Provides information on mindfulness, how to practise it and how it can help with mental health problems.
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There are many ways you can learn mindfulness, which come in different formats. This page covers:
"Sometimes mindfulness makes you turn towards things you would normally avoid. That can be challenging. But if you have an experienced mindfulness teacher they can help you to pace yourself."
If you choose to learn mindfulness with an introductory course, this type of option:
Brief taster sessions and informal mindfulness groups are also common.
You might find that these are organised through your place of work or education, or a local library or community centre.
Some local Mind branches may run mindfulness courses and groups. For a fee, some private teachers may also offer introductory courses.
"I went on a mindfulness course once a week for about eight weeks. It covered body mindfulness, mindful eating, mindful walking, mindful environmental awareness and more."
Some structured mindfulness therapy programmes have been developed to treat specific problems. The most well-established courses are:
In some cases the NHS recommends these treatments, as studies show that they can work well. But availability on the NHS varies across the country and waiting lists can be long.
Different courses may have slightly different structures, but in general they:
Some other types of talking therapies use mindfulness techniques, such as dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT).
To find a formal mindfulness course near you, you can:
You can find out more on the MBCT website, or see our pages on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and talking therapy and counselling.
"As the course starts, it isn't always clear exactly how it will help. The encouragement to just do something, to put one foot in front of the other without thinking about it and questioning it too much can be really helpful."
For a fee, some mindfulness teachers offer one-to-one sessions through the private sector. Some therapists and counsellors also have mindfulness training and can integrate these techniques into their approach.
One-to-one sessions may be expensive. But they are more likely to be tailored to your particular situation and won't include group work.
You can look for a qualified mindfulness teacher or therapist in your local area through:
For more information on things to consider when starting any kind of therapy, see our page getting the most from therapy.
These courses are usually taught at Buddhist centres. See Buddhanet's World Buddhist Directory to find a Buddhist centre near you. Contact them directly to see what they offer.
There are many self-guided resources to help you through different mindfulness exercises. Apps, books and audio – such as CDs and podcasts – are typically less structured than online courses.
Self-help resources have no formal regulation, and vary greatly in quality and cost. This can make it hard to judge what might work for you. But in general, it's a good idea to look for a course or resource that:
Many people practise mindfulness online or use a smartphone app to help. Online resources might be useful when you're feeling less able to engage in face-to-face support.
For support with using digital mental health tools, see our information on staying safe online.
For books and audio:
For online courses and apps:
For more tips on doing mindfulness by yourself, see our page on mindfulness exercises.
This information was published in November 2021. We will revise it in 2024.
References and bibliography available on request.
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