Mindfulness and compassion in counselling and psychotherapy: A workshop with David Oldham on 8th December 2017

09:30 – 16:00

David Oldham ran a mindfulness and compassion workshop for us in December 2014.  Now, by request, we are inviting him to return.

Mindfulness first came to the attention of the world of counselling and psychotherapy through the work of Segal, Williams and Teasdale (2002). They initially positioned Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) as a relapse prevention for depression in the evidence-based world of Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT). However, its roots in Eastern philosophy are much deeper, and its applicability is virtually universal. This is seen in the work of John Kabat Zinn, who was involved with Segal et al. from the earliest stages of their work (Williams et al., 2007).

A few years later, the field of mindfulness was enlarged with the ideas of Compassion and Compassion focused therapy (Gilbert, 2009; 2010) which are again rooted in Eastern philosophy.

Mindfulness and compassion have made a unique and profound contribution to our ideas of therapy. They do it in ways that are unifying and which fit well with most, if not all, traditional schools of therapy. And now there is increasing support from the developing field of neuroscience.

One aspect of mindfulness and compassion that distinguishes it from other approaches to counselling and therapy is the integral nature of the practice of meditation by both client and therapist.

The workshop will explore the theory and practice of mindful compassion and the neuroscience that supports it. It will also focus on experiential learning through practice, reflection and discussion so that participants can relate it to their own needs and areas of interest in their work and personal life.

David Oldham is an experienced teacher of meditation who has taught both nationally and internationally for a variety of organisations, including the Mindfulness Association, Samye Ling Monastery and Macmillan Cancer Support. In his work as a counsellor in private practice and as a Macmillan counsellor in a local hospice he uses mindful practices and teaches Mindful Compassion to patients. In addition, he regularly runs training retreats for health care professionals and the public. He has trained with a variety of the leading teachers and researchers in the areas of meditation, mindfulness, compassion and self-compassion. His teaching is supported by research he carried out for his MA in counselling, which looked at the impact of neuroscience on theory and practice. This is a field that he continues to explore in relation to the practice of meditation.

The event, which includes lunch, will be held in the calm and spiritual Friends Meeting House in Stockport. After registration, the event will commence at 09:30 and end promptly at 16:00.

The cost is £90 per delegate. For reservations made before 15th September, there will be an ‘Early Bird’ rate of £80. After this date we will maintain the early bird rate for groups of three or more delegates who book together.

6 hours CPD – a signed certificates of attendance will be provided to all registered delegates.

To register and pay online click on the Eventbrite ‘Register Now; button. You can book with confidence through Eventbrite, and pay by PayPal or card. To register and pay offline email events@mindsite.co.uk , or call Jonathan at 0161 439 7773. To view our cancellation policy click here.

References

Gilbert, P. (2009). The compassionate mind : A new approach to life’s challenges. London, Constable.

Gilbert, P. (2010). Compassion focused therapy : Distinctive features. London, Routledge.

Segal, Z. V., Williams, J. M. G. & Teasdale, J. D. (2013). Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression. 2nd ed.New York, Guilford Press.

Williams, J. M. G. (2007). The mindful way through depression : Freeing yourself from chronic unhappiness. New York: Guilford Press,.