Teacher Training Course
Mindfulness Teacher Training
Research has shown that mindfulness meditation offers powerful health and wellbeing benefits. Qualified teachers can be in high demand, teaching one to one, as well as in groups and within organisations.
This certified teacher training is approved by The British Psychological Society and includes specialist tuition in mindfulness approaches, including the Mindfulness Now Programme which integrates key elements of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT). Both are evidence based and the latter is recommended by NICE.
Structured, experiential learning
Our Teacher training course is structured through a specific, day-by-day programme, designed to guide students, over 5 consecutive days, through a combination of practical ‘hands on’ learning along with the teaching of underpinning theoretical knowledge. As well as being provided with a comprehensive training manual, students also receive additonal online resources including videos and audio recording made by their tutors to help enhance their learning experience. Similarly, PowerPoint slides used within some parts of the training are also supplied to students for them to use / modify for use, where appropriate in their teaching.
Teacher training includes the unique Mindfulness Now programme, which offers an integrated / eclectic approach to mindfulness teaching and aims to equip teachers to work with individuals and groups with many requirements including helping with physical and emotional pain, stress and anxiety, as well as building emotional resilience. This programme is designed to incorporate one-to-one work with participants, along with group work, and is fully adaptable to meet the needs of individual participants. Mindfulness Now has also been designed in such a way as to make it possible for practitioners to integrate it with other therapeutic modalities.
Formal meditation practice is an important part of the training, with students being led through regular practice meditations, each followed by a particular form of discussion / feedback (enquiry). Students also work, both one-to-one and in triads, with their fellow students to practice the range of techniques covered. Students learn assessment techniques and methods of preparing clients / learners, including identification of contraindications and other potential problem areas.
The flexibility of the 5 day Mindfulness Now Teacher Training makes it an ideal course for someone who may want to start a new career as a mindfulness teacher and also for people who would like to add mindfulness teaching to the work that they are already doing making this course a very popular CPD qualification for nurses, doctors, teachers, psychologists etc.
Once the course is finished – (it’s only a lifetime journey!)
At least part of the real learning begins following the practical teacher training, when all students undertake an assignment based upon a brief question paper and a practical case study which is written up for assessment. Students have up to six months from attending the course to complete and submit their assignment.
After completion of the course and assignments, successful graduates are offered the opportunity to join the network of Mindfulness Now licensed and accredited teachers. You are also invited to attend our weekly ongoing support session via Zoom every monday evening. There is no additonal fee for these. The learning / support is ongoing and open-ended. The Devon School Of Mindfulness maintains an open-door policy of welcoming students and graduates via email and over the phone.
Training Syllabus
The Mindfulness Now teacher training programme is contained in an intensive 5 day course which is experiential in nature. We believe that for a vocational qualification it is vital that teachers learn through a ‘hands on’ practical approach with plenty of discussion and the learning dynamic which can only come out of working in a mutually supportive group, this applys to both ‘virtual’ and ‘in person’ training.
At present mindfulness teachers are not regulated, and there are no governing or regulatory bodies, as such. Teachers should however be able to demonstrate acceptable standards of competence and ethics. Mindfulness Now teachers, as well as receiving practical training, also demonstrate through case study assessment that they are able to work with their learners / clients to achieve therapeutic goals. They commit to engaging in clinical supervision and Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
Teacher training includes the unique Mindfulness Now programme which offers an integrated approach to using mindfulness techniques to help clients deal with: pain, rheumatic conditions, stress, anxiety and serious physical and emotional trauma, as well as building emotional resilience. Meditation sessions are conducted daily as part of the teacher training and all participants engage in some facilitated teaching practice.
The training syllabus includes:
- Client / learner assessment protocols
- Cautions, safeguards and contra-indications
- Session recording and evaluation
- History of mindfulness and mindfulness meditation
- How to conduct mindfulness meditation sessions – seated, lying and movement based
- Attitudinal Basis (7 Attitudes – Kabat-Zinn)
- 3 stage breathing space (hourglass)
- Body Scan
- Breath and body awareness
- Mindfulness in wellbeing
- Mindfulness teaching techniques and methodologies
- Therapeutic interventions with mindfulness
- Developing the teacher’s own mindfulness practice
- Conducting individual / group sessions
- The Mindfulness Now 8 weeks wellbeing programme
- Stress Reduction – the MBSR approaches
- Cognitive behavioural approaches – the MBCT approaches
- Integration of mindfulness with other therapeutic modalities
- Working with children / bringing mindfulness into schools
- Corporate applications of mindfulness
Assessment and qualification
Mindfulness teacher students are assessed on the basis of the following criteria:
- Rapport skills
- Assessment and preparation of clients / learners
- Client / learner safety
- Teaching / facilitation ability
- Outcome monitoring
- Client / learner evaluation
The following assessment methods are applied:
- Observational assessment during the course of the training
- Assignment based, post-course assessment involving practical case study work and written case study report.
Please note that the inclusive training fees cover assessment and certification, along with all teaching materials including a printed and electronic training manual, PowerPoint slides and other support material. PowerPoint slides.
At the Devon School Of Mindfulness, the teacher training course provides a fully assessed and certificated teaching qualification, graduates of which are offered the opportunity to become part of the Mindfulness Now network of accredited teachers of mindfulness meditation. This is not a business franchise and there is nothing to purchase. Annually renewable licences are granted on an on-going basis for accredited teachers.