Mindfulness Teacher Training, Highgate London

This five-day mindfulness teacher training in Highgate, North London, is a meditation certification for people who want to teach mindfulness, whether as a new career or as part of existing work in therapy, counselling, coaching, healthcare or education. The Mindfulness Now Teacher Training Programme is approved by the British Psychological Society and brings together Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT). It is led in London by Tony O'Shea-Poon at Jacksons Lane Arts Centre.

What to Expect

Over five days the training mixes guided practice, reflective enquiry, teaching exercises and experiential learning. The emphasis is on learning mindfulness by doing it: the course holds that mindfulness cannot be learned from books alone, so your own practice is treated as the foundation of your teaching. Qualities such as presence, curiosity, compassion, authenticity and reflective practice run through the days alongside the practical skills of delivering mindfulness safely, ethically and effectively.

The blend of MBSR and MBCT is meant to prepare you to teach in a wide range of settings. Past participants describe the course as thoughtful and developmental, and some mention that learning about themselves was not always comfortable but was valuable.

Each cohort tends to be mixed. Participants may include healthcare professionals, therapists, counsellors, coaches, teachers, charity workers, business leaders, creatives and people starting an entirely new career, which shapes the conversations and helps you prepare to teach with sensitivity and inclusivity.

After qualifying, graduates are invited to continue with CPD events, specialist workshops, supervision and advanced training. Graduates go on to teach in healthcare, education, charities, workplaces, private practice and community settings.

About Tony O'Shea-Poon

Tony O'Shea-Poon is a hypno-psychotherapist, mindfulness teacher and tutor, and coach. He has practised meditation for more than 25 years, beginning with Vipassana (insight) meditation, and trained in mindfulness practice in 2012. He practises in the Plum Village style, the tradition taught by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. He qualified as a workplace coach with The OCM around 2012, and in 2017 trained as a mindfulness teacher with the UK College of Mindfulness Meditation, where he is now a member of the national training team. He also holds a Diploma in Clinical Hypnotherapy, gained in 2019. Alongside the core programme he provides CPD, advanced training and professional supervision for many graduates.

The Setting

Training takes place at Jacksons Lane Arts Centre in Highgate, directly opposite Highgate Underground Station, which makes it straightforward to reach. The spacious studios are the main teaching rooms, and nearby Highgate Wood offers a place to try mindful walking and mindfulness in nature during the programme.

Good to Know

The programme is one of four modules of the Mindfulness-Based Clinical Hypnosis Diploma, which is externally accredited by the National Council for Hypnotherapy, so it can also be a first step towards training as a mindfulness-based hypno-psychotherapist. Booking all four modules together carries a discount. If the course is full, a waiting list is available.