Facilitator: Tim Duerden & Annette Dunn of Integrated Mindfulness

COURSE OVERVIEW

This workshop offers and experiential introduction to Mindful Resilience Enhancement (MRE) a trauma sensitive approach to safely and accessibly teaching mindfulness to most individuals and groups. Around experiential practices (essentially a compressed version of a MRE course), we will develop the theoretical framework we have developed that underpins teaching mindfulness safely and accessibly to most people, including those who have experienced trauma.

We believe that a trauma sensitive approach should be the default approach to teaching mindfulness, as to do otherwise risks the wellbeing of course participants as we cannot know who may be adversely affected by inappropriately intense mindfulness practices. We also consider that there is no compelling clinical rationale to offer mindfulness courses that are not trauma sensitive. In our experience, teaching mindfulness in a trauma sensitive way helps everyone learn mindfulness more easily and integrate mindfulness more quickly into their lives, regardless of whether they have experienced trauma or not.

There is a pdf of a powerpoint available here that offers an overview of these issues – and the linked handout pdf is here.

The workshop is also a 2 day conversion course for mindfulness teachers who have completed teacher training in approaches such as Breathworks, .B, MBCT, or MBSR and who want to integrate the approaches MRE has developed into their work.

FURTHER DETAILS

The standard approaches to teaching mindfulness-based programmes tend to be based on the eight week course format of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). From the research evidence, it is clear the format of MBSR (and its adaptations like MBCT) meet the needs of many individuals.

However, there is a growing appreciation that people with previous or current experiences of trauma may struggle with the way mindfulness practices are taught within the standard curriculum of such courses.

Indeed, while cultivating mindful awareness is often an essential part of trauma recovery, mindfulness practices, if poorly matched to the person practicing them, may themselves be traumatising or re-traumatising.

In particular, body and/or breath focused, close-eyed, static and longer practice forms risk overwhelm for some people with trauma, leading to a variety of negative experiences including panic or shut-down. The experience of overwhelm can also be very shaming if the person feels they are the only one struggling in a group where everyone else appears to be benefiting from a practice (even though others may also be silently struggling).

This course will offer participants experience of a wide range of trauma sensitive approaches that are also highly accessible and safe mindfulness practices suitable for most groups whether clinical, community, corporate or educational.

MRE TEACHER TRAINING

This weekend forms the first part of a professional teacher-training programme in MRE. MRE teacher-training is in 2 levels and a pathway to a competency certificate is available after each level. Level 1 MRE teacher-training focuses on teaching clients to stabilise their attention and self-soothe. Level 2 MRE teacher-training focuses on teaching clients how to turn towards difficulty they are experiencing with self-compassion.

Please be aware that MRE training is designed for professionals with membership of a professional body that has a code or practice or ethics to provide a framework for accountable practice. If you do not belong to a professional body or are still in training please contact us to see whether you are eligible to undertake the MRE training course beyond Level 1, Workshop 1. Those without a membership of an appropriate professional body may still be able to do the training if you can clearly demonstrate how you will be working in an accountable way when offering MRE. We will need to discuss this on an individual basis.

So although this workshop is open to any students, trainees, professionals and practitioners working in health, educational, social and complementary contexts, Workshops 2 & 3 may not be open to you if you cannot demonstrate how you would be teaching mindfulness in an accountable context.

The mindfulness-approaches you will have the opportunity to learn have been specifically developed to be integrated into both one-to-one professional practice as well as delivered as a course: they form a very safe set of approaches called Mindful Resilience Enhancement (MRE). These approaches are designed to be quickly and easily taught to clients in the session and then the client can practice them between sessions. In our experience professionals find that when their clients start to practice mindfulness it enhances the client’s responsiveness to the other interventions being offered.

This workshop is essentially a 2 day version of the model Level 1 MRE 8 week course and so provides a crucial foundation in the MRE approach. The underpinning philosophy of MRE emphasises accessibility and the incremental development of mindfulness and self-compassion. As such there is a focus on starting to cultivate mindfulness in a focused and structured way but, unlike many mindfulness based approaches, to do this initially in the context of existing daily routines. Once the principles of mindfulness and a framework of mindfulness in daily life are established there is a firm foundation to explore longer practices to further develop the capacity for mindfulness and self-compassion.

Around the experiential aspects we will explore the theoretical framework underpinning MRE and how mindfulness can be integrated into professional practice.

MRE is supported by an extensive set of free to access audio files (see www.resilience.plus) and information sheets. This ensures that you or your clients using these approaches are not burdened by additional expenses.

Please see www.mre.re for further details of this approach.

FAQs

How do I book onto Workshop 2?

You have the option to book on Workshops one and two together by choosing the 'Workshop 1 and 2' ticket on this event listing.

Alternately you can book onto Workshop 2 individually here: https://mre1ws2.eventbrite.co.uk

How can I find information about other courses?

Please use the links below to our current course brochure and our Eventbrite listings.

The Christie Integrative Therapies Training Unit: Course Brochure

The Christie Integrative Therapies Training Unit: Eventbrite listings

What are my transport options for getting to and from the event?

You will find travel information on The Christie website:

http://www.christie.nhs.uk/patients-and-visitors/visiting-the-christie/directions-and-transport/

Is it easy to park near the hospital?

There is often on-road parking on streets around the hospital at weekends as most parking restriction zones are Monday-Friday only. Please take care to read the parking restriction signs carefully. Car Park C on Palatine Road and Car Park D on Wilmslow Road both have a £1.50 daily flat charge. You can access a parking map here: https://www.christie.nhs.uk/media/2359/legacymedia-5366-452.pdf

Can I pay by BACS transfer?

Individuals can book through Eventbrite using a credit or debit card. Businesses and healthcare organisations requiring alternate forms of payment must contact The Integrative Therapies Training Unit: ITTU@christie.nhs.uk

What do I need to bring to the event?

Just bring yourself and some notepaper for making notes. Please do not bring any valuables with you. We cannot be responsible for loss or theft of any personal items whilst on hospital property.

What time will the event start and finish?

Saturday: 09:30 Arrive/Registration 10:00 Start 17:00 Finish

Sunday: 09:00 Arrive 09:30 Start 16:30 Finish

Break times and lunch time will vary

Is Lunch included?

Lunch is not included but refreshments will be provided in the Rehab Unit throughout the day. The hospital has an on-site cafeteria serving hot & cold meal options as well as an M&S café, and a WHSmith where you can buy meal deals, drinks, sandwiches, and snacks. There are also plenty of vending machines all around the site where you can get soft drinks and a variety of snacks.

What should I wear to the event?

Dress code is ‘relaxed’. Tunics or uniforms are not required. For ‘hands-on’ courses we suggest loose and comfortable clothing that is easy to move around in.

Is my registration fee or ticket transferrable?

Within the terms of our Cancellation and Refunds Policy we will be happy to transfer your booking to a different course. Should that course be of a higher price we will ask you to pay the difference.

What is the Cancellation and Refunds Policy?

Cancelled by us:

• Courses will be cancelled with a minimum of 14 days’ notice

• You may request a full refund or transfer of fees to another course

• Pre-booked travel and personal expenses cannot be reimbursed

Cancelled by you:

• Up to 14 days before the course you will be charged a £40 admin fee for cancellation and refund requests

• Up to 14 days before the course you may transfer your fees to another course of the same value free of charge

• No refunds will be given for cancellations with less than 14 days’ notice; fees may be transferred to a different course at our discretion.

• To transfer fees to another course of a higher value you will be charged the difference and a £10 admin fee

Will I receive a Certificate of Attendance for this course?

Each weekend course totals a minimum of 12 hours of study time. You will only receive your certificate of attendance on completion of the full 12 hours.

For courses that include 24 hours of study time you will receive your certificate of attendance on completion of the full allotted 24 hours.

Will I receive CPD points or credits for this course?

This will vary depending on the professional body or association(s) to which you belong. Some, for example the FHT or CNCH place the responsibility on each individual member to decide what their own personal professional development needs are; and place and hourly or point valued system based on the nature of each activity rather than the provider. Some, for example the AoR or CThA each have their own rationale for accepting CPD training hours only when done only with their accredited providers. You will need to check the CPD policy of each of the organisations of which you are a member to know if this course will count towards your CPD.

Who is the awarding body for this course?

All of CPD and diploma certificates are awarded by The Christie School of Oncology Integrative Therapies Training Unit.

The certificate of attendance for this course will be awarded in conjunction with Integrated Mindfulness.

Is there a discount for repeat attendance?

Yes! We actively encourage repeating courses as a way of refreshing skills and embedding knowledge. You will receive a 50% discount to repeat any course that you have previously attended with us.

How can I contact the organiser with any other questions?

For further information please contact ITTU@christie.nhs.uk or 0161 446 8236

Is it ok if the name on my ticket or registration doesn't match the person who attends?

No. If you would like to transfer your booking to another person please contact us to make arrangements.

Data Protection

Your contact details will be held on file by The Christie ITTU and are made available to the course administration, course tutors, and additionally for diploma students the diploma education lead.

We will never pass your details to any third party.