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About the Pre-Course Orientation
Once your deposit has been received, and prior to attending an 8-week course, the teacher will contact you to arrange an orientation phone or zoom call. The reason for this is to ensure you are informed about what to expect from participating in this course and to make sure this is a suitable time for you to attend this 8-week course. By the end of the conversation the teacher will decide whether or not it is the right time for you to proceed. It is an intensive course and at times can be challenging, so it’s our ethical responsibility to set this time aside to discuss this with you.
Download the pre-course orientation document for more information
If at the end of this call you or the teacher decide that you will not be going ahead your deposit will be refunded in full.
Click “Book Now” below to pay your €100 Deposit.
When it has been received the teacher will contact you to arrange an orientation phone call.
This 8-week Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy course will be taught on-line using the Zoom platform.
The online group is on Saturdays from 10:30am - 12:30 pm with a retreat day Sunday 23rd February. Prior to the course Fiona will arrange an orientation phone call with you. As this is an intensive course in mindfulness and meditation it is important that you understand fully what will be involved. This call will help you to ascertain if it is the right course for you, and if it is the right time for you to do it. There is a home practice commitment of at least 40 minutes a day for the duration of the course. You will be given a handbook and guided audios to support you in your participation. Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy is based on Jon Kabat-Zinn’s ground-breaking Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction, developed at the University of Massachusetts Medical Centre in 1979. MBCT includes elements from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and was initially designed to support people suffering from recurring depression from relapsing. Research indicates that MBCT is highly effective in preventing relapse in depression in those with 3 or more episodes, and where there is relapse the symptoms are not so severe and the episodes don’t last as long. Over the last 20 years MBCT has been adapted to meet a much broader range of needs – the ordinary stresses of everyday life, work, family and relationships (which can all be very stressful from time to time), anxiety, low mood, low self confidence, poor sleep, and so on. Mindfulness helps us to wake up to our present moment experience instead of being lost in the past, often in regret, or in the future, often in worry or obsessive planning.
"Without question, it was the best thing I could've done. The course and the group were great and so supportive. We formed bonds, albeit over a screen. There were genuine connections, but all this was made possible because of Fiona. She is an amazing facilitator who creates a trusting, deeply caring environment which allows for vulnerability, honesty and a place of non judgement." Maeve
MSc Psychology, MSc Mindfulness, PSI Member, UCD Lecturer on Masters in Mindfulness, UMAAP Facilitator for Adults with ADHD.
Fiona O’Donnell is a graduate Psychologist with a Master of Science (MSc.). in Psychology from Brunel University London. She has also completed a 3-year MSc. in Mindfulness-Based Approaches at Bangor University, Wales and has a third MSc. in Applied Social Research from Trinity College Dublin. Fiona is a member of the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI) the British Psychological Society (BPS) and the Mindfulness Teachers Association of Ireland (MTAI).
Fiona is passionate about supporting people and has completed numerous professional trainings to support this expertise including: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Teacher Training Retreats Levels 1 & 2 at Bangor University, she is an accredited Trained Teacher in Mindful-Self Compassion (MSC) with the Centre for Mindful Self Compassion, California. She has attended training in Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) at the Oxford Mindfulness Foundation (OMF), Oxford University, as well as, completing Dr. Mark Williams new Frame by Frame online programme and has completed the MBCT-Life Teacher Training with the OMF also. Fiona has completed the .b training with the Mindfulness in Schools Project (MISP), Positive Neuroplasticity Professional Training with Dr. Rick Hanson and Google’s ‘Search Inside Yourself’ Mindfulness, Emotional Intelligence and Leadership Training with SIYLI. Fiona has completed Level 1 training in Sensorimotor Psychotherapy with the Sensorimotor Institute, Colorado, USA and is registered as an MBCT Therapist on Dr. Zindel Segel's International Access MBCT register.
Fiona is a half-time Lecturer in the School of Psychology’s Mindfulness Master’s programme in University College Dublin (UCD) and the other half of her work is dedicated to her clinical practice with the general public running evidence-based group programmes and corporate training. Fiona is a Teacher Trainer on The Mindfulness Centre’s Professional Diploma in Mindfulness (MBSR/MBCT). Fiona also presents at the Wellness areas of Festivals such as Wellfest and Electric Picnic and has written many articles in the areas of mental health, mindfulness and self compassion. She has recently completed research exploring the experience of feeling a shared feeling of social connection and common humanity whilst attending an 8-week MBSR, whilst on a ‘Virtual’ Online platform.
Fiona offers mindfulness courses to people with low mood and anxiety, people in addiction, and specializes in mindfulness in the workplace, as well as training mindfulness teachers to the highest international standards. Fiona is a qualified Mindfulness Supervisor through Bangor University Wales and adheres to the Irish Good Practice Guidelines for Mindfulness Teachers and has participated in a number of intensive mindfulness retreats worldwide.
Fiona’s previous work experience includes several years in Children’s Services in Dublin, prior to working for The Atlantic Philanthropies which developed strategies and funding for Children & Youth and Human Rights, throughout Ireland and internationally.
