Tim Sweeney

I have been working in mental health services as a nurse and cognitive behavioural psychotherapist for the past 20 years. I work as the mindfulness-based cognitive therapy clinical lead for Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust and in this post I run groups for staff and for people with depression. My role additionally involves training and supervising people to teach MBCT in a variety of contexts. I am also an associate teacher and trainer with the Oxford Mindfulness Centre, which involves running training retreats in the UK and internationally.


Qualifications

  • PhD (‘The role of mindfulness in depression’), December 2016, University of Nottingham
  • MBCT Supervision: Melanie Fennell, Christina Surawy and Anthonia Sumbundu, OMC 2015
  • Using the MBI:TAC: Rebecca Crane, OMC 2014
  • TTR 2. Bangor University, CMRP 2011
  • Intensive Foundational Training in Teaching MBCT, OMC 2008
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Cognitive Therapy, August 2006, University of Oxford
  • BSc (Hons) Psycho-social Interventions for Psychosis (Thorn Degree), 2:1, October 2004, University of Nottingham
  • Diploma in Nursing, Registered Nurse – Mental Health, August 1998, University of Nottingham, School of Nursing and Midwifery

Teaching Training Specialisms

  • MBCT for general public and clinical staff

Retreat Lead Experience

I have been leading mindfulness retreats for people undergoing training in MBCT since 2011. This has involved running silent retreats for staff undergoing Foundation Training with Nottingham Centre for Mindfulness, silent days of practice with for the UK Network of Mindfulness-based Teacher Training Organisations, and for Oxford Mindfulness Centre as part of MBCT training in the UK and internationally.


Personal Practice

I have been practicing meditation since 2005. Since this time I have attended many retreats through OMC, CMRP, Holy Isle and Gaia House. My practice includes those within Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy and the Four Foundations of Mindfulness.


Peer Reviewed Publications

Morriss, R., Marttunnen, S., Garland, A., Nixon,, N., McDonald, R., Sweeney, T., Flambert, H., Fox, R., Kaylor-Hughes, C., James, M., & Yang, M. (2010). Randomised Controlled trial of the clinical and cost effectiveness of a specialist team for managing refractory unipolar depressive disorder. Bio Med Central Psychiatry, 10: 100.

Morriss, R., Garland, A., Nixon, N., Guo, B., James, M., Kaylor-Hughes, C., Moore, R., Ramana, R., Sampson, C., Sweeney, T., & Dalgleish, T. (2016). CLAHRC randomised controlled trial of clinical and cost effectiveness of a specialist depression service versus usual specialist mental health care for managing persistent depression: 18 month results.

Lancet Psychiatry, Published Online August 3, 2016 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/ S2215-0366(16)30143-2.

Guo, B., Kaylor-Hughes, C., Garland, A., Nixon, N., Sweeney, T., Simpson, S., Dalgleish, T., Ramana, R., Min Yang, M., & Morrissa, R. (2017). Factor structure and longitudinal measurement invariance of PHQ-9 for specialist mental health care patients with persistent major depressive disorder: Exploratory Structural Equation Modelling. Journal of Affective Disorders, 219, 1-8.

Book Chapter

Sweeney, T. Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression. (2012). In Stickley, T & Wright, N (Eds). Theories for Mental Health Nursing: A guide for practice. Sage Publications.