MBCT is an eight-week, research-based training program developed at Oxford University

It combines cognitive-behavioural skills with mindfulness attitudes and practices to help participants relate differently to their inner experiences, allowing for greater freedom to respond intentionally, to develop resilience and healthier responses. MBCT is the result of research by professor Zindel Segal (Toronto Uni), professor Mark Williams (Oxford Uni) and professor John Teasdale (Cambridge Uni). There is a growing body of research into the benefits of Mindfulness as an approach in a number of conditions:

  • Low mood, depression

  • Stress, anxiety, panic

  • Recurrent depression

  • Suicidality

  • Chronic pain

  • Eating disorders

MBCT is an empirically supported approach to help prevent the relapse of chronic depression and anxiety. Research shows MBCT as a treatment intervention halves the risk of relapse in people with repeated episodes of depression - clinical trials have shown MBCT being as effective as antidepressants.

Is MBCT for me?

Do you feel on automatic pilot – surviving, rather than fully living each moment of life?

Step out of automatic pilot and transform your experience by becoming more aware.

Do you feel driven – like a hamster in a wheel, overwhelmed and feeling like you are unable to catch up?

Learn to recognise your thoughts, emotions, sensations and impulses, settle the driven and scattered mind, and return to the present moment.

Are you noticing patterns of habitual reactions, lowered mood, raised stress or anxiety?

Learn the core psychological processes that lie at the root of the many ways in which you can get stuck in depression, anxiety, unhappiness and emotional distress.

Do you feel stuck?

Learn how when your attention is caught up in the past or the future, you can get trapped in unhelpful patterns of thinking, feeling and acting. Recognising these automatic reactions, learn how to cultivate an attitude of kindness and compassion. 

Do you give yourself the kindness and care you extend so genuinely to others?

Learn skills to keep balanced through the ups and downs of life and respond skilfully when difficulties arise. Learn to cultivate attitudes of curiosity and friendliness toward all of your experience whether pleasant or unpleasant.

Are you noticing patterns of persistent preoccupations of thought?

Learn to work with difficult thought patterns, and understand that thoughts are not facts, just passing mental events.

Are you struggling with previous episodes of depression and or anxiety?

The early warning signs of relapse are explored and we devise action plans of how best to take care of yourself.

Are you finding it difficult to build a mindfulness practice into your day?

Learn how to sustain a regular meditation practice.

Testimonials

“I found the MBCT course enjoyable and informative. Lea was authentic and very knowledgeable. My ability to be able to cope with situations that used to rattle me has increased dramatically. I have more presence; awareness and I feel more grounded and connected to myself.”

Michael Vandenhoek

“Lea’s guidance through the MCBT programme has been invaluable in personalising strategies to best suit my needs and circumstances. Her willingness to be flexible with dates and times has made it possible for me to do the course amidst huge change. That has been much appreciated because MBCT practice is enabling me to navigate this season in my life with relative ease. It is making a significant difference.”

Debbie

“I have been fortunate to enjoy 8 sessions of Mindfulness training with Lea Godfrey. Her approach has always been gentle and respectful. I have learnt strategies to enable me to function more calmly when faced with stressful situations in my everyday life.”

F L Taylor

“Thanks so much again for a life changing 8 weeks. This practice is changing the relationship I have with myself, my thoughts, feelings and my actions and transforming the way I relate to and connect with the world (environment and people) around me every day in surprising ways.”

Samantha Vandenhoek

“I always used to judge myself based on what thoughts I had. I spent a lot of time thinking about the past. Now I know that thoughts are not facts and that bad feelings can come from thoughts that simply aren’t true. I have the power to view thoughts from a different angle and choose whether to engage with the thought or tell it to go away. I also have the power to choose my reactions to situations.”

India Carr

“I was quite nervous to start the course but after finishing the last week of training I was so glad I did. It definitely wasn’t easy but with Lea’s great teaching I was starting to see real benefit in the practise by the end of week 8. I would recommend MBCT to anyone who wants a better understanding of their mind and to gain the ability to choose how they react in uncomfortable situations.”

Cory Mitchell

“It was an enriching experience in which I not only learnt to better understand some things about myself and the importance of accepting them, but also how meditation and breathing exercises can help us become more mindful about daily activities and also help prepare for or cope with difficulties which can arise. It was really good to work in a small group and realise that we all have different lives and cope with problems in different ways, sharing was an important part of the course, but the most importance was acceptance of oneself and others.”

Margaret Dempsey

"I have learnt so much about myself, my trigger points and how I can balance my life out and enjoy the moment and to be able to control the mind which previously was constantly running on overdrive."

Julia Macklen

 
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What is the format of MBCT?

Nine weekly one hour individual sessions for those wanting a tailored experience to meet their needs. Or in a group setting, eight weekly two hour sessions, plus a pre-course interview and an all-day session held between session six and seven. Digital MP3 audio practice recordings and a 73-page handbook with weekly practice, reflections and course material included.

Participants will learn cognitive-behavioural techniques and mindfulness exercises and meditation designed to increase non-judgemental, moment-to-moment awareness of bodily sensations, thoughts and emotions.

The home practice forms an important part of the programme and there is an opportunity in each session to talk about the experiences of the home practices, the obstacles that inevitably arise, and how to deal with them skilfully.

In sessions participation includes; guided mindfulness practices (i.e. body scan, sitting meditation, walking meditation, mindful breathing and mindful movement), participants sharing their experience of these practices, review of weekly homework, learning cognitive-behavioural skills.

 

Can I learn mindfulness if I have not been clinically depressed?

Yes. You can benefit from mindfulness whether you have a specific problem or not. We all have times in our lives when we experience difficulty, stress and struggle; and for some of us this is our daily experience.

Mindfulness helps you see with greater clarity how you may approach your moment-by-moment experience skilfully, taking more pleasure in the good things that often go unnoticed or unappreciated, and dealing more effectively with the difficulties you encounter, both real and imagined.

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