Advanced Teacher Training Intensive
Embodied Presence & Inquiry In Practice
The Advanced Teacher Training Intensive (ATTI) is designed for mindfulness-based program (MBP) teachers seeking to deepen their facilitation and mindful inquiry skills.
For those in the Centre’s MBCT or MBSR certification pathways, it serves as the final training module.
This training is however open to anyone with a background in teaching mindfulness-based programs (MBCT, MBSR, MSC, DBT, ACT, etc.).
In this highly experiential training, participants engage in teaching and inquiry practices with a strong emphasis on embodied presence and reflective capacities.
Models supporting the facilitation of mindfulness groups, both in guidance and inquiry (post-practice reflection and discussion), are explored.
The training places particular emphasis on language in guidance and inquiry as well as challenges mindfulness facilitators face when guiding groups, with extensive feedback from teachers and colleagues.
Key Components:
Interrupting Skills: Participants learn ways to interrupt in a kind, skillful, and gentle manner, fostering participant and group learning. This skill assists participants in tuning more deeply into present-moment awareness.
Present Moment Awareness Practices: Specific practices and exercises are introduced to increase awareness of one’s present moment experience during guiding meditation practice and leading inquiry, enhancing embodied presence.
Archetypes and Roles: An introduction to specific archetypes and roles that mindfulness facilitators/teachers may adopt without awareness when leading groups, such as teacher, lecturer, fixer. The training focuses on increasing awareness of these roles and provides guidance on effective navigation and working skillfully when these show.
Attuning to Difficulty: Skills are developed for attuning to and addressing difficulties that participants may experience in meditation practices. The training equips teachers to assist participants in gently turning towards and working with difficult emotions, bodily sensations, and thoughts, increasing awareness of their own responses when participants encounter challenges in the group setting.
Who Should Attend
Mindfulness-Based Program (MBP) facilitators who have taught at least two groups in their specific MBP they offer (MBSR, MBCT, MSC, MBRP, DBT, ACT, etc.).
Registrants must also have a personal mindfulness practice and have participated in at least one extended teacher-led silent meditation retreat(s) of 3+ days in duration.
How many Continuing Education Credits (CECs)?
Timing
30 in-class hours
Fee
Varies based on online or in-person format, retreat location, and accommodation choice.
As a charity, we do not charge taxes.
Payment, cancellation and refund policies apply.
Join us in this journey to deepen your mindfulness teaching skills, enhance self-awareness, and cultivate embodied presence.
Learning Objectives
- To develop the skills of inquiry and delivery of mindfulness meditation practices/exercises in response to the needs of a group
- To be able to engage in reflective observation to teach the common elements of mindfulness-based programs
- To increase expertise through participation in teach-backs, coaching, and feedback
- To embrace guidance and inquiry as an embodied practice informed by the attitudinal foundations of mindfulness
- To better understand the importance of maintaining fidelity to protocols related to client outcomes and research
- To develop new skills for group process and experiential learning
- To be able to apply Buddhist psychological concepts to the delivery of mindfulness-based programs and inquiry
** For those enrolled in the Centre’s MBCT or MBSR training pathways, the facilitation of at least 3 MBPs is required before registering for the ATTI – 1 group as part of your first round of mentorship plus 2 additional groups outside of any mentorship requirements. Advanced mentorship should begin after completing the ATTI. It is strongly recommended that you discuss your training timeline with your mentor before registering for the ATTI or beginning your Advanced Mentorship.
Required Readings
MBCT: Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy: Embodied Presence & Inquiry in Practice by Susan Woods, Patricia Rockman, Evan Collins
– purchasable via the publisher New Harbinger or Chapters-Indigo or Amazon.ca
MBSR: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction: Protocol, Practice, and Teaching Skills by Susan Woods & Patricia Rockman
– purchasable via the publisher New Harbinger or Chapters-Indigo or Amazon.ca
Please note that, even if you teach mindfulness-based programs other than MBCT/MBSR, these books have a number of chapters that are directly related to Inquiry and to other aspects of teaching mindfulness-based programs.
