General Information

Under no circumstances are any practices obligatory. Self-care and awareness of one's needs is prioritised in each session.

How are sessions delivered?

Learning and experiencing the skills of mindfulness can take place in group or 1:1 sessions (see below for details) and delivered in-person or via Zoom. As an experienced trauma- informed practitioner, my teaching follows a gentle, sensitive and inclusive approach, which can be tailored to specific needs. In the sessions, our aim is to foster self-compassion and cultivate warm- hearted humour towards our complex and intriguing minds.

Sessions can follow:

All courses will include learning and experiencing:

  • insights into human physiology and the brain that explains our emotions, thoughts, behaviour, which in turn creates physical reactions in our bodies

  • formal meditation practices -these can be short or long practices, depending on the individual and circumstances.

  • informal mindfulness practice - where mindful awareness is brought into everyday life.

  • gentle movement, tailored to individuals needs and abilities.

  • how to create new ways of responding and interacting with our daily experiences, to promote wellbeing and flourishing.

What to expect in sessions.

Regular mindfulness practice often leads to a greater awareness of how all things are connected.  Humans are social beings. Learning alongside others allows us to share our insights, uncertainties, doubts and the challenges of learning a new skill. There are often many ‘a-ha’ moments!

Very importantly, everyone can choose when, and if, to enter into any discussions and no one is ever required to share anything that they do not want to.

Although we are all on our own personal journey, travelling with others can help us find our way.  People who practice mindfulness regularly often describe having a deeper experience when meditating in a group. 

Some of the many key benefits of learning and practicing in a group are: having mutual support; shared experiences; a sense of belonging and connection; and reduced distraction.

Group Sessions

While being a part of a group when learning mindfulness can be beneficial, some people prefer to learn mindfulness in a one-to-one environment. These sessions can follow any of the courses that I am trained to teach or bespoke sessions. Working in this way means that the sessions can be tailored specifically meet your individual needs. For example, you may choose to focus more on stress management, ability to focus more, anxiety, coping with menopause or perhaps a desire to feel more connected to life and developing feelings of flourishing and wellbeing.

Individual courses are a relaxed way of learning how to meditate and will introduce you to mindfulness and help you to weave it into everyday life.

1:1 Sessions

Once you have applied for sessions, an Orientation Questionnaire and Consent Form will be sent to you. I will review these and arrange a brief chat with you via telephone or ZOOM. This is standard practice for safeguarding reasons to discuss any course suitability for you at that time.

Sometimes, the time is not right to embark on a Mindfulness course, so it is best, safe-guarding practice for teachers to explore suitability with course candidates.

Even though research tells us that there are many therapeutic effects of this practice, it is important to differentiate between the two and have realistic expectations. Some mindfulness exercises may not be ideal for those who are dealing with a psychiatric disorder, particularly if it is in an acute phase. If you are in psychiatric treatment or therapy, please consult with your doctor or therapist to know if their support is needed or if this program is right for you at this time, before signing up. Depending on the circumstances, therapists can see mindfulness skills as a core skill to develop that can enhance their treatment.

Mindfulness practice teaches you how to be fully aware and present in each moment, with whatever arises. This comes with many benefits, however, sometimes this involves facing difficulty or unpleasant events, as they arise in the present. In this practice, we cultivate attitudes of curiosity, non-judging and kindness in order to do so. Turning towards difficulty is often the key to reducing dissatisfaction and unhappiness by standing back and noticing it’s influence over us. Developing your ability to see unpleasant events as they arise will create a space for you to chose how to deal with them before they become more intense or take over your nervous system.

Important things to note.

Mindfulness is not psychotherapy or a substitute for psychological treatment.