Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy group

This course incorporates some of the key components of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), a type of therapy that integrates the practice of mindfulness meditation with more traditional techniques used in cognitive therapy.

 

Numerous research has shown that bringing mindfulness practices into our day-to-day life can positively affect our brain patterns leading to less intense stress responses. Likewise, cognitive therapy offers techniques that can help us notice and disengage from negative thoughts, decreasing our suffering in the long-term.

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Key themes covered in this course

MBCT helps us recognise unhelpful patterns in the ways we respond to events in our lives.

 

Through the practice of meditation and cognitive therapy, you’ll learn how to disentangle from negative thinking, and let go of the automatic tendency to try and overcome difficulties by “thinking” about them or suppressing them. Unfortunately, both of these responses tend to make things worse rather than better longer term.

 

MBCT will help you become more aware of these processes and equip you with the skills needed to positively change them.

 

By the end of the course, you’ll have learnt how to:

  • Stand back a little from distressing thoughts and feelings
  • Recognise the early warning signs of depression and take helpful action
  • Put less effort into trying to “fix” things
    Be kinder and more gentle towards yourself
Group Therapy

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy group - what to expect

All of the sessions are group-based, and involve a combination of teaching, mindfulness meditation and cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) activities to help you spot the early signs of depression and stress. Each session builds on the learning and experience from the previous session.
  • The course takes place over 8 weekly sessions, lasting 1.5 hours each
  • There will be a maximum of 12 participants per group
  • Each session is followed by suggestions for personal practice.
  • You’ll be encouraged and supported to try these skills at home whenever you begin to feel distressed or worried

Frequently asked questions

This group is suitable for anyone over the age of 18 who struggles with depression. If you are currently suffering severe symptoms of depression or experiencing symptoms that would prevent you from fully participating in the group and daily meditation practices, please consider waiting until your energy levels and concentration are improved enough to learn something new so you can get the most out of it.

As an 8-week course (opposed to the introduction to mindfulness course which is 3 weeks), our MBCT group is more in-depth and particularly helpful for those who suffer from recurrent depression.

This course costs £650.

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Today

Dr Elena Touroni

Dr Elena Touroni is a skilled and experienced consultant psychologist with a track record of delivering high-quality services for individuals with all common emotional difficulties and those with a diagnosis of personality disorder. She is experienced in service design and delivery, the management of multi-disciplinary teams, organisational consultancy, and development and delivery of both national and bespoke training to providers in the statutory and non-statutory sector.

Having obtained a first degree in Psychology (BSc) at the American College of Greece, she completed her doctoral training at the University of Surrey. Dr Touroni is highly experienced in the assessment and treatment of depression, anxiety, substance misuse, personality disorder, eating disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder, adjustment disorder and relationship difficulties. She works with both individuals and couples and can offer therapy in English and Greek.

She is trained in several specialist therapeutic approaches such as Schema Therapy for individuals and couples, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness-based approaches and Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT).

Dr Touroni has held a variety of clinical and managerial positions including as Head of Service in the NHS. Further she has held academic positions for the University of Surrey and the Institute of Mental Health lecturing on specialist postgraduate Masters and Doctorate programmes. As well as holding a variety of NHS positions, Dr Touroni is the co-founder of a private practice in Central London that has been a provider of psychological therapy for all common emotional difficulties including personality disorder since 2002.

Dr Touroni has a keen interest in developing preventative approaches for psychological well-being and has been involved in the co-creation of bespoke wellness retreats for transformative change for the past 5 years. She is the founder and one of two directors of The Chelsea Psychology Clinic.