Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Teacher Training
What is the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Teacher Training Course?
The Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) course is an internationally recognised mindfulness course that has been taught and researched since the 1970’s. Our comprehensive 12-month (minimum, though you can take as long as you like) training pathway will equip you with all the knowledge, material and experience you need to deliver the MBSR to groups or individuals.
The training leads to registration with BAMBA and is accredited by the CPD Standards Office.
Before joining our next Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Teacher Training course, you need to have completed the 8-week MBSR course in a group setting (or very close equivalent but not the e-course), either in a virtual classroom or in a venue and have your own regular mindfulness practice for at least 6 months or more. If you are yet to complete the MBSR then please click here to join our next course.
If you would like to know more about the MBSR Teacher Training, then please join the next 'Meet The Tutor' session, with Kate Elliott, where she will talk you through everything you need to know to make an informed choice about this training and answer any questions you have.
Reasons to Enrol
This comprehensive 12-month (plus) mindfulness training includes:
**ONLY 12 SPACES AVAILABLE IN TOTAL!**
One payment of £1,465
If you would like to know more about the MBSR Teacher Training, then please join the next 'Meet The Tutor' session, with Kate Elliott, where she will talk you through everything you need to know to make an informed choice about this training and answer any questions you have.
How the course is taught:

As part of this teacher training pathway you will also need to complete the following:
Teach two supervised 8-week MBSR courses.
- Deliver two courses to a group - remotely supervised by one of the MindfulnessUK team.
Attend a Process of Inquiry Masterclass.
- Gain an understanding of the framework to guide inquiry and the Iceberg Model.
Attend our Silent Meditation Retreats totalling 5 days throughout the year.
- Give yourself the time and space to explore, go deeper and rest.
Log your personal practice and self-inquiry of the core MBSR meditations.
Create a portfolio
- Evidence of completion of all required elements of the pathway.
If you would like to know more about the MBSR Teacher Training, then please join the next 'Meet The Tutor' session, with Kate Elliott, where she will talk you through everything you need to know to make an informed choice about this training and answer any questions you have.
Meet your Tutors

Karen Atkinson
Karen has been teaching mindfulness and compassion for over 30-years and is the Co-founder and CEO of MindfulnessUK, an author of Compassionate Mindful Inquiry in Therapeutic Practice, a previous Chair of BAMBA, an international trainer and supervisor.

Kate Elliott
Kate has a background in the corporate world, and is passionate about supporting people who work in the health and social sectors. Through her experience and working with a diverse client background (teaching mindfulness and yoga), she became more aware of the pressures we face in today’s world and the impact it has on people’s mental health and well-being and it was this insight that led her complete the MBSR, IMC and CMR teacher training courses with MindfulnessUK.
Don't just take our word for it...
This course has given me such confidence to deliver the 8 week MBSR, it is well presented and structured with a clear pathway and support available to become a listed teacher with BAMBA. Karen is a warm and passionate trainer who really goes the extra mile to support all her students. Thank you MindfulnessUK.
Angela
I completed the IMC teacher training course about 5 years ago with MUK, and have slowly grown my business since then. This year felt like a good opportunity to increase my teaching toolkit, and I wanted to add MBSR to my offer, I was delighted that MUK had gone online with their training which meant I could access the course which otherwise would have been inaccessible to me. Karen was the course tutor and as always taught in her calm and accessible way, imparting her wealth of knowledge throughout our time together. The course offers a great combination of information sharing, discussion and role play, and gave plenty of space to respond to all questions/ queries from theory through to practicalities. I am now teaching my first course and feel confident and fully equipped to lead it effectively!
Kate Elliott
I found that learning MBSRTT with MindfulnessUK online a really positive experience. Having spent 8 years attending lectures at university I was a little apprehensive how online learning would work but I found that it was thoroughly engaging and gave me the opportunity to learn alongside students from other disciplines from all over the UK and globally.
Deborah Andrzejak
This was a course that definitely had positive impacts and changes in different areas of my life. The MindfulnessUK staff are Great, Amazing, Incredible, Always supported when is needed. Glad that I am doing the MBSRTT with this incredible institution made by INCREDIBLE PEOPLE.
Suellen Amaral
To help you decide whether this is the right course for you take a look at our frequently asked questions for more information.
If you would like to know more about the MBSR Teacher Training, then please join the next 'Meet The Tutor' session, with Kate Elliott, where she will talk you through everything you need to know to make an informed choice about this training and answer any questions you have. .
This course is for anyone who wishes to teach the 8-week Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR) programme.
All applicants must meet both prerequisites listed below:
- Completion of the 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) course or similar either live, with a teacher and as part of a group.
- A sustained and regular personal mindful meditation practice over a minimum of 6 months.
We are happy to discuss whether there is a need for this 6-month post-MBSR course period if you already have a long-term mindfulness meditation practice.
If you are unsure if you meet these or would like an informal chat please contact us at info@mindfulnessuk.com or call the office on 01823 697527.
This is a minimum of a one year teacher training pathway consisting of a blended learning approach of virtual classroom teaching sessions ( 35 hours) within a group setting and self-directed study. It is important that you attend all sessions (you can book a private catch up session if needed at a cost).
MindfulnessUK provides a student handbook, 4-core meditations, comprehensive course notes in hard copy that we post to your home (if you reside within the UK and provide in a PDF to download if outside the UK.
The self-directed study comprises of the following elements that must be completed if the learner wishes to become a listed teacher with BAMBA (the * refers to additional cost – please see related FAQ):
*Teach two supervised 8-week MBSR courses – Deliver two courses to a group – remotely supervised by one of the MindfulnessUK team.
*Attend a Process of Inquiry Masterclass.
*Attend Silent Meditation Retreats totalling 5 days throughout the year.
Log your personal practice and self-inquiry of the core MBSR meditations.
Create a portfolio – Evidence of completion of all required elements of the pathway.
Overall it is estimated that self-directed study time is approx. 120 hours.
There is pre-reading and preparation to complete in between teaching session.
Each cohort is encouraged to have a WhatsApp group so learners often check in with one another and if in doubt contact the admin team or tutor to discuss, we are a friendly bunch at MindfulnessUK ?
The course cost on application is for all teaching sessions, course notes, meditations and handbook.
The Cost as a one-off payment is £1465 and payment is full is due on application.
Please be aware that paying by installments incurs an additional charge of £100 overall due to additional administration and bank charge fees. Please note that installments are £665 on application, followed by a second and third installment of £450 debited automatically at a later date. When you book (by clicking the installment option when applying) you will be taken to a page that shows exact installment amounts with dates)
All Cancellation, Terms and Conditions on the website apply.
If you then choose to complete the other elements of the pathway with MindfulnessUK here are the additional costs:
- Teach two supervised 8-week MBSR courses – Deliver two courses to a group – remotely supervised by one of the MindfulnessUK team. Costs are £280 for one supervised MBSR course as part of your MBSRTT pathway. If you would like a MindfulnessUK supervisor to supervise both your MBSR courses as part of the teacher training, the cost will be reduced to £495, paid in advance.
- Attend a Process of Inquiry Masterclass (£90)
- Attend Silent Meditation Retreats totalling 5 days throughout the year. This is dependant on which options you choose from the website)
Log your personal practice and self-inquiry of the core MBSR meditations.
Create a portfolio – Evidence of completion of all required elements of the pathway.
All Cancellation, Terms and Conditions on the website apply.
Additional costs for all MBSRTT courses:
There are 2 reading books we recommend, these are listed in your welcome letter and joining instructions, aren’t purchased via Mindfulness and cost approximately £25.
Please also see FAQ relating to additional costs for deferrals.
This is a minimum of a one year pathway commencing on the date of your first teaching session with MindfulnessUK.
There is no set timescale for completing all the elements of the pathway, it is flexible and designed to fit with other commitments.
Once learners complete all elements, they provide evidence as specified on the course to MindfulnessUK and at this point receive a certificate, receive a trained teacher logo and become listed on our trained teacher list on the MindfulnessUK website. At this point, if a learner wishes to become a listed teacher with BAMBA (further costs incurred) they can apply via the BAMBA website and request the supporting documents from MindfulnessUK.
Missing a teaching session:
- Learners must attend 100% of the teaching sessions and if any are missed they are required to attend a Tutorial session with their tutor at the additional cost of £70 per hour. Most tutorial sessions last 2 hours.
- There is guidance for Absenteeism in the Student Handbook for learners to refer.
Deferrals:
- If, due to unforeseen circumstances, learners need to pause their study (once the course has commenced) they have an option to request a deferral. This needs to be requested within one week of missing a teaching session by emailing the admin team with a clear reason for your request. After which learners must meet with a tutor within 4 weeks to identify and agree an individual plan for continuing with a clear timeline.
- There are additional costs of £70 per hour if a learner requires catch up sessions with the tutor before re-joining their studies.
- Deferrals to other courses are dependent on availability, a deferral fee and any additional registration fee applies as per the terms and conditions on the website.
Leaving the course:
- If, due to unforeseen circumstances, learners decide to leave their studies, they must inform the admin team by email who will amend all records accordingly.
All Cancellation Terms and Conditions on the website will apply.
You graduate once you have completed all elements of this pathway and can then teach the 8-week MBSR to participants of your choice, whilst adhering to the BAMBA Good Practice Guidelines if you are a listed teacher.
We encourage all our mindfulness students and graduates to join our Community Membership and continue to connect with like-minded people and gain in-sight and knowledge from the MindfulnessUK team. The community is owned by us all and is an opportunity to attend mindfulness-based business development training, take part in sitting groups, get access to updated course information, insightful research and collaborate with other trained teachers, as well as 10% off masterclasses and retreats. To book please visit our Community Membership page on the website.
These are covered in the teaching sessions with detail and links given in our comprehensive course notes. The BAMBA Good Practice Guidelines for Mindfulness teachers, GPGs include things like, these include having appropriate insurance to teach, supervision, regular retreats, commitment to professional development. These GPGs can be found at www.bamba.org
You can become a Compassionate Mindful Resilience (CMR) 4 session course Trainer by attending the CMR Train the Trainer Programme.
Other Continuous Professional Development opportunities are all listed on the website and include, Masterclasses, E-learning, 8 week MBSR and Retreats.
The GPGs include attending 5 days of Retreat per annum, these can be completed as single days, 2 & 3 days or 5 days. MindfunessUK offer a range, both online or in person. Full details on the website.
Yes, you can apply to become a regulated teacher with BAMBA once all the teacher training elements have been completed.
Yes, you may charge participants for a mindfulness session as you will have completed the training via teaching sessions with MindfulnessUK. It is your decision on how much you want to charge. We would recommend that you research mindfulness sessions in your area and decide on a good price to charge.
If they are a trained mindfulness supervisor who delivers the MBSR course at least once per year, then yes you can work with them as your supervisor. Supervisors refer to the MBI-TAC (Mindfulness-based Intervention – Teaching Assessment Criteria).
It depends on the retreat you have already attended. BAMBA stipulates that it must be mainly silent, teacher-led, and mindfulness, compassion, and/or insight practices. All MindfulnessUK retreats that meet the GPGs are advertised as such, we cannot advise on retreats that we are not organising. We also recommend that the retreat is delivered by an organisation regulated by BAMBA.
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Please be aware that we have limited spaces available as we deliver to small groups, offering a personalised training experience. If you would like to book the next training please do so via the website asap to secure you place on the training programme.
If you would like to know more about the MBSR Teacher Training, then please join the next 'Meet The Tutor' session, with Kate Elliott, where she will talk you through everything you need to know to make an informed choice about this training and answer any questions you have.
Before joining our next Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Teacher Training course, you need to have completed the 8-week MBSR course in a group setting, either in a virtual classroom or in a venue, and have your own regular mindfulness practice for at least 6 months or more. If you are yet to complete the MBSR then please click here to join our next course. Please do not proceed with enrolment unless you have completed this course.
If you are having difficulty budgeting we don't want you to let go of your dreams and aspirations to become a mindfulness and compassion teacher and have the option to spread your payments over 3 instalments when booking.
NOTE: Bookings close at 10am the day before the start date