I am a Chartered Clinical Psychologist and have specialised in health psychology for many years. I now work freelance as a mindfulness teacher and supervisor. I teach mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) for recurrent depression and contribute to training and supervision in mindfulness-based approaches at Exeter University. I have also taught mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) in an oncology service and to the general public, and day and weekend retreats for people who have completed an eight-week course.
Qualifications
- Trained teacher of mindful self-compassion (MSC) with the Center for MSC, 2015
- Intensive training in MBCT at Exeter University as part of working as a therapist for the PREVENT Trial, 2010
- Advanced mindfulness teaching and study retreat, Bangor University, 2008
- Level 1 teacher training retreats: with Bangor University 2004 and in MCBT with Oxford University, 2005
- MBSR in mind-body medicine retreat with Jon Kabat-Zinn and Saki Santorelli, Bangor, 2001
- M.Psychol. in clinical psychology, Liverpool University, 1981
Retreat Lead Experience
I have co-taught many insight meditation silent retreats at Gaia House, from 2–7 nights, having trained with Christina Feldman 10 years ago. These have included some retreats specifically for teachers of MBSR/MBCT or for people who have completed an eight-week course. I have also taught on retreats elsewhere, including in Ireland and India, and daylong retreats for London Insight and Bristol Insight specifically for people who have done MBSR/MBCT courses. I also teach on Level 1 and 2 residential training retreats in MBSR/MBCT for Exeter University.
Retreat Specialisms
- The four establishments of mindfulness (satipatthana sutta)
- Deepening mindfulness practice for teachers and trainees in Mindfulness-based Interventions
- Cultivating compassion – including practices from Mindful Self-Compassion training and from the Buddhist teachings on the 4 Immeasurables (or brahma-viharas)
Teaching-Training Specialisms
- MBCT and MBSR in physical and mental health settings
- Mindfulness as understood in Buddhist psychology and ethics
Personal Practice
I have been practising meditation since the late 1980s, especially in the insight meditation tradition. I attend group and personal retreats regularly to support my own practice, including a recent three-month long retreat in the US. I also have a regular yoga practice.
Research Activities and Interests
I worked as a therapist in the NIHR-funded PREVENT trial: “Preventing recurrent depression in NHS settings: comparing anti-depressants with mindfulness-based cognitive therapy.”
Publications
Kuyken, W. et al (2015). Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy compared with maintenance antidepressant treatment in the prevention of depressive relapse or recurrence (PREVENT): a randomised controlled trial. The Lancet. Published Online April 21, 2015 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(14)62222-4.
Evans A., Crane R., Cooper L., Mardula J., Wilks J., Surawy C., Kenny M., Kuyken W., (2014) A Framework for Supervision for Mindfulness-Based Teachers: a Space for Embodied Mutual Inquiry. Mindfulness. Published online: DOI 10.1007/s12671-014-0292-4.
Nugent, P., Moss, D., Barnes, R.K. & Wilks, J. (2011) Clear(ing) space: Mindfulness-based reflective practice. Reflective Practice, 12(2): 1-13.
