Mindfulness Programme

The mindfulness programme provides eight weekly group training sessions in mindful awareness. The course is offered in the afternoon and evening in order to accommodate service users. The group is facilitated by staff trained with Level One teacher training in Mindfulness from Bangor University, Wales. The programme aims to introduce service users to the practice of mindfulness for stress reduction, through group discussion and experiential practices. The programme aims to help service users develop the ability to pay attention to the moment and to be more aware of thoughts, feelings and sensations, in a non-judgemental way. Developing and practicing this non-judgemental awareness has been found to reduce psychological distress and prevent relapse of some mental ill-health experiences (see Piet & Hougaard, 2011).