Mindfulness Training

  • What is your cancellation policy?

    CLINIC APPOINTMENTS

    Mindspace’s cancellation policy is that all clinic appointments must be cancelled at least 24 hours in advance or the full fee will be charged. You can reschedule or cancel your appointment by communicating directly with your therapist or coach via email.

    GROUP MINDFULNESS AND THERAPY PROGRAMS (MULTI-WEEK COURSES)

    In order to register for the course and secure your spot, we require a 20% deposit. In the event that we deem that the course is not a good fit for you at this time, this fee will be refunded in full. Otherwise, fees for cancellation are as follows:

    • Up to 5 days before the first full session (ie. after any orientation session, if applicable): Full refund minus a $40 administrative fee.
    • Between 4 days before the first full session and before the fourth full session: A 50% refund.
    • After the fourth session no refunds will be given.
    • Exceptionally, Mindspace facilitators may require a participant to withdraw from the program if their participation is disruptive to the group. In that case, a full reimbursement will be given.

    SINGLE SESSION WORKSHOPS AND DROP-IN CLASSES

    For 90 minute workshops that require advance registration we require at least 48 hours notice to issue a full refund, in order to ensure we have sufficient time to fill up the spot. Cancellations with less than 48 hours notice up to the start of the class will incur a 25% administrative fee. No shows without advance notice will not be refunded.

    For reserved drop-in mindfulness meditation classes, clients have the option of cancelling their booking up to 30 minutes before the start of the class, either via their Mindbody Online profile, or by calling or emailing, after which purchased classes will be deducted from the client’s account.

    CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAMS

    Continuing education programs are paid in full in advance. Cancellation fees are as follows:

    • Up to 48 hours prior to the start of the program: Full refund minus a $40 administrative fee.
    • No refunds will be given for cancellations with less than 48 hours notice.
  • How are the sessions structured?

    We usually spend 20-30 minutes debriefing on home meditation practice or other homework assigned the previous week. The next portion of the session is devoted to psychoeducation, discussion, and exercises related to the topic of the session. We usually close with a meditation.

  • Who benefits from mindfulness training?

    Mindfulness training benefits anyone who is:

    • Looking for new tools for managing stress
    • Recovering from anxiety or mood problems
    • Having difficulty coping with a particular life stressor such as an illness, separation, or significant transition
    • Having difficulty coping with health problems such as chronic pain
    • Interested in enhancing well-being and preventing future health problems
    • Interested in starting a meditation practice
  • What is mindfulness?

    Mindfulness simply means being in the present moment with an open and non-judgmental attitude. Mindfulness is a popular mental health practice that cultivates a calm, clear, and present way of relating to experience. The concept of mindfulness dates back thousands of years to the Buddha’s prescription for training the mind to achieve freedom from suffering. Thanks in large part to the pioneering work of Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, a modern and secular version of mindfulness is now prominent in today’s mainstream health care.

    Kabat-Zinn’s success treating complex medical conditions such as chronic pain using mindfulness meditation techniques triggered research interest in the 1980s and researchers began investigating the scientific basis of the techniques.

    With the expansion of the field of neuroscience and availability of brain imaging technology, research on mindfulness exploded in the 1990s and 2000s. Today, there is an exciting and extensive body of literature demonstrating that cultivating mindfulness can help treat pain, anxiety, and depression. It can promote cognitive functioning, concentration, stress management, healthy lifestyle habits, emotional wellbeing, and joy. On the strength of these findings, mindfulness is now widely practiced around the world, in hospitals, medical clinics, schools, universities (including medical schools), corporations, and military organizations.
    The word ‘mindfulness’ is an English translation of the Pali word ‘sati,’ which translates roughly to ‘awake’ or ‘alert’).

    The mindfulness we practice today in our modern Western context is derived from this tradition.

  • Do I need to know anything about mindfulness or meditation to take your courses?

    No, Intro to Mindfulness, Individual Training and our MBSR program are ideal places to start, but all our programs are suitable for people with no experience in meditation or mindfulness. MBCT is designed specifically for individuals recovering from recurrent clinical anxiety or depression.

  • Are the fees covered by Quebec health care?

    No. We are not medical doctors, so we cannot bill RAMQ for our services. Some of our 8-week programs are co-facilitated by RAMQ-recognized physicians, however, in which case coverage may be possible. In those instances the program in question will clearly indicate this.

  • What happens if I have to miss a session?

    Missing a session isn’t ideal, but is sometimes unavoidable. You have several options if you miss a session:

    •  You can explore the written or online material provided by the teacher(s) for that week.
    •  You can set up a brief phone call or pre-class meeting with your teacher to review the material you missed.
  • Do you have a scholarship program?

    Yes, in order to make our programs accessible to everyone, MindSpace offers a full scholarship to one participant in each MBSR and MBCT group. Scholarships are available to individuals with an annual household revenue under $35,000. To apply, please contact us.

  • How many people are in your groups?

    The groups range from 10 to 20 participants.

  • Do I have to speak during group discussions?

    You are free to contribute as little or as much to the discussions as you like.