Banyan

Anne Cushman, an MMT teacher explains: "Mentoring happens in small groups (or one on one) and involves building relationships and supporting people in their practice over time.

The relationship and personal connection is key. The mentor actually gets to know the students and their life circumstances and can offer practices and teaching in response.

So many of the skills we teach in this training are group facilitation skills, community-building skills, skills for meeting conflicts and difficult interpersonal situations.

Mentoring is not about a download of teachings and techniques. Not so much the sage on the stage, but the guide on the side."

We see this training as ongoing education for MMTCP graduates. MMTCP taught you how to teach and facilitate meditation. This Mindfulness Mentor Training will teach you how to people mentor in relation to the personal circumstances of their lives.

The important understanding here is that mentoring is different from teaching, particularly in the level of intimacy and relationship established with people.

As Tara Brach explains, "Mentoring involves facilitating people and groups in deepening their personal practice in relation to what's happening in their specific lives, rather than offering people a whole set of  teachings, instructions, and practices that are part of a path of meditation."

This online training begins on Wednesday, August 28, 2024 and runs for 16 weeks until Monday, December 16, 2024.

If you incorporate mindfulness in your work with other people, whether as a therapist, counsellor, educator, activist, coach, yoga or meditation guide, or other helping professional, and you’re drawn to serving in a deeper way, please apply.
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Applications are assessed individually.

Any person who wants to be a confident, embodied mentor able to apply mindfulness in their work one-on-one and in groups will find this course invaluable.

Live sessions begin on Wednesday, August 28, 2024.

Please Note: You don't have to attend the live sessions. You can watch the recordings of live sessions on your own time and still qualify to graduate.

Welcome Session with Sharon Shelton
Wednesday, August 28 @ 11:00-12:30am am PT (90 min)

Introduction to Mentoring with Sharon Shelton
‍Tuesday, September 3 @ 9:00 am-10:30am PT (90 min)

Group Structure & Process with David Cabrera
‍Wednesday, September 18 @ 8:00 am-10:30am PT (90 min)

Themes and Content with Tara Brach
‍Friday, October 4 @ 10:00-11:30 am PT (90 min)

Skilful Responses & Individual Challenges with Jack Kornfield
‍Thursday, October 17 @ 10:00-11:30 am PT (90 min)

Working with Group Challenges & Controversial Issues with Yong Oh
‍Wednesday, October 30 @ 7:00-8:30 am PT (90 min)

Navigating Life with Mindfulness and Heart with Jack Kornfield
‍Thursday, November 14 @ 10:00-11:30 am PT (90 min)

Mentoring as Vocation with Sharon Shelton
‍Friday, December 6 @ 11:00-12:30 pm PT (90 min)
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Applied Learning Integration with David Cabrera
‍Monday, December 16 @ 9:00-10:30am PT (90 min)

Post-Training Bonus Integration Session with Sharon Shelton
‍Thursday, January 7, 2025 @ 9:00-10:30am PT (90 min)
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It's both! You’ll have regular live contact with your teachers and fellow trainees. Some of the course work is also done on your own to allow for greater flexibility and accessibility. Self-guided content includes videos, audios and written/reading material.

If any of these media are not accessible to you, please let us know when you apply. We are dedicated to a diverse and equitable educational experience and we're happy to work with you to best meet your needs.

The minimum requirement to qualify for your certificate of completion is:
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Watch the call recordings on your own time if you can't attend live.

Complete the self-guided content and exercises.

This is what we see as one of the true differentiators of this training - we ensure you have enough support to practice your new skills and receive ongoing guidance, after your training is complete.
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You’ll continue to have opportunities to meet with the faculty and other trainees to ask questions, and engage in role play and other activities to help you embody your new mentorship skills and keep growing in experience and confidence.

Early bird is $1050.
Full price is $1499.
We're deeply committed to equity and accessibility and scholarships are available as part of the application process.

We review applications on a rolling basis. You should hear from us around two weeks after applying and no later than August 20.