Living Mindfully: Discovering Authenticity through Mindfulness Coaching

236 Pages·2017·1.798 MB·English

by  Gary Heads

Living Mindfully
Living Mindfully
Discovering Authenticity through Mindfulness
Coaching
Gary Heads
This edition first published 2017
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Library of Congress Catalog Number: 2016046266
Hardback ISBN: 9781119163268
Paperback ISBN: 9781119163251
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
Cover image: © Andy Roberts/Getty Images, Inc.
Set in 10/12pt Warnock by SPi Global, Pondicherry, India
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
v
Contents
Preface vii
Acknowledgements x
Introduction 1
Sarah 9
1 Mindfulness 10
2 Living Mindfully: A Five‐Week Programme 21
3 The Art of Orientation 30
4 The Inquiry Process 42
Owena 56
5 Moving Out of Automatic Pilot and Being More Aware of Our
Bodies 57
Annaliese 73
6 Being Present in Mindfulness of the Breath and the Body
in Movement 74
Sue 89
7 Staying Present and Dealing with Difficult Thoughts
and Emotions 90
Catriona 101
8 Accepting and Letting Be 102
vi Contents
Amanda 109
9 Bringing it Together, Looking after Yourself, and Moving
Forward 110
Angeline 127
10 Integrating Mindfulness and Coaching 128
Andrew 140
11 The TIME Programme: Development and Rationale 141
Maria 154
12 Authenticity and its Impact upon Confidence and Self‐Esteem 155
Stephen 166
13 Acceptance: Working with Negative Beliefs and Emotions 167
Melanie 179
14 Communication: Releasing Our Words to the Universe 180
Lynda 191
15 Planning the Way Forward: An Unfolding Journey 192
16 In Conclusion 202
Appendix 1 205
Appendix 2 207
Appendix 3: Further Reading 210
Appendix 4: Frequently Asked Questions 212
Index 217
vii
Preface
As the interest in mindfulness and learning to teach mindfulness‐based
approaches continues to grow, the available information and pathways
to teaching this approach will inevitably expand with it. The increasing
attention that mindfulness is receiving in the media is fuelling a rapid
rise in demand from the general public, especially those who suffer
from psychological and physiological issues. This demand will place
the spotlight of attention firmly on those that refer to themselves as
mindfulness teachers/trainers, as well as those who deliver teacher‐
training programmes.
This book does not set out to evaluate or validate existing training
pathways, but rather to offer guidelines for teaching specific programmes,
namely, the Living Mindfully Programme, and the mindfulness‐based
coaching intervention, Training Individuals in Mindfulness and Excellence
(TIME). The plethora of research papers currently available make impres-
sive reading, and although this should be viewed with caution the evidence
base is building in support of mindfulness‐based interventions. Yet with
recommendations by the Mental Health Foundation (2010), the National
Institute for Health & Clinical Excellence (NICE; 2010) and the Mindful
Nation UK Report (2015), we are yet to see mindfulness offered freely
throughout healthcare in the United Kingdom.
However, for the past six years in County Durham in northeast
England, Living Mindfully have delivered a mindfulness programme
available to every resident in that county, accessible by referral from
healthcare professionals, and commissioned by Public Health, County
Durham Council.
In that time 3,500 individuals have embraced the opportunity either
by requesting referral or being offered the option of attending the
programme.
When I began my journey in 2005 to train as a mindfulness teacher it
was always my intention to develop and deliver a mindfulness programme
that was accessible to everyone, to ensure that a place on the programme
viii Preface
was not dependent upon finance, but rather determined by need. That
intention has become a reality, but the need for the programme was
grossly underestimated, as were the challenges and the time required to
make the service the success it is today.
The experience gained from working with hundreds of groups has
produced a wealth of information, both practical and insightful. This has
influenced both the structure and delivery of the programme and enabled
those engaged in teaching to develop their skills to a high standard.
Working with vulnerable and at times challenging groups requires a great
deal of care and compassion as well as ability. Being able to hold your
group when difficulties arise is a skill that is gained only through experi-
ence. My own training pathway and that of those who work with me can
only be described as excellent; however, with the greatest respect, it did
not prepare us to work in this environment. Yet this is the very environ-
ment in which we need to be teaching, and it is here that mindfulness has
impacted so positively and inspired our teachers in so many ways.
The guidance offered here is an insight into not only teacher training,
but also an understanding of what is required to provide a fully‐funded
mindfulness service to the general public. The Living Mindfully pro-
gramme is now an established and effective intervention that supports a
whole community in their ongoing mindfulness practice. The success of
this approach and the continuing research that demonstrates the positive
impact upon those referred has led to numerous adaptations of the
programme. These adaptations have included working in education, in
the workplace, with the unemployed, in alcohol and drug rehabilitation,
during pregnancy and with young carers.
The integration of mindfulness and coaching as described in this book
has also proven to be an inspiring and motivational approach, especially
for those that find themselves either unemployed or at a crossroads in their
lives. Through the development of the TIME programme mindfulness‐
based coaching has demonstrated its potential as a pivotal component in
promoting positive change and in inspiring an authentic lifestyle.
My vision is that in the future both mindfulness and mindfulness‐based
coaching programmes will be accessible to all, simply by visiting a GP,
healthcare professional, unemployment agency or as part of career guidance
within education. However, to make that a reality those that commission
services must have confidence not only in the efficacy of mindfulness,
but also in those that deliver the service.
The pages within this book are formulated from the dedication of
teachers and participants alike. Whilst the programme has evolved over
the years and continues to do so, the mindfulness practices remain the
foundation of everything we teach. It is hoped that this book will encour-
age others to follow in our footsteps and embark on their journey as a
Preface ix
mindfulness teacher or will guide existing teachers and organizations
in providing a similar mindfulness service in their area. It may, however,
simply plant the seed of curiosity and a willingness to explore the possi-
bility of introducing mindfulness into daily life.
References
Mental Health Foundation. (2010). Mindfulness Report, available at: http://
www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/be‐mindful‐report.
Mindfulness–All Party Parliamentary Group (MAPPG). (2015). Mindful
Nation UK, report available at: http://themindfulnessinitiative.org.uk/
images/reports/Mindfulness‐APPG‐Report_Mindful‐Nation‐UK_
Oct2015.pdf.
National Institute for Health & Clinical Excellence (NICE). (2010).
‘Guideline on the Treatment and Management of Depression in Adults’,
Guideline 90. National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health, London:
British Psychological Society and Royal College of Psychiatrists.
x
Acknowledgements
It is a pleasure to acknowledge all those that have contributed in so
many ways to making the initial idea for this book develop from a single
thought to reality. It would be impossible to name everyone, but your
contribution is not underestimated or appreciated any less if your name
is missing. I would like to thank Judith Soulsby for her encouragement
and support throughout my time as a mindfulness teacher, without
her kind words and reassurance this book would not have been written.
I am eternally grateful to all those at Living Mindfully who have moti-
vated and inspired me to write this book, their dedication to teaching
and their willingness to help others is etched throughout these pages.
I would like to thank Bernadette Topham, Marnie Ramsey, Catherine
Parker, and Catherine Richardson who commissioned the Living
Mindfully and TIME programmes. Thanks to Melanie Mitchell who so
skilfully guided our research.
Thanks to Darren Reed at Wiley‐Blackwell for his support and belief in
this project. Roshna Mohan, Nivetha Udayakumar, and Lyn Flight for
their skill in taking the book through the processes of publication.
Finally, I dedicate this book to my wife Kathleen for her support,
endless patience, proof‐reading skills, and unwavering belief that I could
complete this project. You underestimate how inspirational you can be.
1
Introduction
In 2005, as I left a meditation evening in my hometown of Newcastle
upon Tyne a chance remark was to have a remarkable influence upon
my life, and the lives of thousands of others. We had been practicing
Transcendental Meditation (Wallace, 1970), which I had been incorpo-
rating into my day and finding useful. As I left the building that night a
member of the group asked me if I had enjoyed the class; she ended the
conversation by telling me that she had just discovered something called
‘mindfulness’ and that I should check it out. Upon investigation it seemed
that the place that might answer my questions was situated in North
Wales, The Centre for Mindfulness Research and Practice to be precise.
A telephone conversation followed with a mindfulness teacher at the
centre called Judith Soulsby; it appeared that the place to begin was to
complete an eight‐week Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction programme
(Kabat‐Zinn, 2013). As it was impractical to travel to North Wales each
week, I chose the distance‐learning option and completed the programme.
I followed the eight‐week course with a teacher development seven‐day
retreat in North Wales, and at the end of that week my vision was clear:
to teach mindfulness; to integrate mindfulness and coaching; and to
develop an organization that could deliver mindfulness programmes.
Throughout my time as a qualified coach I have always encouraged the
individuals I work with to find what they are passionate about, and to
follow that passion; this I believe is the path that can lead to authenticity,
to life purpose, your gift to the world. This was my road map for an
authentic journey, fuelled by passion and a desire for this particular work.
In the words of Rumi:
Everyone has been made for some particular work, and the desire
for that work has been put in every heart. (Harvey, 1999)
Living Mindfully: Discovering Authenticity through Mindfulness Coaching,
First Edition. Gary Heads.
© 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Published 2017 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.