Scottish NHS Mindfulness Network

Definitions:

Mindfulness Therapist/Teacher – someone who teaches Mindfulness courses
Mindfulness Trainer – someone who teaches Mindfulness Therapists/Teachers
Mindfulness Supervisor – someone who supervises Mindfulness Therapists/Teachers and Practitioners.
Mindfulness Trainer of Trainers – someone who trains others to become a Mindfulness Trainer

• A professional qualification relevant to the client group(s) they will be teaching.
• Completed an 8-week Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy or Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Course.
• At least one year of ongoing daily personal practice.
  • Personal practice means, ideally, a formal practice of ½ hour, 6 days per week (or more), or a minimum of 20 minutes at least 4 days per week.
• Regular support/supervision.

Once they have  completed the 8-week course, it is recommended that prospective Mindfulness Therapists attend 1 or (ideally) 2 client courses in the following year run by qualified therapists. This will enable them to gain futher experience in the delivery of courses and assist in the running of the course. This excludes leading extended practices.

It is also recommended that  they attend a residential training to deepen practice, both before attending a Therapist Development Training, and regularly thereafter.

• All the requirements of a Prospective Mindfulness Teacher.
• Attended a Teacher Development Training.
• An ongoing daily personal practice.
• Continuing professional development, including keeping up to date with the research and other literature.

• Have all the requirements of a Mindfulness Teacher.
• Attend at least one residential training to deepen practice annually.
• Have taught at least 9 Mindfulness courses – at least 5 of those being with patients or the client group with whom they work.
• Participated in teaching a 4-day Teacher Development Training alongside a Trainer of Trainers.

• All the requirements of a Mindfulness Teacher.
• Have taught at least 9 Mindfulness courses – at least 5 of those being with clients.
• Fulfilled the supervision requirements of their own profession.
• Preferably attended the Mindfulness Specialist Supervision 2-day course.

A Mindfulness Supervisor may also be a Mindfulness Trainer and, if so, will have the completed the requirements to be so.

• Fulfilled the requirements of Mindfulness Teachers, Supervisors and Trainers

and

• Taught at least 3 Teacher Development 4-Day Courses

July 2026

For review 2029