This workshop is designed as an introduction to mindfulness for those interested in learning how mindfulness can help with anxiety and depression, and are considering attending an 8-week mindfulness course.

The significant evidence base around mindfulness has shown it to be a highly effective (and NICE-recommended) method of relapse prevention in recurrent depression and as a successful intervention for a variety of anxiety disorders. With practice, mindfulness can help us recognise how we become entangled in streams of worries, self-criticism and ruminative thinking, and slowly learn to break free from these patterns to improve our well-being.

Through psychoeducation, group discussion and short mindfulness practices in this one-day workshop, you will gain a basic understanding of:

• What mindfulness is and how it can be trained;
• How depression and anxiety develop and are maintained;
• The research and neuroscience around how mindfulness works;
• Mindfulness practices to help accept yourself and face life’s difficulties with self-compassion instead of self-criticism;
• How the 8-Week Mindfulness Course can help you build the skills to manage your symptoms of anxiety and/or depression longer term.

No prior mindfulness experience or knowledge required.

Resources

• Julie Myerson: how mindfulness based cognitive therapy changed my life: http://bit.ly/1aR2Ytz
• The Efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy as a Public Mental Health Intervention for Adults with Mild to Moderate Depressive Symptomatology: A Randomized Controlled Trial: http://bit.ly/1jYwYin
• Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders: http://bit.ly/2IzC8ib
• The Mindful Nation Report: the UK’s first policy document of its kind, which puts forth recommendations to use more mindfulness interventions to address mental health concerns across all areas of UK society: http://bit.ly/1jRhvk4
• BBC World segment with Dr Cinzia Pezzolesi on Anxiety and Mindfulness: http://bit.ly/1POKLpa