I trained as a mindfulness-based teacher through Bangor University in 2005/6 and have been teaching eight-week Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction/Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (MBSR/MBCT) courses to the general public in Kent since 2006 in group settings and to individuals face-to-face and as a distance learning course. Between 2015-2017 I trained in Mindfulness-Based Compassionate Living and have offered the course since 2017.
I have been working as a Biodynamic Psychotherapist (UKCP reg.) since 2000, with individuals presenting with a wide range of difficulties and specialise in using one-to-one mindfulness-informed approaches in clinical settings.
Since 2009, I have been engaged in supervising mindfulness teachers and offering mentoring for their mindfulness practice.
I have a special interest in expanding and deepening mindfulness practice beyond the eight-week course and so offer groups, practice days and retreats as on-going support and help in facing and working with life’s difficulties in greater awareness and with compassion for oneself and for others.
Qualifications
- MBCL Teacher Training with Erik van den Brink, Compassionate Wellbeing
- Supervisiors’ training, Centre for Mindfulness Research and Practice, University of Wales, Bangor (CMRP),
- MBSR/MBCT Teacher Training, (CMRP)
- Biodynamic Psychotherapy, London School of Biodynamic Psychotherapy
- MSc Food Chemistry, University Bonn, Germany
Teaching Training Specialisms
- MBCL for general populations
- MBSR for general populations
- MBSR one-to-one
- MBSR distance learning
- One-day and three-day-residential retreats
- Supervision: MBCL, MBSR/MBCT
- Personal practice mentoring
Supervision Experience
I have received supervision training through CMRP and have supervised mindfulness-based teachers privately since 2009, and since 2010 with CMRP and since 2015 with Mindfulness Network. It covers those on the Masters programmes, MBI teachers starting to teach and those with experience, and more recently those teaching the MBCL course.
Supervision Specialisms
In addition to the supervision for teaching activities, I offer support and mentoring for personal mindfulness practice. For native speakers, supervision is available in German.
Personal Practice
Having an inquiring mind I explored various kinds of yoga, personal development, and learnt and taught Tai Chi Chuan in the 1980s. I was introduced to Zen Buddhist meditation in 1988 and in the early 1990s I pursued my Zen training for several years fulltime, living at Zen Centres in Europe and the US with my first teacher Genpo Roshi and then Genno Roshi of the Dana Sangha, Paris, (Soto Zen tradition – White Plum Asangha), with whom I have been studying ever since in retreat settings and individual meetings. Being a senior student of Genno Roshi, I lead an affiliate meditation group in Kent.
When I took up mindfulness training in 2005, I found that my mindfulness and Zen practice have stimulating effects on each other in my daily practice and in particular in working with pain and difficulties.
I learned and practised Buddhist compassion practices for years and have experienced their transformative power. I am very grateful that I can now offer them in a secular form within the MBCL course which helps to bring a compassionate attitude directly into everyday situations.
As most of my work is relational (teaching, supervising and client work), I find I benefit hugely from periods of solitude and going to retreats frequently in order to find a balance between giving and being nurtured. Another great help for balancing life’s challenges is my garden and simply being in nature.
Research Activities and Interests
I am interested in research into the various applications and adaptations of MBSR/MBCT for different client groups.
Further Information:
My website is www.barbarahussong.co.uk.