MBCT Group Process

MBCT Group Process
Dates: Thursdays (2026) - April 30th, May 7, May 14, May 21

Time: 12pm-1pm EST

Location: Live Interactive Webinar

Credits: 4 CEs (Must attend all sessions)

Approvals: ACE, APA, NBCC, NYSED (LMSWs, LCSWs, LMHCs, LMFTs, Psychologists), OASAS

Instructor: Dr. Richard Sears

Cost: $249 Individual Rate

This four-week program covers the empirically supported Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) protocol. The best way for clinicians to learn to use mindfulness is by practicing it themselves, and by observing and participating in a group as it is run for clients. Research also supports the personal, self-care benefits of clinicians learning and practicing mindfulness.

Mindfulness involves learning to pay attention to and wisely work with our thoughts, bodily sensations, and emotions. The practice is learned through simple meditation exercises, through which you eventually come to bring a richer awareness and presence into your daily life. This reduces ruminating thoughts, helping to prevent stress, anxiety, and relapses of depression. The group consists of education, discussion, practice of mindfulness meditation, light stretching exercises, and homework assignments. The course will follow the MBCT protocol.

Overview

By the end of the program, participates will be able to:

(1) Identify personal stressors and self-care strategies.

(2) Describe the role that rumination has in perpetuating negative thoughts and behaviors.

(3) Define mindfulness as it is used in clinical practice.

(4) Explain the structure of the MBCT program.

(5) Practice mindfulness-based techniques to help de-center from the narrative of negative thoughts and emotions.

(6) Explain the differences in group process in MBCT vs. CBT groups.

(7) Discuss the role of a personal mindfulness practice for the therapist.

Learning Objectives

Program Outline

MBCT Session 1: Awareness and Automatic Pilot & Living in Our Heads

MBCT Session 2: Gathering the Scattered Mind & Recognizing Aversion

MBCT Session 3: Allowing/Letting Be & Thoughts are Not Facts

MBCT Session 4: How Can I Best Take Care of Myself & Maintaining and Extending New Learning

Richard W. Sears, PsyD, PhD, MBA, ABPP, is a board-certified clinical psychologist

in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, where he is in private practice for both therapy and consultation,

and is Director of the Center for Clinical Mindfulness & Meditation.

He holds several academic appointments, including the Department of Clinical Psychiatry & Behavioral

Neurosciences with the UC College of Medicine. Dr. Sears is also a psychologist contractor with the

Cincinnati VA Medical Center and with Alliance Integrative Medicine.

A sought-after professional speaker, Dr. Sears has provided hundreds of seminars on Acceptance and

Commitment Therapy (ACT) and mindfulness around the world, and is the author of over a dozen books,

including the forthcoming ACT with Anxiety (2020), The CBT & Mindfulness Toolbox (2017), Mindfulness: Living through Challenges and Enriching Your Life in this Moment (2014) and Consultation Skills for Mental Health Professionals (2006). He is also a fifth-degree black belt in Ninjutsu, once serving as a personal protection agent for the Dalai Lama of Tibet.

He has a PhD in Buddhist Studies, and received ordination in three traditions, as well as recognition as a Zen master, experiences that have greatly enriched his understanding of and passion for teaching the principles of mindfulness and ACT. His website is www.psych-insights.com.

Speaker

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

CSLI is not aware of any conflict(s) of interest in relation to this program.

Moreover, CSLI is not aware of additional commercial support for this program.

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