Courses
MBCT - Stress Reduction
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy -- MBCT - Stress Reduction is an 8-week group program that integrates MBSR and MBCT.
MBCT – Stress Reduction - is suitable for individuals actively interested in developing their own regular Mindfulness meditation practice, and in developing ways to manage the challenges of everyday living. The course is suitable for anyone committed to living life more fully in the present, including individuals who may have experienced stress, anxiety, depression, illness and other difficulties in everyday life.
Participants engage in experiential learning of the three core mindfulness practices, guided by an experienced MBCT facilitator. Core practices are the Body Scan, Mindful Movement, and Mindful Sitting meditation. Throughout the course, participants are guided to explore ways of integrating mindful awareness into their own lives, while learning to become more responsive, rather than reactive, to the challenges and stressors that we meet in life.
Course Structure
The program has two essential components:
- 1) Groups meet once weekly for 8 weeks, for 2 hours, where learning is largely experiential, engaging in the core Mindfulness practices, with additional exercises and teachings that support your learning.
- 2) The second essential component is the home practice. To really benefit from the course, participants need to be able to commit to regular daily home practice, of at least 45 minutes a day. Home practice includes "formal" practices (body scan, mindful movement, mindful sitting meditations) and "informal" mindfulness practice, where you can explore bringing mindfulness to the activities of your everyday living. You will be provided with the MBCT course workbook and CDs of the guided mindfulness practices to support your home practice.
- The groups are limited in size to 10 - 12 participants. MBCT is not 'group therapy' - groups have an educational focus, and are centred on your own experience with the practices in the present, with opportunities to explore how you can integrate Mindfulness into your daily living, while participating in the course, and once you have completed the 8 week course.
- Before starting the course, you will participate in an individual pre-course interview with the course facilitator, so you can be fully informed about the course, and we can decide together if this course is suitable for you at this time in your life.
Monthly Mindfulness Mondays Group
Monthly Mindfulness Mondays Group - This is an opportunity for previous course participants to meet together with the course facilitator to engage in guided practices, inquiry, and discussion - and to support us all in maintaining our Mindfulness practice, and bringing Mindfulness to our everyday living.
Previous course participants will be emailed with the details. No course fee, donation to cover venue hire, etc is voluntary.
If you have participated in an MBSR or MBCT 8 week course with another facilitator, you may also interested in joining the group - to enquire if this group is suitable for you to attend, please email Chrissie Burke at info@mindful-well-being.com, with details of your previous MBSR/MBCT course experience.
Next Sydney Group Courses
Evening 8 week MBCT-SR group course: 7.30 pm - 9.30 pm Thursdays, Oct - Dec 2010
Oct 28, Nov 4, 11, 18, 25, Dec 2, 9, 16.
Location: The Garden Room, Rozelle Neighbourhood Centre,
665a Darling St Rozelle. NSW 2039
Course Fee: $550, includes all course materials, workbook, and set of 3 guided Mindfulness Meditation CDs. Concessions can discussed with the course facilitator. If you have a current Mental Health Care Plan with your GP, you may be eligible for a Medicare rebate.
Advance booking is essential - To make a booking or an inquiry: email: info@mindful-well-being.com or telephone: +61 0415 715 814.
** Please note, because of the intense practice demands of the course, it is not considered suitable for individuals who are currently experiencing severe depression or other severe mental health conditions, or for individuals with current substance abuse issues. If you are currently under the care of a GP, you may wish to discuss if you would be eligible for a Medicare rebate for the course.
*** Note for Health Professionals- Health professionals and students are welcome to join these courses, to experience, first hand, the cultivation of Mindfulness through personal practice. While this is not a professional training course, participation in an 8- week course is considered requisite experience for further professional training in teaching Mindfulness-Based Approaches, and forms a part of the Good Practice Guidelines for teachers of Mindfulness-Based Approaches.
Course Facilitator
Course Facilitator : Chrissie Burke, (BA Dip Ed, MEd Counselling Psychology) Registered Psychologist, Medicare Provider.
"My personal mindfulness practice began over 8 years ago, through engaging in Kabat-Zinn's MBSR program for my own health and well-being. I see Mindfulness as a way of being rather than a set of techniques to apply just when facing difficulties. My professional development as a Mindfulness Facilitator has included extensive training with the Centre for Mindfulness Research and Practice (CMRP), University of Wales, Bangor, UK, including MBCT Teacher Development Retreat, and 2 years Post Graduate study in the MSc in Mindfulness-Based Approaches program, which provides my qualification to teach MBSR and MBCT. Ongoing professional development has included MBSR Professional Training Retreat with Jon Kabat-Zinn, Sydney; annual participation in teacher-led silent meditation retreats (with teachers including John Teasdale, Christina Feldman, Martine Batchelor, Sharon Salzberg); as a delegate at Mind & Life Eduction Research Network Conference, Washington DC, and I actively participate in a number of local and international Mindfulness professional and academic networks. I have previously facilitated MBCT groups in London, and currently offering MBCT- Stress Reduction courses in Sydney."
Publications in Mindfulness-Based Approaches:
Burke, C.A. (2010) Mindfulness-based approaches with children and adolescents: A
Semple, R.J. & Burke, C.A. (in press) Changing Paradigms: Treating Children and