I have been teaching mindfulness and training others to teach mindfulness for over twenty years. I was lucky to be trained by both Mark Williams in MBCT, and the teachers at the Center for Mindfulness (CFM), Massachusetts, USA in MBSR in the 1990s. I became a member of the Centre for Mindfulness Research and Practice (CMRP) core training team as it began in 2001. I am involved in teaching and training adults, especially supporting mindfulness teachers to develop their confidence, skills and understanding of teaching mindfulness curricula.
I have been involved in developing Well-being/Mindfulness curricula for primary schools since 2010, such as Paws b for Mindfulness in Schools Project (MiSP) and, more recently, independently developing a new curriculum called The Present for Foundation Phase/Key Stage One and Key Stage Two with Dusana Dorjee and Tabitha Sawyer. I have a particular interest in introducing mindfulness to children (three – eleven years old) and their teachers. I co-authored the .b Foundations curriculum for MiSP for adults in a schools context.
I am interested too in the emerging field of introducing mindfulness in a variety of workplace settings.
Qualifications
- I trained with Mark Williams to teach mindfulness in the early days of MBCT in the 1990s.
- I attended the intern programme at the Center for Mindfulness in Massachussetts for nine weeks (1999) experiencing MBSR with the team at UMASS.
- Counselling training up to M.Ed. (awarded in 1999)
- I trained as an Occupational Therapist (1983-86, Combined Training Institute, Cardiff) and worked in both Mental Health services and Social Services before specialising in mindfulness teaching and training in 2008.
Teaching-Training Specialisms
- Training others to teach MBSR and MBCT
- Enquiry
- Mindful Movement
- Group processes
- Mindfulness in schools (co-author of Paws b curriculum for Key Stage Two (7-11 years old)
- .b Foundations (mindfulness introduction to adults in the schools context).
Retreat Lead Experience
I have taught many teacher training retreats (TTRs 1 and 2) over the years and led both seven-day and mindful movement retreats.
Personal Practice
I have been practicing mindfulness since 1996 (and had a yoga practice prior to this). I have a daily, secular practice that has been supported by Buddhist and secular retreats and teachings. I have attended retreats at least annually and been supported in my practice development by experienced mindfulness teachers and trainers from many traditions, notably Melissa Blacker and David Rynick.
I continue to have yoga and Pilates movement practices, attending several classes per week.
Research Activities and Interests
I was a teacher on the MBCT Staying Well Research (Oxford and Bangor universities) and have been involved in supporting Dusana Dorjee’s research projects exploring mindfulness with school aged children and their teachers.
Publications
The Mindfulness Breakthrough, Watkins, 2012, reprinted as The Mindfulness Key in 2016.
Mindfulness and the Transformation of Despair, Williams, Fennell, Barnhofer, Crane and Silverton, Guilford, 2015 printed in paperback in 2017 as Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy with People at Risk of Suicide.
I have contributed to a number of academic papers.
Further info
In autumn 2017, I became an independent mindfulness teacher and trainer. I can be contacted on sc.silverton150@gmail.com and the training courses I’m offering can be seen by visiting our website http://silverton-jones-ltd.com.
