Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Online Group Programme

Date 1 TBC (2-hours – online zoom)

Date 2 TBC (2-hours – online zoom)

Date 3 TBC (2-hours – online zoom)

Date 4 TBC (2-hours – online zoom)

Date 5 TBC (2-hours – online zoom)

Date 6 TBC (2-hours – online zoom)

Date 7 TBC (2-hours – online zoom)

Date 8 TBC (2-hours – online zoom)

The MBSR programme is delivered by Dr Sarah Brown, who is an experienced HCPC registered health psychologist. Sarah has worked in psychology services and academia since 2002, she has experience of working with people who are living with long-term health conditions and supporting health behaviour change (including weight management programmes and cardiac rehabilitation). Mindfulness-based approaches have been integral to this work. Alongside clinical work Sarah also teaches on postgraduate health psychology programmes.

Dr Sarah Brown | Gloucestershire Psychology Services

We welcome people who have practiced mindfulness previously or who are completely new to mindfulness. The minimum age to register for the programme is 18 years and there is no upper age range. You will also need to be registered with a UK based GP practice.

There may be a wide range of reasons why someone decides to complete an MBSR programme, including:

• A curiosity to learn more about mindfulness
• To understand more about stress
• To support general health and wellbeing
• To manage the psychological impact of long-term health conditions (e.g. long-term pain conditions)
• Learning new ways to respond to stress
• Changing health related behaviours and habits
• Support with negative self-talk or thoughts
• To be able to live more fully in the present moment

Whilst research supports a wide range of benefits of mindfulness-based approaches and it is considered a valuable practice to have, it is important to add that this does not mean it will be beneficial to all people, all the time and in all circumstances. For example, the course may not be suitable for someone who is currently experiencing a particularly distressing life event, trauma or a recent bereavement.

With practice mindfulness-based approaches such as the MBSR programme, it can support:

• Greater self-compassion
• Enhanced quality of life
• Reduced stress, psychological stress, depression and anxiety
• Management of long-term conditions such as chronic pain
• Improved sleep quality

As discussed, the MBSR programme is well-researched and includes a range of safe mindful meditation practices. The practices allow you to notice thoughts, feelings, urges and physical sensations in the present moment. At times this may feel emotional and on occasions people may notice memories or events from the past that have been upsetting. This will be discussed more fully on the programme to ensure you are able to able to look after yourself in such moments should they arise, and you can discuss with your MBSR course facilitator.

Most people will find that their minds will become distracted by thoughts, feelings and physical sensations during a practice, knowing this has happened is mindfulness in practice. 

A choice to modify practices (such as allowing your eyes to be open during practices, sitting during mindful movement) will be included during the guided practices. If you are concerned about any experiences you have during any of the mindfulness practices you can discuss with your MBSR course facilitator.

By attending all 8 sessions you are likely to gain the most benefit from the course. However, we do understand that this may not be possible on occasions. Therefore, if you know that there is a session you are unable to attend, please inform your course facilitator.

If you miss two sessions, we recommend a one-to-one catch up session, which will have an additional cost. Any more than two missed sessions, we can discuss whether starting the next MBSR course may be of more benefit to you.

Upon booking, we give you the option to have a one-to-one session to talk through how to use Zoom. We will also send you detailed instructions of how to access the sessions online using Zoom.

If online sessions aren’t for you, we hope to offer an in-person MBSR course later in 2025.

There is an optional half-day mindfulness retreat towards the end of the course which will be held in Gloucestershire. The retreat helps to both consolidate your learning and deepen your practice. We can only run the retreat is enough members of the group wish to attend, otherwise we may delay the retreat until the completion of our next MBSR programme.

The half-day retreat is charged at an additional fee TBC.

• We require all clients to complete an initial booking form. This helps us to screen your needs to ensure that the MBSR programme is likely to be beneficial and safe for you to access at the current time.
• We will get in touch with you after you have completed our initial booking form. Some clients will require a brief individual online meeting to discuss how we may best support you to access the programme. We will then be in touch with details of how to register onto the programme.
• Full payment is required at time of registration. A space on the programme can only be secured once full payment has been received.
• Cancellation terms:
  • Cancellations received with less than 7 days (1 calendar week) before the start of the programme will not be eligible for a refund. You will be entitled to transfer your booking to a future MBSR course.
  • Cancellations received with less than 14 days (2 calendar weeks) before the start of the programme will be eligible for a 50% refund. Alternatively, you will be entitled to transfer your booking to a future MBSR course.
  • Cancellations received with more than 14 days (2 calendar weeks) before the start of the programme will be eligible for a full refund. Alternatively, you will be entitled to transfer your booking to a future MBSR course.
• By registering for a place on one of our courses, you agree for Gloucestershire Psychology Services Ltd to collect and use your data for the purposes outlined in our privacy policy, for the provision of accessing psychological services.
• We ask everyone who attends our group programmes to agree to a confidentiality statement to keep group discussions and attendees of the group confidential to the group. If you have any queries or concerns about this, please speak to your MBSR group facilitator.