Online Eight-Week MBSR Program October 12 to November 30, 2022 (Wednesday Evenings)

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Program is a highly respected program within the medical community for dealing with stress, pain, illness, and the demands of daily life.   It was developed in 1979 by Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn at the University of Massachusetts Medical School – Division of Preventative and Behavioral Medicine.  MBSR is not an alternative to traditional or psychological treatments but is a complement to those approaches.

The eight-week MBSR program will provide participants with the opportunity to engage in formal MBSR mindfulness meditation practices, as well as investigation of themes of perception, automatic, habitual stress
reactivity, mindfulness-mediated stress response and interpersonal communication.
At the conclusion of the MBSR program, participants will be able to:

• Explore and recognize personal patterns around automatic pilot thinking, and automatic habitual stress reactivity that can increase burnout and reduce effectiveness;
• Identify and understand current life stressors;
• Reflect on and examine individual resources for meeting stress, comparing adaptive and maladaptive coping mechanisms;
• Understand how stress expresses itself in human biology and physiology, and then how mindfulness can reduce the stress cycle;
• Utilize formal and informal mindfulness practices to reduce distraction, bring greater clarity and intentionality to decision-making, and increase emotional regulation;
• Learn and practice mindful listening as an effective skill in human relating;
• Develop a plan for using mindfulness practices to support one’s health and well-being.

Wednesday nights, October 12 to November 30, 2022

All MBSR participants are required to attend one info/orientation session prior to the start of the program. If you were unable to attend the info/orientation dates, please contact me to make alternative arrangement ([email protected] or call 604-771-0579).

Additional dates will be announced here.

This eight-week MBSR program will be facilitated by Dr. Kasim Al-Mashat. He is a Registered Psychologist and University of Massachusetts Certified MBSR Teacher and authorized Teacher Trainer by the Mindfulness Center at Brown University. He is the founder of Center For Mindfulness Canada. Kasim has also completed a six-month meditation retreat in silence in Southeast Asia and presented a TEDx about mindfulness. For a full bio – click here. 

Fee: $545 CAD total (includes MBSR booklet and mindfulness audios)

Helpful Fee Info: I am a Registered Psychologist with the College of Psychologists of British Columbia (CPBC).  Some Extended Health plans cover Psychologist Services for BC residents.  Otherwise, non-reimbursed Psychologist fees are tax deductible according to Canada Revenue Agency.

Payment Method: INTERAC e-Transfer (preferred), cheque, money order, or wire transfer.

Payment Options: You can contact me if you need to make a special payment arrangement.

Refund Policy: Refunds for this MBSR program are provided for cancellations made prior to the MBSR session #1 (i.e., before October 12, 2022), less a $50 processing fee.  After that, no refunds or credits will be issued unless it is due to an emergency or extenuating circumstances. Thank you for your understanding.

To apply for this program please scroll down and fill the form below.  If your application is received after the program is full, you will be placed on a waiting list. 

Participation in this MBSR program involves meeting for nine sessions, plus, an info/orientation session.  Here is the breakdown of hours:

1. One info/orientation session, FREE and open to all (1.5 hrs)
2. Eight sessions (2.5 hrs with exception to first & last sessions that are 3 hrs).
3.  One All-Day session (7.5 hrs).

All MBSR participants are required to attend the info/orientation session (free and open to all).  The total hours that you will be getting, including the info session, are 30.  Please see detailed schedule/location below.

A safe environment will be created to systematically explore the use of mindfulness to deal with pain, illness, and the demands of daily life.  This will include guided instructions, short lectures, and space for group sharing and questions.

The program requires a commitment to attend the sessions and engage in the daily practices given.