I have been teaching the general public in Brighton since 2009 and specialise in working with people with anxiety. I have experience of working with a wide range of people, from counsellors and coaches attending for professional development to people with terminal cancer and other chronic health conditions. I also work within education teaching courses for teachers in schools, am part of the MYRIAD trial run by Oxford Mindfulness Centre and taught for a research trial at Sussex University. I have also worked in the charity and business sectors, delivering online mindfulness for a variety of different workplaces in different formats.
I have embraced working on Zoom and am able to offer guidance on how to make this work for your teaching. I contributed to a book chapter on this topic which is currently being prepared for publication.
I have had a meditation practice since 1997. A key component of my personal practice is enquiry, and I am particularly interested in the ways in which enquiry can lead to clarity and understanding. As such the enquiry process plays a central role in my work in the MBSR/MBCT classroom, and my work as a supervisor. I am particularly interested in exploring how teachers engage in enquiry while teaching, and unpicking how the process works.
My MSc thesis focused on the role of home practice in mindfulness-based approaches. I am particularly interested in the crucial role that personal exploration plays in MBA’s, and in exploring ways to support course participants in developing a sustainable home practice. In collaboration with Prof. Christine Parsons, it was published in 2020: https://bmcpsychology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40359-020-00453-x/metrics
I have a keen interest in the Buddhist foundations of MBA’s, and in exploring the differences and overlaps with secular mindfulness.
Qualifications
· Trained Teacher of Mindful Self-Compassion (2019)
· CMRP Training in mentoring new teachers (2017)
· CMRP Supervision training (2015)
· MSc thesis under Prof. Willem Kuyken at Exeter University (2014) ‘What factors help people to establish and maintain a home practice?’
· CMRP Foundation, Teaching 1 & 2 and Assessed Teaching Practice leading to Certificate of Competence to Teach Mindfulness-based Courses (2008-2012)
· Introduction to Counselling Skills (2008)
· BA Philosophy (UCL, 1995)
Teaching-Training Specialisms
· Mentoring new teachers.
· Working with the general public as an independent mindfulness teacher.
· Adapting the eight-week course for working 1-1.
· Helping participants to establish a home practice.
· The enquiry process.
Supervision Experience
I have been supervising on the Exeter University post-graduate mindfulness teacher training programme and privately since 2014, and joined Mindfulness Network in 2016.
I run a thriving peer supervision group on Zoom.
Supervision Specialisms
I am particularly interested in working with new teachers and the enquiry process. Home practice is also a major interest in teaching and supervision.
I have considerable experience in setting up and running a business as a mindfulness teacher and can offer support in marketing, giving design briefs for advertising, mailing lists, tasters and efficient organisational processes.
Supervision Rate
1 hour individual session – £50
1 hour session for 2 co-teachers – £50
A limited number of reduced rates may be available for people who are not charging for their teaching – please mention this to Jiva in the initial contact session once your application has been received.
I offer groups in blocks of 4 sessions with 4-6 people (minimum 4), with a usual price of £120 per person for 1 ½ hours (4 people) and £80 per person (6 people) for all 4 sessions. If you are interested in Group Supervision please contact supervision@mindfulness-network.org.
Please see our Supervision FAQs for more details on the cost of supervision.
Personal Practice
I have had a committed meditation practice since 1997 when I was 24, though my interest in meditation began as a teenager. I began with SN Goenka’s 10-day Vipassana courses in India, before moving to the western Insight Meditation tradition in 1999. I spent 7 years travelling in Asia, meditating, studying and practicing yoga and doing as many retreats as I could, which gave me a solid foundation for my practice. In 2004 I moved to Brighton, and am an active member of the meditation community. I am a founding member and trustee of Bodhi Tree Brighton Buddhist charity (www.bodhitreebrighton.org.uk) and run a weekly Open Meditation group as part of Bodhi Tree as well as doing the publicity.
I have also drawn great inspiration from the secular mindfulness approach, particularly its emphasis on gentleness.
I have a regular sitting and yoga practice and find my allotment a great source of spiritual inspiration where I enjoy observing nature.
I continue to attend retreats at Gaia House regularly, and spend time at Cittaviveka Forest Monastery on semi-retreat in a mindful community.
I have completed the Community Dharma Leader programme at Gaia House and regularly run the Gaia House Online Dharma Hall. (https://gaiahouse.co.uk/online-dharma-hall/)
Further Information
For several years, I mentored on Christopher Titmuss’ Mindfulness Training Course, an online programme of mindfulness practices and investigation into our lives.
I also love allotment gardening and find many opportunities there to practice patience, letting go, non-striving and careful cultivation. I have offered a Mindful Gardening course on my allotment site in Brighton.