Next Cohort Begins: April 9, 2025
Mindfulness Mentor Training
A 16-week immersive training for dedicated practitioners ready to deepen their mindfulness practice and support others on their path.
Led by: Jack Kornfield, Tara Brach, Sharon Shelton, and expert faculty.
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why join  Mindfulness mentor training?
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Deepen your own practice with expert guidance.
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Learn to mentor others with confidence and care.
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Gain practical tools for holding space in a complex world.
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What Makes This TRAINING Unique?

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Mindfulness Made Practical

Learn how to guide people to view the world, and the unique circumstances of their lives through the helpful lens of mindfulness teachings.
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Practice Creating A Conscious
Relational Field

Deepen your ability to be fully present and listen deeply. Train these vital mentoring skills throughout the course with your dedicated practice buddy.
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Topical Course Material

Entire modules dedicated to learning how to navigate difficult subjects and conversations with confidence. And how to hold and engage hot button topics, controversial and topical issues effectively.
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Advanced Facilitation Skills

Learn how to create the ideal environment in which people can access their own insight and deeper understanding, and transform because of it. Both one-on-one and in groups.
logo icon of mountains

Mindfulness Made Practical

Learn how to guide people to view the world, and the unique circumstances of their lives through the helpful lens of mindfulness teachings.
logo icon of an eye

Practice Creating A Conscious
Relational Field

Deepen your ability to be fully present and listen deeply. Train these vital mentoring skills throughout the course with your dedicated practice buddy.
logo icon representing someone sitting

Topical Course Material

Entire modules dedicated to learning how to navigate difficult subjects and conversations with confidence. And how to hold and engage hot button topics, controversial and topical issues effectively.
logo icon of some random lines

Advanced Facilitation Skills

Learn how to create the ideal environment in which people can access their own insight and deeper understanding, and transform because of it. Both one-on-one and in groups.

Course Details

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Duration: 16-weeks
April 9, 2025 to July 30, 2025
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Cost
Full price: $1,499
Scholarships available
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Program structure: 
  • Attend live mentor-led sessions (recordings available)
  • Engage in peer group discussions
  • Engage in peer group discussions
    Complete assigned readings & reflection exercises
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Live sessions led by:
Jack Kornfield, Tara Brach,
Sharon Shelton, Anne Cushman, & La Sarimento.

meet your teachers

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Jack Kornfield
Jack Kornfield trained as a Buddhist monk in Thailand, India, and Burma. He holds a Ph.D. in clinical psychology and is a founding teacher of the Insight Meditation Society in Massachusetts and Spirit Rock Meditation Center in California.

Jack is one of the key teachers to introduce mindfulness practice to the West, has taught internationally since 1974, and is the author of 16 books which have sold two-million copies.
Tara Brach
Tara Brach is a meditation teacher, psychologist and author of several books including international bestselling Radical Acceptance, Radical Compassion and Trusting the Gold. Her popular weekly podcast on emotional healing and spiritual awakening is downloaded 2.5 million times a month.

Tara is founder of the Insight Meditation Community of Washington and has been active in bringing meditation into schools, prisons and underserved populations. Tara’s teachings blend Western psychology and Eastern spiritual practices, mindful attention to our inner life, and a full, compassionate engagement with our world.  
Sharon Shelton
Sharon Shelton discovered meditation in 1997 during early recovery from alcoholism, beginning with Transcendental Meditation before transitioning to Vipassana, which she has practiced for over 15 years. Sharon is a co-creator and lead teacher of Banyan’s Mindfulness Mentor Training alongside Jack Kornfield, Tara Brach, and the late Janice Gates. Sharon teaches regularly at Triangle Insight Meditation Community, guest teaches at other sanghas, and serves on the Boards of the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion and Peace at Any Pace. Her writing has been published in Spirituality & Health and Thích Nhất Hạnh’s Mindfulness Bell Magazine.
Anne Cushman
Anne Cushman is a pioneer in the integration of mindfulness, embodied meditation, and creative expression. A member of the Teachers’ Council at Spirit Rock Meditation Center, she founded and led the first multi-year Buddhist meditation training for yoga teachers. Her books include the memoir The Mama Sutra, the novel Enlightenment for Idiots (named by Booklist as one of the top first novels of its year), the mindful yoga manifesto Moving Into Meditation, and the India pilgrimage guide From Here to Nirvana; and her essays on spiritual practice in daily life have appeared in the New York Times, Yoga Journal, O: The Oprah Magazine, Lion’s Roar, Tricycle, and many other publications.
Noliwe Alexander
Noliwe Alexander has been a student of Vipassana meditation for over 20 years. Throughout this time of deep devotion to the Dharma, Noliwe has become a dedicated practitioner, meditation teacher of various retreats and sitting groups, day-longs and class series programs. She dedicates her BuddhaDharma practice and teachings to the BiPOC, LGBTQIA+, At Risk and Elder communities. She is a graduate of Spirit Rock's CDL4 program, EBMC's Commit 2 Dharma program in 2010 and is a graduate of Spirit Rock Teacher Training from 2017-2020. Noliwe is the Co-founder of Peace At Any Pace, Inc. a non-profit organization that offers a Journey to Healing from Intergenerational & Ancestral Trauma retreats and Elder & Youth programs, which are exclusively for people from the African Diaspora.
La Sarmiento
La Sarmiento (they/them) is a Filipinx American, non-binary, queer Dharma teacher dedicated to making mindfulness accessible and inclusive. With a deep commitment to alleviating suffering, cultivating joy, and supporting the liberation of all beings, La integrates music, play, and authenticity into their teachings. Their approach empowers students to trust their innate goodness, wisdom, and compassion, guiding them to bring mindfulness into their families, communities, and workplaces. A passionate advocate for joyful and embodied practice, La believes that mindfulness is not just about awareness—it’s about connection, healing, and transformation.
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Yong Oh
Yong Oh is a core meditation teacher at the Durango Dharma Center and for Sacred Mountain Sangha, and is also a visiting teacher for other community centers across North America.

Yong teaches retreats at the Insight Meditation Society, Spirit Rock Meditation Center, Big Bear Retreat Center, and Vallecitos Mountain Retreat Center.
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Jack Kornfield
Jack Kornfield is one of the key teachers to introduce Buddhist mindfulness practice to the West. He trained as a Buddhist monk in the monasteries of Thailand, India and Burma. He has taught meditation internationally since 1974.
Tara Brach
Tara Brach, Ph.D is an internationally known meditation teacher, psychologist and bestselling author. She is founder of the Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC, and offers a popular weekly podcast that is downloaded over 3 million times a month.
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Sharon Shelton
Sharon discovered meditation and mindfulness when in early recovery from alcoholism in 1997. She's been studying and practicing ever since. A graduate of the Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program and as an ICF-Certified Life Coach, Sharon has coached and mentored individuals and groups for over 12 years.
David Cabrera
David's became a certified mindfulness meditation teacher with Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach. He co-founded Nashville’s People Of Color Sangha which focuses on racial justice for all marginalized groups. He’s a guest teacher for Insight LA's BIPOC group based in Los Angeles.
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Noliwe Alexander
Noliwe has been a student of Vipassana meditation for over 20 years. She dedicates her BuddhaDharma practice and teachings to the BiPOC, LGBTQIA+, and at risk and elder communities.
La Sarmiento
La Sarmiento (they/them) has practiced Vipassana meditation since 1998. They're the guiding teacher of the IMCW Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and LGBTQIA+ Sanghas.
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Anne Cushman
Anne Cushman is a member of the Teachers’ Council at Spirit Rock Meditation Center, she founded the first multi-year Buddhist meditation training for yoga teachers. She also a writer of many lauded books and essays.
Yong Oh
Yong began meditating through the Soto Zen tradition, eventually transitioning to study, practice and teach in the Insight tradition. Yong is also an acupuncturist, loves the outdoors, and loves bringing the practice of meditation into nature.
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What's Included

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Expert-Led Curriculum
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Live Mentor-Led Sessions
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Community & Peer Support
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Guidance on Navigating Challenges
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Over 60 hours of content
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Integration & post-training support
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Live Q+A sessions
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Lifetime access
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What Graduates Say

I would take this training again tomorrow! I was amazed by the breadth and depth of it. The content was so rich. The partner practice was an integral part of learning for me. Having someone to practice each module with every week was extremely helpful.
Debora Barnett-Brandt
This training was everything I needed to get focused and get clear on my skills and capacities. Many of which I didn't know I had and this course revealed to me. I have much more confidence now and I'm just in love with the mentoring process.
Michelle Johnson
This was an invaluable experience for understanding the differences between coaching, mentoring, and teaching. I've gained a lot of confidence and a clear delineation between the different roles I might be in. I highly recommend this program.
Elizabeth Little
I would take this training again tomorrow! I was amazed by the breadth and depth of it. The content was so rich. The partner practice was an integral part of learning for me. Having someone to practice each module with every week was extremely helpful.
Debora Barnett-Brandt
This training was everything I needed to get focused and get clear on my skills and capacities. Many of which I didn't know I had and this course revealed to me. I have much more confidence now and I'm just in love with the mentoring process.
Michelle Johnson
This was an invaluable experience for understanding the differences between coaching, mentoring, and teaching. I've gained a lot of confidence and a clear delineation between the different roles I might be in. I highly recommend this program.
Elizabeth Little

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between a Mindfulness Mentor and a Mindfulness Teacher?
A mindfulness mentor provides personalized, client-centered guidance in one-on-one or small-group settings. Rather than following a structured teaching model, mentors focus on deep listening, presence, and relational support, helping individuals integrate mindfulness into their personal and professional lives. A mentor’s role is to meet people where they are, offering tailored support for navigating life’s challenges with awareness and resilience.

A mindfulness teacher, on the other hand, is trained to lead structured meditation sessions, teach mindfulness principles, and guide groups in formal practice. Teachers focus on delivering instruction, often in a classroom, retreat, or organizational setting, helping students understand and apply mindfulness techniques.

While both roles cultivate mindfulness in others, a teacher leads and instructs, whereas a mentor supports and guides through deep personal connection and responsiveness to individual needs.

"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." - Anne Cushman
I'm an MMTCP graduate, what more will l learn from this training?
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 mentor people 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.

"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." - Tara Brach
What's the start date and duration?
This online training begins on Wednesday, April 9, 2025 and runs for 16-weeks until Wednesday, July 30, 2025 with an optional bonus integration session on Wednesday, August 13, 2025.
Who is this course for?
This training is designed for those who:
- Have an established mindfulness or meditation practice.
- Want to support others in their journey but need structure & skills.
- Feel called to deepen their understanding of mindful mentoring.
- Are seeking expert guidance, real-world application, and community.

The Mindfulness Mentor Training is a 16-week program designed to train individuals as mindfulness mentors, uniquely skilled in guiding clients one-on-one or in small groups. Unlike traditional teaching, mindfulness mentoring focuses on building deep, personalized connections through presence, active listening, and responsiveness to clients' unique life circumstances. This program emphasizes creating a conscious relational field, navigating sensitive topics, and cultivating a transformative, supportive environment. Ideal for professionals in coaching, counseling, or other client-centered roles, the Mindfulness Mentor Training course equips you to integrate mindfulness into your work, empowering others through a relational, client-focused approach.
What's the schedule for the live sessions?
Live sessions begin the week of April 7, 2025. While we strongly encourage you to attend all live sessions, we understand that life happens. You can watch the live sessions on  your own time and still qualify to graduate.  

Welcome Session with Sharon Shelton
Wednesday, April 9 @ 11:00-12:30am am PT (90 min)

Module 1: Introduction to Mentoring with Anne Cushman
Wednesday, April 23 @ 10:00 am-11:30am PT (90 min)

Module 2: Group Structure & Process with La Sarimento
Wednesday, May 7 @ 10:00 am-11:30am PT (90 min)

Module 3: Themes and Content with Tara Brach
Wednesay, May 21 @ 10:00-11:30 am PT (90 min)

Module 4: Skillful Responses & Individual Challenges with Jack Kornfield
Wednesday, June 4 @ 10:00-11:30 am PT (90 min)

Module 5: Working with Group Challenges & Controversial Issues with Tara Brach
Wednesday, June 18 @ 10:00-11:30 am PT (90 min)

Module 6: Navigating Life with Mindfulness and Heart with Jack Kornfield
Wednesday, July 2 @ 10:00-11:30 am PT (90 min)

Module 7: Mentoring as Vocation with Sharon Shelton
Wednesday, July 14 @ 10:00-11:30 pm PT (90 min)

Module 8: Applied Learning Integration with Sharon Shelton
Wednesday, July 30 @ 10:00-11:30am PT (90 min)

Post-Training Bonus Integration Session with Sharon Shelton (optional)
Wednesday, August 13 @ 10:00-11:30am PT (90 min)

Is this course live or pre-recorded?
It's both! You’ll have regular live sessions 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.
How many sessions do I need to attend to receive a certificate of completion?
The minimum requirement to qualify for your certificate of completion is:
- Watch the call recordings on your own time if you can't attend live.
- Attend and participate in Peer Group Sessions.
- Complete the self-guided content and exercises.
What post-training support do I get?
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.

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.
How much does this program cost?
Full price is $1499.

We're deeply committed to equity and accessibility and scholarships are available as part of the application process.
When will I hear back after submitting my application?
You should hear from us around two weeks after applying and no later than March 7, 2025.
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