Certification as an MBCL Teacher
A teacher training leading to certification as an MBCL teacher will be offered through two modules, led by Erik van den Brink. Both of these will take place at The Beeches (76 Selly Oak Road, Bournville, Birmingham, B30 1LS).
Module One: 11-13 November 2016
Friday and Saturday 9.30 – 18.00, Sunday 9.00 – 13.00
Module Two: 3-5 March 2017
Friday and Saturday 9.30 – 18.00, Sunday 9.00 – 13.00
Module 1 MBCL Teacher-Training Programme (3 days)
Learning Objectives of Module 1
- To experience the main exercises of MBCL in more depth beyond the foundation course level.
- To thoroughly review the content of the 8 sessions of an MBCL course.
- To have a basic understanding of the scientific foundation of compassion training and the theoretical background in western and Buddhist psychology.
- To review and develop the basic attitudes necessary for working with compassion-focused methods.
- To have an understanding for which clients compassion training can be helpful.
- To deepen the practice of mindfulness and clarify its relationship to compassion training.
Content of Module 1
- The validation of pain and suffering.
- How our brain has evolved to help us survive and how compassion is a necessity (not a luxury), for our wellbeing and survival.
- ‘What we did not choose is not our fault.’
- Insight into the three basic emotion-regulation systems and how they are affected by shame, self-criticism and the ‘inner bully’.
- How mental images imbalance the emotion-regulation systems and how compassionate imagery can restore the balance.
- ‘Tend & befriend’ as a fourth reaction to stress in addition to fight, flight & freeze.
- The psychological expressions of fight, flight & freeze: self-hatred, self-isolation and over-identification; and their antidotes: self-kindness, common humanity & mindfulness.
- Developing the compassion mode with its attributes of care for wellbeing and relief of suffering, sensitivity to needs, sympathy, empathy, tolerance of distress and non-judgmental awareness.
- The balanced cultivation of the four limitless qualities: compassion, loving kindness, joy and equanimity.
Module 2 MBCL Teacher-Training Programme (3 days)
Learning Objectives of Module 2
- Deepening the understanding of the structure and content of MBCL.
- Learning how to teach the curriculum and how to guide MBCL exercises.
- Introduction to leading inquiry following exercises.
- Developing skills of how to present the background theory on compassion training.
- Deepening one’s personal experience of compassion exercises.
Content of Module 2
- The structure of MBCL’s 8 sessions will be presented in detail from the teaching perspective.
- The content and structure of compassion-focused exercises will be reviewed and practiced.
- Participants will have more practice guiding MBCL exercises as well as leading compassionate inquiry sessions.
- Background knowledge and meta-perspectives for MBCL trainers, including:
- Evolutionary perspectives
- High and low routes toward compassion
- The plasticity of the brain
- The physiology of the breath
- Individual and gender differences
- Different attachment styles
- MBCL and psychiatric disorders
- MBCL in private practice settings
- Content and attitude in communication
- The differences and common ground between psychotherapy and MBCL training.
Participation Requirements for the MBCL Teacher-Training (TT) Programme:
The MBCL TT Programme is currently taking place in various countries in Europe and offered as postgraduate education for professionals already familiar with mindfulness practice and mindfulness-based work.
ALL Applicants are required to have followed a 3-day MBCL Foundation Course OR eight-week MBCL training as a participant.
Applicants have …
EITHER: qualified as a mindfulness teacher (MBSR or MBCT, or equivalent, e.g. Breathworks) from a recognized training institute. On successful completion of the MBCL TT Programme, one can obtain A-registration as an MBCL-teacher and offer the formal MBCL-programme as an advanced course to participants who completed a basic mindfulness course (MBSR/MBCT/Breathworks). Those who do not feel confident to do so as yet after the TT, are advised to seek further schooling, seek adequate supervision and/or obtain experience as a co-teacher. As this is a postgraduate education one is expected to have the professional integrity and responsibility to judge when one is ready to offer MBCL independently. Those who have almost completed their mindfulness teacher training and have an aspirant registration can also apply for the MBCL TT programme. However, they only obtain their A-registration following completion of their training and full professional registration as a mindfulness teacher.
OR: qualified in a (mental) health or other helping profession without MBSR/MBCT teacher qualification. They should preferably have followed basic training and gained experience in mindfulness-based interventions (e.g. ACT, DBT, MBCT) and/or wish to do the training to deepen their own practice and their therapeutic or counseling skills with mindfulness-based and compassion-focussed interventions. For this group the minimum requirements are that one has followed an eight-week MBSR/MBCT course and has at least one year regular practice in mindfulness meditation. Those belonging to this group can obtain B-registration as a professional being trained in guiding exercises and working with material from the MBCL programme and applying this in their own professional setting, individually or in groups. Please note, one can only register as a formal MBCL-teacher and offer the full MBCL-programme under its name, when one is also a formal MBSR or MBCT teacher.
To book the Teacher Training modules, please email [email protected].
