Address
West Park Hospital
Edward Pease Way
Darlington
Co.Durham
DL2 2TS
Tel: 01325 552017
Email: [email protected]
Lead contact: Jo Cromarty, mindfulness team manager
Do you experience depression?
Are you stressed by caring for, or parenting, someone with mental ill health or a learning disability?
Many of us spend a lot of time brooding about the past, worrying about the future, and being hard on ourselves. These habits of mind are difficult to control and often leave us feeling stressed and low.
Mindfulness can help…
What is mindfulness?
This short animation film explains what mindfulness is.
Mindfulness is a particular way of paying attention to the present moment. When we’re tuned in to the present moment, the mind is less likely to get caught up in unhelpful patterns of thinking and feeling.
Mindfulness helps us become more aware of our thoughts and emotions and relate to them in a different way. We learn skills that can help us to:
- become more focussed and steady
- feel less overwhelmed
- respond more wisely to difficulties and stress.
Mindfulness can also help us learn to be kinder to ourselves and more accepting of how things are.
‘Staying present’ is not easy– especially when we’re feeling stressed, or miserable. With patience and practice we can all learn to be more mindful more often.
Members of the Trust mindfulness team explain a little more in this short film clip.
The following audio clip will take you through a brief mindfulness meditation which may help you to understand more about mindfulness. It’s best to do this meditation sitting in a chair, at a time when you know you won’t be interrupted.
Our courses
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) combines two great approaches; mindfulness and cognitive behavioural therapy. Our MBCT courses are a great way to understand thought patterns and how to work with these in more helpful ways. We deliver these courses both online and in-person.
You will learn and practise simple meditations and other activities that can help you to:
- be more aware of your thoughts and feelings
- be kinder to yourself
- respond more wisely to difficulties and stress
The following film shares the personal experiences of some who have attended courses at a different NHS centre and the benefits they have experienced.
Who can take part?
Our service is for people aged 18+ who are registered with a GP in County Durham, Darlington, Teesside and (most of) North Yorkshire, York and Selby.
The course may be suitable for you if any of these apply:
- You are currently experiencing an episode of depression
- You have had episodes of depression in the past and wish to reduce the chances of future episodes
- You are stressed by parenting or caring for someone with mental ill health or a learning disability
What is a mindfulness course like?
The course includes eight sessions lasting two and a quarter hours and one longer session. Sessions normally take place over consecutive weeks.
In the sessions you will learn and practise some fairly simple meditations, for example focusing attention on your breathing for periods of time. The teacher will be a qualified mental health professional who is also experienced in teaching mindfulness.
The course takes a lot of time and effort and involves practising the meditations at home on a daily basis. It is important to attend regularly and to practise the approach at home every day.
What is the evidence?
MBCT has been thoroughly researched and is recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
How do I take part?
To find out more about mindfulness and the course we offer you can attend a two-hour taster session. After this you can apply for the eight-week course and we will discuss this in more detail with you during a telephone assessment.
To book a place on a taster session see the link below.
Two-hour taster sessions
These taster sessions are specifically for people with experience of depression and stressed carers/parents of someone with mental ill health or learning disabilities. If you work in the health and social care sector, we encourage you to attend a staff mindfulness taster session which will provide you with information about all our course options. The staff taster dates can be found on our Staff Mindfulness Service Webpage.
- ONLINE: Tuesday 29 October, 6pm – 8pm (Microsoft Teams)
- ONLINE: Monday 18 November, 11am – 1pm (Microsoft Teams)
- ONLINE: Thursday 12 December, 10am – 12noon (Microsoft Teams)
- ONLINE: Tuesday 7 January 2025, 10am – 12noon (Microsoft Teams)
- IN-PERSON: Wednesday 8 January 2025, 10am – 12noon. Bishop Auckland
- ONLINE: Tuesday 21 January 2025, 6pm – 8pm (Microsoft Teams)
- IN-PERSON: Wednesday 5 February 2025, 10am – 12noon. Bishop Auckland
- Taster sessions in the York area to be confirmed soon.
- Taster sessions in the Stockton area to be confirmed soon.
You can also contact us on [email protected] or Tel: 01325 552017 with any queries.
Eight-week courses
The course includes eight sessions each lasting two and a quarter hours, plus one longer day of practice later in the course.
Dates:
- ONLINE: Tuesdays, 24 September – 19 November, 6pm – 8.15pm, plus online Day of Mindfulness on Tuesday 5 November. (COURSE FULL, WAITING LIST ONLY)
- IN-PERSON: Wednesdays, 25 September – 20 November, 9.45am – 12noon, plus Day of Mindfulness on Wednesday 6 November. Course venue: Bullion Hall, Chester-le-Street, DH2 2DW
- ONLINE: Mondays, 14 October – 9 December, 10am – 12.15pm, plus online Day of Mindfulness on Monday 25 November.
- ONLINE: Tuesdays, 15 October – 17 December, 10am – 12.15pm, plus online Day of Mindfulness on Tuesday 3 December. No session on Tuesday 12 November.
- IN-PERSON: Tuesdays, 15 October – 10 December, 10.30am – 12.45pm, plus Day of Mindfulness on Tuesday 26 November. Course venue: Gracious Street Methodist Church, Knaresborough
- IN-PERSON: Wednesdays, 16 October – 18 December, 10am – 12.15pm, plus Day of Mindfulness on Wednesday 4 December. No session on Wednesday 13 November. Course venue: Elm Ridge Church Hall, Darlington, DL3 8DJ
If you are interested in taking part in one of our free courses, please email us at [email protected] or Tel: 01325 552017
Day of mindfulness for course graduates
These sessions are included in the 8-week course and previous graduates are also invited to support their ongoing mindfulness practice and sense of wellbeing. The day is spent engaging in a variety of mindfulness practices with limited talking and space for reflection.
Dates:
- ONLINE Tuesday 5 November, 10am – 3pm (Microsoft Teams)
- IN-PERSON Wednesday 6 November, 10am – 4pm, Quaking Houses Village Hall, Stanley, DH9 7HQ
- IN-PERSON Tuesday 12 November, 10am – 4pm, Elm Ridge Methodist Hall, Darlington, DL3 8DJ
- ONLINE Tuesday 19 November 10am – 3pm (Microsoft Teams)
- ONLINE Monday 25 November 10am – 3pm (Microsoft Teams)
- IN-PERSON Tuesday 26 November, 11am – 5pm, Arkendale Village Hall, Knaresborough, HG5 0RF (CURRENTLY WAITING LIST ONLY until current course participant numbers are confirmed as it’s a small room)
- ONLINE Tuesday 3 December, 10am – 3pm (Microsoft Teams)
- IN-PERSON Wednesday 4 December 10am – 4pm, Elm Ridge Methodist Hall, Darlington, DL3 8DJ
If you have attended one of our eight-week courses in the past and are interested in joining us for a day of mindfulness, please follow this link to complete a booking form: Day of Mindfulness Booking Form – Nov/Dec 2024
You can also contact us on [email protected] or Telephone: 01325 552017 with any queries.
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) course adapted for people with fatiguing health conditions
We’re piloting an adapted version of the 8-week course described above for people with fatiguing health conditions, such as ME/CFS or post-Covid syndrome (long Covid). With shorter sessions and mindfulness practices the course aims to be more accessible for people experiencing fatigue. This free online course is eleven weeks long and each weekly session is 1.5 hours with a break part way through each session. The course explores how the skills and attitudes of mindfulness combined with cognitive behavioural therapy can provide support in the midst of difficulty and help us navigate through challenging times. It can be a great way to understand our thought patterns and how to work with these in more helpful ways.
Who is this course for?
It is for people aged 18+ who are registered with a GP in County Durham, Darlington, Teesside and (most of) North Yorkshire, York and Selby. It may be suitable for you if you have a fatiguing physical health condition and if any of the following apply:
- You are currently experiencing an episode of depression
- You have had episodes of depression in the past and wish to reduce the chances of future episodes
- You are stressed by parenting or caring for someone with mental ill health or a learning disability
Dates:
- ONLINE: Mondays 13 January 2025 to 24 March 2025, 10.30am – 12noon (Microsoft Teams)
How do I take part?
If you think this course may be suitable for you and would like to find out more, please attend our taster session as detailed below. After this you may choose to apply for the course itself and we will then arrange a telephone assessment with you.
Taster session date:
- ONLINE: Monday 25 November, 10.30am – 12noon (Microsoft Teams)
To book on this session please click on the following link: Taster session for MBCT course adapted for people with fatiguing health conditions
You are also welcome to contact us on [email protected] or Telephone: 01325 552017 with any queries.
Mindful wellbeing course for post-Covid syndrome (long Covid)
We run a free six-week course for people living with Post-Covid in the area covered by our trust. This introductory course explores how coming into the present moment and developing the skills and attitudes of mindfulness can help support the wellbeing of people living with the many challenges of Post-Covid. With shorter sessions and mindfulness practices the course aims to be more accessible for people experiencing symptoms such as fatigue.
How do I take part?
The online Mindful Wellbeing for Post-Covid course will run 10am – 11am on Wednesdays from November 6th to December 11th 2024. To apply for the course or to find out more please contact [email protected] or Tel: 01325 552017.
Online practice group
If you have attended one of our courses in the past, you would be very welcome to join our online ‘practice group’ sessions that take place by Microsoft Teams. These regular 45-minute sessions are an opportunity to do some practice with other people and to re-visit some themes of the course. Everyone will be very welcome, including people who haven’t done any practice for years! The sessions will be led by members of the mindfulness team.
If you have completed an eight-week course previously and are interested in registering for the practice group, please email us at [email protected] with ‘practice group’ as the subject heading.
Contact us
To apply to attend any of our sessions or courses, or any queries, please email us on [email protected] or Tel: 01325 552017.
Useful resources
You may find some of the following resources helpful:
Headspace
Headspace is a very popular and high quality app.
Oxford Mindfulness Centre
The Oxford Mindfulness Centre site has many useful resources including audios of practices and a free online practice group
Free mindfulness
Free mindfulness includes many useful resources including practices, poetry and links to other sites
The Mindfulness Network
The Mindfulness Network site includes links to other free online practice groups
L955, v38, 16/08/23, archive 16/08/26
