FRCS FSC conducted an 8-week Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) programme for its staff from 2 October to 28 November 2017. The training was co-facilitated by Ms Lim Re Har, Senior Social Worker from the FSC and Ms Charlene Teo, Specialist Adult Educator from Edge Focus. The implementation of the programme was supervised by Ms Marie Johansson, Executive Director of the Oxford Mindfulness Centre. The MBCT programme was developed by Zindel Segal, Mark Williams and John Teasdale from United Kingdom and Canada, based on Jon Kabat-Zinn’s Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction programme. It combines the ideas of cognitive therapy with meditative practices and attitudes based on the cultivation of mindfulness.

Practicing mindful observing                                               

According to research, learning mindfulness will yield several benefits for both the helping professionals and their clients such as increasing self-awareness, promoting empathy, enhancing self-care, self-compassion, improving counselling skills, relationship with clients and others, decreasing stress and anxiety, preventing burn-out as well as improving quality of life.

Practicing mindful sitting                               

13 staff of FRCS FSC participated in the pilot to learn about different forms of mindfulness practices as well as cognitive therapy strategies that can be integrated into their daily living and work.