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A deposit of €50 is required to hold your place. If you need to cancel before the course begins your deposit will be refunded minus a small cancellation fee of €5 to cover the payment platform cost.
Mindfulness and Attachment Theory: Connecting with Ourselves, Connecting with Others.
Online course.
Join us for a gentle exploration of how it is to meet our styles of attachment (in relationships), and where mindfulness and presence fits and supports us with this.
Research on attachment theory suggests that early interactions with caregivers can dramatically affect your beliefs about yourself, your expectations of others, and the way you process information, cope with stress and regulate your emotions as an adult. Our styles of attachment, while rooted in childhood, are constantly evolving, just like our lives, and our relationships.
Bringing mindful awareness to attune more compassionately to our adaptive patterns in relationships like withdrawal, avoidance, dependence, ’neediness’ etc., can lend itself to living and connecting with more ease, and security in ourselves. This course will facilitate some curiosity and reflection on how we are right now in our relationship to ourselves and others. It is possible, with mindfulness and self-compassion to move towards more secure attachment templates. We will learn how to bring a kindhearted presence to ourselves and to the life that's here, one moment at a time. Whilst cultivating mindfulness, we can also cultivate trust, kindness, acceptance and connection to ourtrue selves. Over time through practice we can build a capacity to be at home with ourselves and this is a gateway to healthier relationship with others.
Over the course we will touch on some of the evidence base on attachment theory, we also invite a playful exploration and discussion on how it might be to gently hold these patterns with attention, acceptance and non judgement. Evidence suggests that It is possible to nurture and develop a secure base in ourselves through cultivating mindfulness (Yang and Oka, 2022). We will practice creating an inner secure base by connecting with ourselves with a caring, kind, compassionate attention. Mindfulness and Self Compassion researchers have found data that demonstrates that this practice increases levels of resilience, creativity and motivation.
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
