Basic and Additional Skills Courses
The aim of this program is to train participants in ways to manage stress, anxiety and depressive symptoms by developing coping skills related to mindfulness, focused attention, committed action, kindness, compassion and wisdom. Mindfulness refers simply to remembering to be here now. Mindfulness is considered as a coping skill, a meditation practice and a way of being.  Mindfulness and related strategies help to break old reactive cycles. Scientific evidence indicates that this skill and other skills associated with it can help reduce levels of stress and anxiety and prevent the relapse of depression. Mindfulness practice is simple, yet it can be difficult and it requires a level of commitment for participants to benefit.

The courses are a skills-based course and NOT a therapy group where participants talk about their personal problems.  Participants are however  encouraged to engage in discussion about particular topics. Such discussion is, nonetheless, completely voluntary.

Content of the courses
The topics of the basic course will involve approaches used in contemporary and ancient awakening psychology and include:

• Understanding stress anxiety and depression;
• Finding, purpose and direction and understanding values;
• Acting in accordance with chosen values;
• The how and what of mindfulness and meditation and how to use mindfulness in all postures and in daily activities; 
• Change using acceptance;  
• Dealing with difficult thoughts and other mental experiences with kindness, mindfulness and wisdom;
• Emotional regulation and dealing with intense and distressing emotions using mindfulness;
• Coping with strong physical sensations using mindfulness and concentration (optional).  
• Worry and rumination and using mindfulness to short circuit these tendencies;
• Relating to oneself and others with loving kindness.

The topics of the additional skills course will focus on approaches used with Buddhist psychology and include:

• Identifying and short circuiting reactive cyclic patterns
• Managing the hindrances or obstacles to meditation
• Meditation practices for physical and emotional well-being, calm/serenity and joy 
• Relating to oneself and others with loving kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy and equanimity.