will approach this question by means of a

simple model followed by some experimentation with various techniques, most of which can

easily be applied to informal practice as well working with others.

Module B: APPROACHES, STYLES AND TECHNIQUES

What mindfulness techniques can we use to empower ourselves and our clients? We will offer

an overview of some of the main techniques used in the secular world of mindfulness and

look at the theory behind them. An in-depth investigation of a few chosen techniques will be

offered, which you can then explore with your clients.

Month 4 Module A: MINDFUL MOVEMENT Can we find stillness in movement? We will explore the

fundamentals of moving meditation, as a way of bridging formal practice with everyday life.

We will practice specific techniques to bring awareness to the dimension of movement, in

order to support a fuller embodiment of the practice. More importantly, we will explore how

these techniques can be applied in your work with others.

Module B: MINDFUL SELF-COMPASSION How can we deepen our connection to the heart?

Attention without compassion is simply focus, whereas attention together with compassion is

true mindfulness. Here we will investigate the psychology and mechanics of compassion, as

well as examine the differences between self-confidence, self-esteem and compassion

directed towards oneself. You will gain valuable skills to help people reconnect with the

heart of kindness within themselves and others.

2 Day Teacher-led Silent Meditation Retreat A two day (8am to 5pm both days) structured teacher led meditation retreat which will offer

us the opportunity to deepen our practice. The retreat will contain sitting, walking and

standing meditation practice, body scan, mindful movement as well as interpersonal

mindfulness and inquiry practice.

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Month 5 Module A: MINDFULNESS IN RELATION TO OTHER MODALITIES OF PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

Can mindfulness be usefully applied to modalities developed in the west which are primarily

remedial or, on the other hand, concerned with empowerment? We will explore the possible

applications of mindfulness to healing, psychotherapy, coaching, addictions, education and

leadership training.

Module B: PEER TEACHING PRACTICE

What is the experience of teaching mindfulness? In this session we will have the opportunity

to practice on one another in a structured way and receive feedback from the tutors and

fellow course participants. In this way we gain confidence in our ability to learn by doing

and by reflection, especially as regards the subtler and more personal aspects of the

process.

Month 6 Module A: MINDFUL COACHING & INQUIRY SKILLS

The session will introduce effective principles on how you can coach and facilitate an

effective mindfulness session. We will explore the core principles of mindful coaching and

inquiry. There will be an opportunity to lead a short one to one mindfulness session and to

give and receive feedback.

Module B: CONNECTING AND INTEGRATING WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED

This session is about sharing with us what you have learned. You will be asked to read out a

summary of your essay in a format of your choice, on how you have begun to apply the

ideas from the course in your work with others.

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TRAINING CALENDAR

DATE

TRAINING ACTIVITY

17 & 18 June

Saturday: Training overview and introduction

Sunday: Month 1 Training Retreat Module A: THE PSYCHOLOGY OF MINDFULNESS

Module B: BUDDHIST PSYCHOLOGY & PHILOSOPHY

15 & 16 July

Saturday: Sharing and peer reflection based on previous month

Sunday: Month 2 Training Retreat Module A: THE NEUROSCIENCE AND PHYSIOLOGY OF MINDFULNESS

Module B: INTRODUCTION TO MINDFULNESS MODALITIES

12 & 13 August

Saturday: Sharing and peer reflection based on previous month

Sunday: Month 3 Training Retreat Module A: STYLES AND APPROACHES TO PRACTICE

Module B: FACTORS THAT SUPPORT FORMAL PRACTICE

20 August

Mid-training audio recording submitted

16 & 17 September

Saturday: Sharing and peer reflection based on previous month

Sunday: Month 4 Training Retreat Module A: MINDFUL SELF-COMPASSION

Module B: MINDFUL MOVEMENT

16 September

Mid-training theory test

30 September & 1 October

Two–Day Silent Meditation Retreat 9am to 5pm both days

28 & 29 October

Saturday: Sharing and peer reflection based on previous month

Sunday: Month 5 Training Retreat Module A: PEER TEACHING PRACTICE

Module B: MINDFULNESS IN RELATION TO OTHER THERAPEUTIC MODALITIES

20 November

End of training audio recording submitted

25 & 26 November

Saturday: Sharing and peer reflection based on previous month

Sunday: Month 6 Training Retreat Module A: MINDFULNESS COACHING & FACILITATION SKILLS & PEER TEACHING

Module B: CONNECTING, INTEGRATING AND JOINING WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED

26 November

Training Retreat ends at 7pm

End of training group presentation and feedback

9 December

Graduation ceremony

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YOUR TRAINING TEAM

Robert Gebka (Director of training) Robert is a Qualified MBSR Teacher with the University of

California San Diego Centre for Mindfulness, USA (UCSD CFM). He is former Buddhist monk

who lived, worked and trained for five years at the Nan Hua Zen Buddhist monastery before

joining the NHS. It is during this time that he was fortunate enough to meet HH the 14th Dalai

Lama. He is an accredited psychological counsellor and has completed a two year project

in Mindfulness Based Interventions in an NHS psychiatric hospital with a clinical population.

He is also the author of Managing Depression with Mindfulness for Dummies. Robert studied

the neuroscience and physiology of mindfulness with Neuragy UK and is a registered with

the UK Network for Mindfulness-Based Teacher Training Organisations.

Jonathan Stock (Co Trainer) Jonathan is a former Head of the English department at the

London School of Management and Science. He has received training in both

psychoanalysis at Middlesex Universtiy as well as in Core Process Psychotherapy at the

Karuna Institute, Devon. Jonathan worked as a counsellor at the Nan Hua Buddhist

Monastery supporting students in their academic and personal development and has also

had the experience of working with young adults, supporting their emotional and

psychological wellbeing. Jonathan lives in Bournemouth working as a teacher of English

and continues to pursue his interest in the spiritual traditions. Jonathan completed the

centre‟s 8 Week MBSR course and is the co-designer of the Professional Mindfulness

Practitioner training.

Helena Edwards (Visiting trainer) Helena is an Occupational Therapist working in the field of

child and adolescent mental health, where she specialises in Sensory Integration Therapy.

She is an experienced yoga, mindfulness and somatic movement teacher and has been

successfully integrating these practices into her therapy work for quite some time. Helena

has practiced yoga and mindfulness since her teens and is deeply dedicated to her

personal practice. She is currently completing a Masters degree in Mindfulness with the

University of Aberdeen. She loves working with children and young people and is especially

interested in compassion-based mindfulness techniques drawing from both Tibetan

Buddhist practices as well as the work of Professor Paul Gilbert and Kristen Neff.

Prof Colm Campbell (Education Officer). Colm is Professor Emeritus of Law at Ulster

University with a strong interest in human rights. Widely published, he as held Senior

Research Fellowships from the British Academy, the Leverhulme Trust, and Jesus College

Oxford. Colm is serving as our Dorset Mindfulness Centre Education Officer on the

Professional Mindfulness Practitioner training programme, and has recently become a

nominated adviser on the National Counselling Society Mindfulness Register project.

Having completed our Mindfulness for Life 8 Week MBSR/MBCT course some time ago, he

practices mindfulness daily, with developing interests in mindful running, and in tech and

mindfulness.

Dr Xun He (Visiting trainer) Xun is a lecturer in psychology at Bournemouth University. He has

a Ph.D in biophysics from the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences which explored

perception and attention. He has a very strong in interest in psychology and human

behaviour as well as as the underlying neural mechanisms involved in both. Xun has

extensive experience both with functional brain mapping (fMRI) and intervention of brain

functions (e.g., TMS), as well as extensive expertise in human brain electrophysiology.

Recently his research has gradually oriented itself towards experimental social psychology

and social neuroscience.

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OUR PATRON

ACCREDITATION & MEMBERSHIP OF PROFESSIONAL BODIES

Currently there is no formal accreditation of mindfulness training in the UK. However

we abide by the guidelines laid out in the UK Network for Mindfulness-based

Teachers Practice Guidelines.

Upon successful completion of our training you will be able to register with The

National Counselling Society as a Qualified Mindfulness Practitioner (QMP) which will

enable you to legally practice mindfulness in the public domain.

You will also be able to register one or more of the following professional bodies:

British Neuroscience Association

Association of Contextual Behavioural Science USA

Federation of European Neuroscience Societies

You will also be able to obtain Professional Indemnity Insurance with Westminster

Insurance.

Ahbay Rinpoche has a Geshe degree in Buddhist Philosophy, the

equivalent of a Ph.D. degree. Lama Ahbay Tulku Jigme Thupten Tendar

Rinpoche (full name) was born in Darjeeling/India in 1973. When he was

nine years old he was fully initiated into monkhood and the tutor of His

Holiness the Dalai Lama, Khabche Ling Rinpoche gave him the name

Thupten Tendar. When he was twelve, His Holiness the Dalai Lama

identified him as the reincarnation of the hermit Lama Lobsang Tenzin.

Ahbay Rinpoche has become the Patron of the Dorset Mindfulness

Centre in March 2017 after delivering a Dharma talk and Medicine

Buddha ceremony at the centre in Bournemouth.

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This course will give a complete and solid foundation in order to begin to teach small

groups and incorporate Mindfulness into your work with others. Please note however

that qualification is not intended to equip you to design, develop or teach MBSR,

MBCT or other 8-Week Mindfulness Based courses. You will be able to teach the 8-

Week Mindfulness Based courses once you have completed our

advanced Mindfulness for Life Teacher Training (MLTT) programme.

ASSESSMENT

You need to complete all aspects of the training as described in the “Training

Structure” part of this handbook. The training team will offer continuous support

throughout the training to help you maximise your learning opportunities.

Following each training weekend, the training team will reflect on each student

through the five training domains as set out below. This will form part of their

continuous supportive assessment.

Understanding of concepts

Clarity of delivery (mainly for guiding mindfulness practices)

Self-reflection

Interaction

Embodiment

However, some students who „tick all the boxes‟ on paper may quite legitimately

feel that they need some further support, mentoring or training to be competent

and/or to feel confident teaching Mindfulness. A decision will therefore be made at

the end of course tutorial to either recommend that the graduate is ready to teach

or to recommend that s/he undertakes some aspect of further development. This

decision will be based on an assessment of the degree to which the learning

outcomes have been met, and will be communicated in writing to the student.

VOLUNTARY PLACEMENTS AND TEACHING EXPERIENCE

You are required to participate in our centre‟s mindfulness events as a possible way

of gaining more teaching experience. You will be required to complete two 3- hour

evening volunteering sessions within the six months training period.

ETHICAL PRACTICE, CONFIDENTIALITY AND SAFETY

Students and trainers will be expected to work within the ethical codes of their

professional bodies and to follow their respective policies. The confidentiality of

group participants in Mindfulness groups that students observe must be respected.

As a general rule, trainers will keep information shared by students in confidence.

However, members of the training staff group will share information about trainees

with each other where necessary in order to work as a cohesive training team.

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FEEDBACK AND COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE

Honest and constructive feedback is encouraged at all times. Feedback is formally

collected at various stages of the training year but is welcomed informally at any

other time. Feedback is used to reflect on the training and to make improvements

where possible. If any trainee has a complaint, this should be addressed in the first

instance to the person who is the subject of the complaint. If this does not produce

satisfactory resolution, the complaint can be addressed to the Training Assistant or to

a member of the training team, who will then share it with other members of the

training team and work towards facilitating a resolution. If this still does not produce

a satisfactory resolution, the complaint will then be directed to the training officer

Prof Col Campbell, who will, if necessary contact the Executive Founding Director of

the Dorset Mindfulness Centre. If you feel that the complaint has not been

successfully resolved through this means you may then contact the National

Counselling Society and log a complaint.

GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS

ATTENDANCE POLICY

Before embarking on this course, participants should give careful consideration to

whether they are able to meet the necessary commitments contained within the

professional training. It is important that students commit to attending all aspects of

the course. This training is unique in that it requires 100% attendance for all relevant

training activities as outlined in the Training Structure section of this student

handbook. The Professional Mindfulness Practitioner Certificate can only be issued

upon the successful completion of all relevant training activities and other set

requirements. Absence due to illness requires a medical certificate, please note that

we cannot accept self-certified sickness certificates. In certain rare circumstances,

the student might be allowed to repeat an individual missed module following an

interview with the Training Officer or the Director of Training. This, however, is at the

full discretion of the Director of training.

LATE ARRIVALS

If a student arrives late for a training activity, the instructor reserves the right to refuse

to accept the student for training if they feel that students will gain insufficient

knowledge and or skill in the time remaining or if the students' late participation will

disturb other students. In such cases it will be regarded as non-attendance.

ACCURACY

The Dorset Mindfulness Centre has the right to revise terms and conditions,

programmes, syllabuses, fees, timetables and venues with reasonable prior notice.

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COURSE TUTORS

Course tutors listed on the course details may be subject to change. If we have to

change tutors due to illness or unforeseen circumstances, we endeavour to replace

them with others of equal experience and reputation, who adhere to the vision and

ethos of the Dorset Mindfulness Centre.

CHANGING THE DATE OF TRAINING ACTIVITIES

The class dates may occasionally be changed at short notice under unforeseen

circumstances such as when the tutor is ill. In such cases, we will contact you by

email or on the telephone number which you have provided on the enrolment form

as soon as possible. We will endeavour to minimise such events and rescheduled

dates will be announced in advance.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

We will make every effort to accommodate special requirements which have been

communicated to the Training Administrator in advance. There is provision for this in

the enrolment form.

LUNCH

Students need to make their own arrangements for lunch between 12 and 1pm.

There are a number of venues in the area where students can go for lunch. Please

ask the Training Assistants on the day for more information. Please note that it is hotel

policy not to consume your own food anywhere in the hotel except the Training

Room. You are more than welcome to bring your own lunch and eat it in the

Training Room.

TRANSFERRING COURSE

It will not be possible to transfer your course to another. The training has to be

completed within the designated six month period or as agreed with the Director of

Training.

CANCELLATIONS

Notification of cancellation at least 21 days before the start of the course entitles a

full refund, minus an administrative fee of £30. Notification of cancellation between

7 – 14 days before the start of the course entitles a 50% refund, minus an

administrative fee of £30. Notification of cancellation less than 7 days before the

start of the course, no refund will be given.

DRESS CODE

There is no dress code for the sessions. However, often trainees need to lie down and

do some gentle movement. It is advised to wear appropriate comfortable clothes to

suit the session.

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COURSE MATERIAL

We provide printed handouts and materials. Books and additional reading material

has to be covered by you the student.

ACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOUR

The training instructors and tutors have the right to remove any trainees who are

causing a disturbance or danger to other participants and/or whose behaviour is

considered unacceptable.

LIABILITY

The Dorset Mindfulness Centre does not have any liability for students‟ accidents in

the venues/ premises. The Dorset Mindfulness Centre will not accept responsibility for

personal belongings.

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COURSE READING

We strongly suggest that students read at least two books during the six months

training. Students should read something that they feel drawn to which covers

Mindfulness in a generic way and which will support their integration into their

chosen professional specialism.

The Four Foundations of Mindfulness in Plain English Paperback – 14 Sep 2012

by Bhante Henepola Gunaratana

Teaching Clients to Use Mindfulness Skills Paperback – 23 Jul 2013

by Christine Dunkley

Managing Depression with Mindfulness For Dummies Paperback – 13 Nov 2015 by Robert Gebka

Mindfulness in Plain English: 20th Anniversary Edition Paperback – Special

Edition, 19 Sep 2011 by Bhante Henepola Gunaratana

The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion: Freeing Yourself from Destructive Thoughts

and Emotions Paperback – 9 Jun 2009 by Christopher K. Germer

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (CBT Distinctive Features) Paperback

– 1 Jan 2009 by Rebecca Crane

How To Be Compassionate: A Handbook for Creating Inner Peace and a Happier

World Paperback – 6 Sep 2012 by Dalai Lama

Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress,

Pain, and Illness Paperback – 1904 by Ph.D. Jon Kabat-Zinn

Heal Thy Self Paperback: Lessons on mindfulness in medicine – 1 Aug 2000

by Saki Santorelli

Handbook of Mindfulness in Education: Integrating Theory and Research into

Practice (Mindfulness in Behavioral Health) Hardcover – 17 Mar 2016

by Kimberly A. Schonert-Reichl (Editor), Robert W. Roeser (Editor)

Mindful Leadership: The 9 Ways to Self-awareness, Transforming Yourself, and

Inspiring Others by Gonzalez, Maria ( 2012 ) Hardcover

A Path with Heart Paperback – 1 Aug 2002 by Jack Kornfield

Mindfulness in Motion: Healthier Life Through Body-Centred Meditation

Paperback – 17 Sep 2015 by Tamara Russell