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You are welcome to join us for a day of mindfulness practice led by Josephine Lynch, Erica Balfour and Rachel Ardagh, it will take place in the Marino Institute of Education, Griffith Avenue, Dublin 9. (Griffith Ave, Grace Park, Dublin, D09 R232 - For directions see www.mie.ie.)
This is a retreat day for anyone who is currently in the midst of or has completed one of our 8 Week Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) and Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) Courses or anyone who has a regular practice and attended a full day retreat previously.
A day of practice offers us an opportunity to set aside our usual tasks and responsibilities and take time to practice being present to the fullness of our experience.
Aside from the guidance, we will be practicing mostly in silence so that we can create the space to allow us to go a little deeper than perhaps our usual mindfulness practice. We may see a little more clearly our reactivity, our patterns and practice bringing kindness and understanding to what we are discovering rather than our tendency to distract ourselves, criticise or attack ourselves. We invite awareness, presence and kindness to all of our experience, as best we can.
Please wear comfy clothing and bring your yoga mat, blanket, cushion (if you need one), meditation stool (if you have one). There will be plenty of chairs at the venue.
Bring packed lunch and a flask of tea/coffee and a drink. There is a canteen on site but it can be noisy and might bring you out of your retreat headspace.
Places are somewhat limited. Please do not let cost be an obstacle, concession places available.
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M.A. in Teaching Mindfulness-Based Approaches, Bangor University, Wales
Josephine Lynch, M.A. Mindfulness-based Approaches (Bangor University), Lic. Ac., Dip. Herbal Medicine, has also gained the Certificate of Competence to Teach Mindfulness-Based Courses from the Centre for Mindfulness Research and Practice at Bangor University. She completed a two year programme with the Bodhi College in early Buddhist Psychology and its influence on contemporary practice. She is also a qualified to offer supervision to mindfulness teachers.
Josephine was among the first people to bring the teaching of mindfulness in the tradition of Jon Kabat-Zinn to Ireland and has been teaching MBSR/MBCT since 2005. She also teaches Mindful Self-Compassion and, having undergone a period of intensive supervision, and has completed all requirements to become a fully certified teacher of the Mindful Self-Compassion program as outlined by the Center for Mindful Self Compassion. Josephine was part of the team that brought the world renowned Zen teacher Thich Nhat Hanh to Ireland in 2012.
Josephine is one of the core team of teachers on the M.Sc. in Mindfulness-Based Interventions in UCD and had been involved in programme development and delivery since its inception in 2014.
Josephine’s background is in Mind / Body Medicine and she has worked most of her life using acupuncture, shiatsu and herbal medicine to foster mind / body wellbeing. She was involved in developing and working with Sláinte Pobal in Dublin in the 1990’s, an initiative to bring courses in health education into areas of socio economic disadvantage.
Josephine was one of the founder members of the professional body, the Mindfulness Teachers Association of Ireland (MTAI.ie) which represents mindfulness teachers in Ireland and was its first chairperson from February 2018 until October 2020. She has been organizing CPD for mindfulness teachers and teacher trainees since 2008, fostering and supporting the development of a strong community of mindfulness teachers in Ireland.
Josephine is one of the founders of The Mindfulness Centre (mindfulness.ie, 2008), and she is co-director of the 18-month Professional Mindfulness Teacher Training programme which the Centre has been running since 2015.
Dip in Mindfulness Based Interventions, Dip in Mindful Communication, Director of the Mindfulness Teacher's Association of Ireland. BSc (Environmental Science), Grad Dip Psychotherapy, Dip Counselling Skills,
Mindfulness Teacher, Supervisor, Course Co-ordinator for The Mindfulness Centre for Professional Training, Director of Mindfulness Teachers Association of Ireland.
Erica trained with the founders of The Mindfulness Centre for Professional Training in 2015 and is now a Course coordinator with the centre. She trained to teach Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT). She trained also in Mindful Communication with Greenzone Institute in 2018 to lead groups. She is a supervisor and trained in MBI TAC. She is currently studying a MSc in Psychotherapy. She sits on the board for The Mindfulness Teachers Association of Ireland.
Mindfulness Training in the Workplace
Along with colleagues from the teaching team with The Mindfulness Centre , Erica facilitates online sessions and courses which are tailored mindfulness and compassion-based trainings using the latest researh and neuroscience designed for work places and organisations.
Therapeutic Approach
Erica has a HDip in psychotherapy and is currently undergoing a MSc in Psychotherapy and her understanding of the therapeutic relationship and developmental theory informs her mindfulness work.
Previous Experience
Erica has worked for many years in the eco-tourism industry followed by a number of years in banking. Working and understanding the culture in corporate organisations has been foundational in her application of mindfulness and compassion based intervention in the workplace.
Qualifications
Dip. Mindfulness Based Interventions (Mindfulness Centre for Professional Training), Supervision training, Diploma in Mindful Communication, paws.b teacher(Mindfulness in Schools Project), BSc. Environmental Science, H.Dip.Psychotherapies Studies, Cert. Counselling skills.
Mindfulness Teaching and Training
I teach the following mindfulness courses:
I meet the requirements of the Good Practice Guidelines for Teaching Mindfulness-Based Courses published by the Mindfulness Teachers Association of Ireland To view these, go to good practice guidelines
Personal Practice
I’ve had a personal meditation practice since 2010. My foundational practices are mindfulness, vipassana and compassion based inquiries. I have regularly attended silent meditation retreats and I have one-to-one weekly guidance from an experienced supervisor when teaching 8 week courses.
Interests
Erica spends most of spare time learning about burgeoning relational sciences (infant and adult attachment, relational neuroscience, polyvagal theory, trauma, and depth psychology). As a child she found solace in nature and in particular wildflowers & trees. She has a particular interest in grief work and how this might play an key role in the way that we engage in social mindfulness with regards to biodiversity loss and the climate crisis. She is one of seven daughters and has three girls of her own and is very interested in how mindfulness and self compassion can be used to support women. She loves poetry, film, reading, walking with her Tibetan Terrier in the woods and believes very deeply the power of groups.
MSc Mindfulness Based Intervention, BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy, CORU Registered Occupational Therapist
Mindfulness Teacher with The Mindfulness and Compassion Centre:
Rachel began her training in teaching mindfulness in 2017 in Bangor University through their teacher training pathway. In 2020 she completed a Masters in Mindfulness Based Interventions in UCD, and was awarded with the Mindfulness Award for best performance in the Masters from the UCD School of Psychology. She has completed further training in other mindfulness based interventions including Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy, and Trauma Sensitive Mindfulness. Rachel is a part of the Tutor Team for Trainee Mindfulness Teacher's in The Mindfulness and Compassion Centre. She is a registered member of the The Mindfulness Teacher's Association of Ireland.
In 2020 Rachel set up Insight Out Mindfulness and Therapy, a platform where she provides evidence-based mindfulness courses, retreats and one to one sessions for members of the public, hospitals, members of the LGBTQI+ Community and Direct Provision Centres. She has a special interest in the role of mindfulness and compassion in supporting adults with ADHD, and women experiencing infertility and pregnancy loss.
Lead Mental Health Occupational Therapist with The Mindfulness and Compassion Therapy Centre:
Rachel is a Senior Mental Health Occupational Therapist who graduated from Trinity College in 2007. She now specialises in Occupational Therapy Mental health and neurodiversity. She has worked in various sectors for the past 16 years, including disability, paediatrics, equine assisted therapy, and has specialised in the area of mental health for the past 9 years. Rachel spent 7 years working as a Senior Clinician in the National Centre for Youth Mental Health before moving into OT private practice.
Rachel’s approach to OT is firmly grounded in cultivating more self-compassion and awareness in order to support people to engage meaningfully in what’s important to them in their lives. Rachel has training in various therapeutic approaches which are also woven into her practice, including ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), CBT (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy), CFT (Compassion Focused Therapy) Solution Focused Therapy, and Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy.
She specialises in providing occupational therapy for adults and young people who are neurodivergent, or who are experiencing mental health difficulties. She also has a special interest in supporting people with ADHD. Rachel is CORU Registered and a Member of AOTI
