Mindfulness course

5 May 19:00 to 23 June 21:15

Trinity Term 2025

Mindfulness is an evidence-based, secular and effective means of alleviating stress, anxiety and depression, and promoting well-being, flourishing, and resilience.  In these times of ongoing uncertainty and additional stress, it can be a useful skill to develop. To enable widest possible access, the course will be taught entirely on Zoom.

This practical course is taught by a teacher trained and qualified by the University of Oxford Mindfulness Foundation. Skills for supporting top performance, resilience, and good mental health will be taught through eight classes and one day of practice (for dates and times see below). 

Participants will be introduced to mindfulness practices each week and will be asked to do home practice exercises, to consolidate learning. The evidence base shows mindfulness has protective effects on mental health at follow-up.
If you wish to find out more about mindfulness, please consult the Oxford Mindfulness Foundation website .
 
Participants will have the opportunity to:

  1. Acquire skills for supporting top performance, resilience, and good mental health. 
  2. Experience first-hand a range of mindfulness practices that could help alleviate stress and /or low mood
  3. Gain an understanding of the cognitive frameworks that foster good mental health and wellbeing
  4. Identify specific mindfulness practices that they can turn to in stressful periods
  5. Understand the need for self-care and how mindfulness can help foster self-care

In applying for this course, you agree:
1)    You undertake sole responsibility for your own wellbeing during the MBCT-L course. You agree to bring any concerns to the Course Teacher in the first instance, and contact your GP or relevant health professional, should you continue to have concerns about your wellbeing.
2)    Following the submission of your pre-course questionnaire (to be sent to you by email, in response to your application), you may be contacted by the Course Teacher to discuss if the course is appropriate for you to attend at this time. If you mutually decide that it is not, you will be notified in advance of course start date.

 

There is a course handbook which you will receive as a pdf after being offered a place on the course. 

Note: This course is designed for those who experience everyday levels of stress. It is not appropriate for people who are currently experiencing clinical depression and /or anxiety. On receipt of your application, you will be emailed a self-screening form to check whether it is suitable for you at this time; you will be asked to return this directly to the course teacher, and anything you write there will remain confidential between you and the teacher.
Before you register please check that you are able to commit to the 8 sessions and the day of practise (dates below), and regular home practice, in between sessions, to consolidate skills.

Is this course right for me? 
https://www.oxfordmindfulness.org/course-suitability/

Course Dates and Times

Session 1 - Monday 5 May 7:00-9:30pm GMT (TT2)
Session 2 – Monday 12 May 7:00-9:15pm GMT (TT3)
Session 3 – Monday 19 May 7:00-9:15pm GMT (TT4)
Session 4 – Monday 26 May 7:00-9:15pm GMT (TT5)
Session 5 – Monday  2 June 7:00-9:15pm GMT (TT6)
Session 6 – Monday 9 June 7:00-9:15pm GMT (TT7)
Silent Retreat: Saturday 14 June 12:00-5:00pm GMT
Session 7 – Monday 16 June 7:00-9:15pm GMT (TT8)
Session 8 – Monday 23 June 7:00-9:15pm GMT (TT9)

Attendance at all sessions is required, please only apply if you can attend all 8 sessions.

 

Application process

Please read our T&Cs at the foot of this page before applying for this course.
If you have specific circumstances which may affect your engagement with this event, or your meeting our Terms and Conditions, please continue with your booking and contact us by email to discuss how we can support you: researcherdevelopment@socsci.ox.ac.uk

Register your interest by clicking the link below after registration opens and completing the form. You will then be contacted directly by the course teacher, Christine Condello and asked to complete pre-course questionnaire.

 

We are no longer taking applications - Course FULL

Researcher Development Terms and Conditions

In booking any training workshops, you agree that: 

 

COMMITMENT: application is not an expression of interest; it is a firm commitment. You will be available for the full duration of the course session(s); if you are not, please do not make a booking. You will not accept any subsequent meeting invitations that may fall during the given workshop times. 

PRE-WORK / HOMEWORK: if applicable, you will complete any given pre-work and/or homework as described on the workshop web listing, as it constitutes part of the workshop  

CANCELLATION: should your circumstances change, and you are not able to attend the full session(s). you will cancel giving at least 72-hours' notice, so we can offer the place to someone on the waiting list. 

ARRIVAL: you will join, or arrive at, the workshop 5 minutes before the advertised start time, to ensure a prompt start. 

LATE POLICY: you understand that the online room will be locked / workshop door will be closed 10 minutes after the event start time and late-comers will not be admitted. This is to preserve the integrity of the course for those who are present.  

ENGAGEMENT: you will give the session your undivided attention and engagement. You will not be able to do other tasks in parallel. If online, you will ensure that your environment and internet connection allow you to participate verbally and with video cameras on. These are interactive workshops, and it is not appropriate to attend from a silent or shared workspace. 

ATTENDANCE RECORD: you understand the Register will be taken in the last half-hour of the course, and anyone not present in the room at that point will be marked as non -attending (see below) 

FEEDBACK: you will contribute feedback afterwards, to help us understand how well the session met its intended aims, and facilitate our continuous improvement 

CONSEQUENCES OF NON-ATTENDANCE: you understand that any non-attendance  
a) is visible to departments and supervisors/PIs, and  
b) may result in any future bookings you’ve made within the same term being cancelled, and the place(s) offered to the waiting list. 

 

If you have specific circumstances which may affect your engagement with this event, or your meeting our Terms and Conditions, please continue with your booking and contact us by email to discuss how we can support you: researcherdevelopment@socsci.ox.ac.uk