Updates to our Certificate Training Pathways
To reflect the expansion and professionalization of the mindfulness field, the Centre has made significant updates to our MBCT and MBSR Certificate Training Programs. Our trainings have always adapted to sector changes – we added our MBSR training pathway in 2016, mentorship became a required part of the MBCT training pathway in 2017, and the curriculum of all training modules undergoes constant updating to reflect new research and emerging healthcare and societal issues.
What sector developments led to our most recent changes?
The mindfulness field is expanding as more people come to understand the beneficial effects of meditation and mindfulness-based therapies. The growing body of evidence that supports mindfulness has also increased in complexity as clinical research findings are more nuanced and specific in regards to how these benefits are achieved.
Given the professionalization of the field, there is an increasing need to ensure that mindfulness-based program facilitators are trained to a particular standard – especially for those in regulated occupations who are expected to engage in ongoing continuing education.
The facilitation and delivery of mindfulness-based programs are becoming increasingly complex with a number of issues requiring consideration – including trauma, mindfulness-based adaptations, teaching online, higher needs of the participants in groups, and the relevance of MBP to diverse communities.
In response to these and other issues, the Centre has continued to expand our offerings in order to maintain the highest quality of training and to meet the needs of mindfulness facilitators – particularly those who work with populations suffering from stress and mental health concerns.
1. Training Pathway now includes advanced modules
The Centre has moved the MBCT and MBSR training pathways from two levels – Level 1 (certificate) followed by Level 2 (certification) – to one cohesive program that includes two rounds of mentorship and advanced training in inquiry. As a part of this change, we have clarified the steps of the training pathways and confirmed how trainees should refer to their training status as they progress.
These changes have been made so that the Centre is better able to provide students with immediate feedback and one-on-one guidance. Research indicates that the best – perhaps the only – way to develop expertise is to receive feedback; feedback is simply required in order to learn from experience. It is important to know that mental health clinicians and MBP facilitators may not continue to develop expertise without this.
If you took your last inquiry course before 2019 or if you finished your Level 1 training before the addition of the mentorship requirement, consider taking the Advanced Teacher Training Intensive to upgrade your skills and receive valuable feedback.
2. MBSR Training now includes practicum
The Centre has added a practicum training module to the MBSR certification pathway in order to provide trainees with the experience of moving through the entire 8-week program from beginning to end. To create the best learning environment, the MBSR Practicum incorporates 35 hours of training and comprises no more than 18 trainees.
The MBSR Practicum enables trainees to experience the 8-week program as both a facilitator and a student while receiving feedback from running parts of the sessions and from engaging in teachbacks. It also equips them with a community of practice, critical readings, and cognitive frameworks for delivering MBSR and inquiry. We have found that trainees who complete the practicum are better able to run a group without being overloaded by the logistics and the agenda. They are more able to concentrate on their group facilitation skills, guidance, and inquiry.
Starting in 2022, the MBSR Practicum will be a core component of the training pathway, taking the place of 10 hours of mentorship. Those MBSR trainees who complete the MBSR TTI in 2021 or earlier have the choice to complete either the MBSR Practicum + 12 hours of MBSR mentorship (one group) OR 22 hours of MBSR mentorship (two consecutive groups).
For more information on the MBSR Practicum, click here.
Other News
Looking for continuing education credits? All of the Centre’s professional trainings are approved for Mainpro+ credits and are accredited by the CPA, CCPA, and OAMHP. If you have ongoing professional development requirements, click here to learn more.
Save the date! The Centre will be opening up our faculty development meetings to all of our past and current trainees in an effort to build a community of practice and to aid in continuing development. Our first open meeting will be on Wednesday, April 7, 2021 | 6pm – 8pm ET when we will share our Learnings from the Online Space. To be notified when registration opens, please click here.