8-Week Online MBSR Program

About this Program

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.

About the Facilitator

Read the full bio

Dr. Kasim Al-Mashat is a Registered Psychologist and University of Massachusetts (UMass) Center For Mindfulness (CFM) Certified MBSR Teacher and Trainer. He is the founder of the Centre For Mindfulness Canada.

Kasim has also completed a six-month meditation retreat in silence in Southeast Asia and presented a TEDx about mindfulness.

Prerequisites

The MBSR program is open to anyone 19 years of age and older. It is an interactive, live, online program via Zoom conferencing.

You will need to complete the following:

1. Attend an MBSR Info Session (select from options the listed in the application).
2. Meet with Dr. Kasim Al-Mashat for an individual 10–15 minute Zoom welcome meeting before the program starts. Time options for this individual meeting will be provided after you apply to the program.

To attend the event, you will need:

• A device (e.g., computer or phone) with speaker, microphone, and video capabilities.
• The Zoom app or a web browser.
• An internet connection.

How to Apply

To apply for this program, when registration is open, please scroll down and fill the form below (if no registration button appears, registration is not open). If your application is received after the program is full, you will be placed on a waiting list.

Payment and Refund Policy

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, 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.

Continuing Education

This 8-Week MBSR Program has 17 CE credit hours. There is an additional $120 CAD fee for the CE credits.

Dr. Kasim Al-Mashat, Centre For Mindfulness Canada is approved by the Canadian Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. Dr. Kasim Al-Mashat, Centre For Mindfulness Canada maintains responsibility for the program.