Professional Certificate in Mindfulness-based
Cognitive Therapy Teacher Training
PROGRAMME TUTORS
Dr. Christina Surawy,
from Oxford Mindfulness Foundation
Trainer and Course Director - Master Programme
As a clinical psychologist and accredited BABCP cognitive therapist, Ms Christina Surawy has been involved in teaching, training and researching MBCT at the OMF since 2008 and is particularly interested in developing MBCT for physical health conditions as well as other adaptations including health anxiety.
She provides training and supervision/mentoring on the Foundational training course in MBCT. Together with colleagues, she develops and offers MBCT training across the UK and abroad which includes training retreats and workshops. She also enjoy supervising a wide range of people from a variety of backgrounds. She teach on MBCT courses for the general public once or twice per year. When she can, she loves to be involved in research and is currently working as an MBCT teacher on a mindfulness course for people suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).
Professor Willem Kuyken,
from Oxford Mindfulness Foundation
Director, Oxford Mindfulness Foundation
Ritblat Professor of Mindfulness and Psychological Science, University of Oxford
Mr Willem Kuyken is working with Chair of the Board of Trustees and the Chief Executive Officer, he takes joint responsibility for OMF strategic leadership.
He is the inaugural Sir John Ritblat Family Foundation Professor of Mindfulness and Psychological Sciences and Principal Investigator for the research programme within the Department of Psychiatry.
His work focuses on depression and evidence-based approaches to depression. In particular, his research examines how mindfulness and mindfulness-based programs can prevent depression and enhance human potential across the lifespan.
Professor Ruth Baer,
from Oxford Mindfulness Foundation
Mindfulness Researcher, Teacher, and Trainer
And Professor Emeritus of Psychology, University of Kentucky
Prof. Ruth Baer is a clinical psychologist and a mindfulness researcher, teacher, trainer, and practitioner. Following a long career as a professor of psychology at the University of Kentucky, she was very fortunate to move to Oxford to work with the Oxford Mindfulness Foundation (OMF).
Her interests include conceptualization and assessment of mindfulness, effects of mindfulness-based programs, mechanisms of change, and professional training and ethics in the mindfulness field. She enjoys taking a broad perspective, and so she has studied a wide range of mindfulness-based interventions, including MBCT and MBSR as well as DBT, ACT, and MBRP.
Her work at the OMF includes teaching, training, and research. She is the lead for the non-academic teacher training pathway and also work with the Master of Studies in MBCT. She teaches mindfulness courses for the general public and for Oxford students and staff, and she works with competency assessment. On the research side, she collaborates on manuscripts based on the data coming in from the MYRIAD project and other projects with OMF colleagues.
Mr Kevin Fong,
from Oxford Mindfulness Centre
International Advisor
Mr Kevin Fong is a mindfulness practitioner who started the mindfulness journey from traditional mindfulness meditation practice, then moving onto learning and teaching MBSR and MBCT. Before becoming a mindfulness teacher, he has a business background working in Asia and Europe for 19 years.
Besides being personally transformed by the healing touch of mindfulness, he is equally interested and fascinated by the nurturing and flourishing potential offered by the practice. He founded the Gaia Tree Centre for Mindfulness to teach MBSR & MBCT programs to general public. He also founded the ATINAT Institute of Mindfulness Training to train and supervise MBSR and MBCT teachers. He was involved in the MBSR & MBCT professional training in Chinese speaking region since 2013 with UMASS Center for Mindfulness (US)，Oxford Mindfulness Centre (UK) and Mindfulness Center at Brown University (US).
Dr. Tim Sweeney,
from Oxford Mindfulness Centre
Trainer
Dr. Tim Sweeney is an accredited CBT therapist and an MBCT teacher and trainer. He is the MBCT clinical lead for Nottinghamshire Healthcare Trust. This post involves coordinating and delivering training and supervision of MBCT to IAPT and Secondary Care staff, who work with people experiencing a diverse range of health problems. He has run MBCT groups in primary care and specialist mental health services since 2008. In addition to running clinical groups he delivers MBCT for staff in local Health Services. In 2016 he completed a PhD with Nottingham University focusing on the role of mindfulness in depression and since then have been actively involved in research. He is an associate teacher, trainer and supervisor with the Oxford Mindfulness Foundation. This role includes working as a tutor on the Masters Degree in MBCT and delivering training in the UK and internationally.
Professor Samuel YS Wong,
from The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Director, JC School of Public Health and Primary Care
Associate Dean (Education), Faculty of Medicine
Chinese University of Hong Kong
Director, Thomas Jing Centre for Mindfulness Research and Training
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Mr Stanley Chan,
from The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Educational Psychologist,
Experience Mindfulness Teacher,
Thomas Jing Centre for Mindfulness Research and Training,
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Stanley Chan is a registered Educational Psychologist, and had work experience in mainstream and special schools, as well as preschool and adult psychiatric rehabilitation services.
As an experienced mindfulness teacher, Stanley has been awarded with the Certificate of Competence for mindfulness teacher by the The University of Oxford Mindfulness Centre. He has also been invited to be the Member of Research and Training Team of the CUHK Thomas Jing Centre for Mindfulness Research and Training. In addition to being the professional trainer and group facilitator of the MYmind program [Originated from the University of Amsterdam], he has also completed the Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy Supervision Workshop run by the Hong Kong Center for Mindfulness.
Ms Claire Kelly,
from Oxford Mindfulness Foundation
Co-Director of Teaching and Learning, Teacher, Trainer and Supervisor
Ms Claire Kelly is a teacher of MBCT and MBSR, having trained at the University of Oxford and Bangor respectively. I have taught mindfulness to adults in a range of settings, including the NHS, Multi-Academy Trusts, the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, to clinical and educational psychologists, in universities (University College, Kings, London, University of East Anglia), and on public courses. I have also trained teachers in the UK, Ireland, Thailand and Hong Kong to teach mindfulness-based courses to staff and students in educational and youth-based contexts.
She is the Co-Director of Teaching and Learning for the OMF, overseeing courses and events offered to those who are new to mindfulness and those wishing to train to teach mindfulness-based programmes. This includes the 8-week Mindfulness for Life course, Finding Peace in a Frantic World, and the 3-session Introduction to Mindfulness programme. She is also a teacher and trainer for the OMF, and work alongside the team to make mindfulness learning and teacher training as accessible as possible.
Dr. Christina Surawy,
from Oxford Mindfulness Foundation
Trainer and Course Director - Master Programme
As a clinical psychologist and accredited BABCP cognitive therapist, Ms Christina Surawy has been involved in teaching, training and researching MBCT at the OMF since 2008 and is particularly interested in developing MBCT for physical health conditions as well as other adaptations including health anxiety.
She provides training and supervision/mentoring on the Foundational training course in MBCT. Together with colleagues, she develops and offers MBCT training across the UK and abroad which includes training retreats and workshops. She also enjoy supervising a wide range of people from a variety of backgrounds. She teach on MBCT courses for the general public once or twice per year. When she can, she loves to be involved in research and is currently working as an MBCT teacher on a mindfulness course for people suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).
Professor Willem Kuyken,
from Oxford Mindfulness Foundation
Director, Oxford Mindfulness Foundation
Ritblat Professor of Mindfulness and Psychological Science, University of Oxford
Professor Willem Kuyken is working with Chair of the Board of Trustees and the Chief Executive Officer, he takes joint responsibility for OMF strategic leadership.
He is the inaugural Sir John Ritblat Family Foundation Professor of Mindfulness and Psychological Sciences and Principal Investigator for the research programme within the Department of Psychiatry.
His work focuses on depression and evidence-based approaches to depression. In particular, his research examines how mindfulness and mindfulness-based programs can prevent depression and enhance human potential across the lifespan.
Dr. Ruth Baer,
from Oxford Mindfulness Foundation
Teacher and Trainer
Dr. Ruth Baer is a clinical psychologist and a mindfulness researcher, teacher, trainer, supervisor, and practitioner. Before moving to Oxford in 2019, she was a Professor of Psychology at the University of Kentucky, where she conducted research on mindfulness and taught and supervised several mindfulness-based programmes in a doctoral programme in clinical psychology. Her scholarly interests include conceptualization and assessment of mindfulness, effects of mindfulness-based programmes, mechanisms of change, and harm and adverse events in mindfulness practice. She is also very much interested in professional training and ethics in the mindfulness field.
Dr. Ruth Baer is the Director of the Master of Studies in MBCT, a University of Oxford degree programme managed jointly by the Departments of Psychiatry and Continuing Education. She very much enjoy working with post-graduate students and getting to know them over the two-year course. She also contributes to the 12-month teacher training pathway by training cohorts and providing workshops. She teaches mindfulness courses, supervises mindfulness teachers, and collaborates on research papers with colleagues at the University.
Mr Kevin Fong,
from Oxford Mindfulness Foundation
International Advisor
Mr Kevin Fong is a mindfulness practitioner who started the mindfulness journey from traditional mindfulness meditation practice, then moving onto learning and teaching MBSR and MBCT. Before becoming a mindfulness teacher, he has a business background working in Asia and Europe for 19 years.
Besides being personally transformed by the healing touch of mindfulness, he is equally interested and fascinated by the nurturing and flourishing potential offered by the practice. He founded the Gaia Tree Centre for Mindfulness to teach MBSR & MBCT programs to general public. He also founded the ATINAT Institute of Mindfulness Training to train and supervise MBSR and MBCT teachers. He was involved in the MBSR & MBCT professional training in Chinese speaking region since 2013 with UMASS Center for Mindfulness (US)，Oxford Mindfulness Centre (UK) and Mindfulness Center at Brown University (US).
Dr. Tim Sweeney,
from Oxford Mindfulness Foundation
Trainer
Dr. Tim Sweeney is an accredited CBT therapist and an MBCT teacher and trainer. He is the MBCT clinical lead for Nottinghamshire Healthcare Trust. This post involves coordinating and delivering training and supervision of MBCT to IAPT and Secondary Care staff, who work with people experiencing a diverse range of health problems. He has run MBCT groups in primary care and specialist mental health services since 2008. In addition to running clinical groups he delivers MBCT for staff in local Health Services. In 2016 he completed a PhD with Nottingham University focusing on the role of mindfulness in depression and since then have been actively involved in research. He is an associate teacher, trainer and supervisor with the Oxford Mindfulness Foundation. This role includes working as a tutor on the Masters Degree in MBCT and delivering training in the UK and internationally.
Ms. Ee Lin Ong,
from Oxford Mindfulness Foundation
Teacher and Trainer
Ms. Ee Lin Ong is a curious human being going through the cycles of life who has had the choice and blessings of encountering psychology, mindfulness and depths of ancient wisdom. She delights in bringing together the strengths to meet needs and contribute to touching into wellbeing within each one of us.
She facilitates MBCT groups and supports the awareness of mindfulness in the community (public, schools, university, workplaces, hospitals) through offering introductory and integrative workshops based on needs. Being motivated by the benefits that integrating mindfulness has gifted to her life and the lives of many who have attended. Recognizing that cultivating awareness may be a skill that is as fundamental to breathing to keep our body alive, as to keep our mind well.
She remains open to working in various countries e.g. with Mindfulness Works, New Zealand and Australia facilitating and mentoring new facilitators, Shan You Counselling Centre in Singapore, and free-lance through Nature and Nurture Sparks wherever there are requests. Serve as a bridge for OMC services to reach the community around the world.
Ms. Leonie Schell,
from Oxford Mindfulness Foundation
Co-Director of Teaching and Training, Teacher, Trainer and Supervisor
Ms. Leonie Schell is a mindfulness teacher, trainer and supervisor, and Co-Director of Teaching and Training at the OMF. Prior to becoming Co-Director, she was the OMF’s Global Partnerships Lead responsible for developing international collaborations and partnerships with leading universities and workplaces to train the next generation of mindfulness teachers and ambassadors.
She has 10+ years’ experience as a management advisor delivering large-scale corporate transformations. During this time, she founded and chaired the Global Mindfulness Network at big four firm EY.
As Co-Director of Teaching and Training, she oversees the OMF’s teacher training. Working alongside the senior team, she is responsible for implementing an outstanding end-to-end training experience for their trainees and trainers.
She is a trainer of mindfulness teachers and teaches various OMF courses and programmes, including Introducing Mindfulness, Mindfulness for Life, and Frame by Frame to the public; and Finding Peace in a Frantic World in workplaces. Her supervision focuses on mindfulness teachers wishing to specialise in the workplace.
Ms. Gwénola Herbette
Teacher and Trainer
Ms. Gwénola Herbette was certified as an MBSR teacher and MBSR trainer by the Center for Mindfulness (CFM), UMass Medical School (USA). She collaborated with the CFM in the MBSR curriculum (2017), which gave her an in-depth knowledge of the MBSR program.
Throughout her training and continuing education, she had the good fortune to be trained, mentored and accompanied by many key people to whom she has lots of gratitude, including Melissa Blacker, Rebecca Crane, Pam Erdmann, Jon Kabat-Zinn, Florence Meleo-Meyer, Elana Rosenbaum, Saki Santorelli, Bob Stahl, Carolyn West, and many others.
After teaching MBCT, she has been teaching MBSR since 2009, pioneering this program to French-speaking Europe. She has been training MBSR teachers since 2015 at the “Institut Pleine Conscience” (Belgium) which she founded. She also collaborate with several mindfulness training organisations in France (University of Metz), in Switzerland (University of Geneva) and in the USA (CFM-University of California San Diego).
Prior to this, she taught health psychology and social psychology at the Université Charles-de-Gaulle, Lille (France), and she worked as a cognitive-behavioural psychotherapist specialised in health psychology and chronic pain.
As a mindfulness teacher and trainer, she is particularly interested by the exploration of non-harming in her teaching. This includes reflecting on making their programs inclusive (cultural background, gender identity and sexual preferences, being trauma-sensitive), the willingness to not-know and the responsibility to continue to develop as a practitioner and mindfulness teacher, to keep on investigating the universality of the body and mind as well as honouring the specificity of each person’s singularity. Inquiring into our own inner experience is a great source of learning.
Professor Samuel YS Wong,
from The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Director, JC School of Public Health and Primary Care
Associate Dean (Education), Faculty of Medicine
Chinese University of Hong Kong
Director, Thomas Jing Centre for Mindfulness Research and Training
Professor Samuel Wong is the Director of CUHK Thomas Jing Centre of Mindfulness Research and Training and the Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, the Faculty of Medicine at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK). He has been working on research concerning mindfulness for over a decade. His team has evaluated the effectiveness of mindfulness as a form of treatment for physical and mental health conditions, including chronic stress, chronic pain, generalized anxiety disorder, insomnia, menopausal symptoms and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
He is a clinician with training in both Family Medicine and Public Health. He received my Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Toronto and completed my Family Medicine residency training in Canada. He completed the Master of Public Health at the Johns Hopkins University, USA and the Doctor of Medicine (MD) research degree at The Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Professor Wong’s research interests include evaluating and developing mindfulness- based and mental health interventions in primary care; evaluating primary care services and developing primary care service models as well as multimorbidity.
He has published more than 160 original papers in international peer-reviewed journals including Annals of Family Medicine, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics (impact factor: 13.12), British Journal of Psychiatry and JAMA Internal Medicine and was the Principal Investigator of 18 external competitive research grants (General Research Fund and Health and Medical Research Fund) and commissioned research amounting to HK$ 17 million. He has also received HK$ 66 million in donation for developing primary care models for older adults with multiple chronic conditions as well as mindfulness interventions for common mental health conditions. He has supervised/co-supervised 10 PhD students to completion and has contributed 5 book chapters and co-edited the Oxford Textbook of Public Mental Health published by the Oxford University Press in 2018. He is a member of the editorial/advisory board/section editor of three international scientific journals including the British Journal of General Practice (since 2011), PLOS-One (since 2018) and BMC Family Practice (since 2014).
For government and public services, he is Consultant (Honorary) in Family Medicine of the Hong Kong Hospital Authority and has been appointed by the HKSAR government as a member of the Expert Panel in Primary Healthcare and Non-communicable Disease (since 2018), Steering Committee on Primary Healthcare Development (since 2017), Advisory Council on Food and Environmental Hygiene (since 2015) and Advisory Committee on Primary Care Directory, Advisory Group on Hong Kong Reference Framework for Preventive Care for Children and for Older Adults in Primary Care Settings of the Department of Health (since 2016).
He was an External Examiner in Family Medicine for the University of Malaya (2011) and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (2017) in Malaysia as well as the College of Family Physicians in Singapore (2018).
Mr Stanley Chan,
from The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Educational Psychologist,
Experienced Mindfulness Teacher,
Thomas Jing Centre for Mindfulness Research and Training,
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Stanley Chan is a registered Educational Psychologist, and had work experience in mainstream and special schools, as well as preschool and adult psychiatric rehabilitation services.
As an experienced mindfulness teacher, Stanley has been awarded with the Certificate of Competence for mindfulness teacher by the The University of Oxford Mindfulness Centre. He has also been invited to be the Member of Research and Training Team of the CUHK Thomas Jing Centre for Mindfulness Research and Training. In addition to being the professional trainer and group facilitator of the MYmind program [Originated from the University of Amsterdam], he has also completed the Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy Supervision Workshop run by the Hong Kong Center for Mindfulness.