Hello! I’m Nicky and I live in Brighton on the Sussex coast. I trained as an MBCT (mindfulness based cognitive therapy) teacher in 2015 with the Sussex Mindfulness Centre. Prior to this I spent 30 years working in various parts of the NHS including Substance misuse, Palliative care, and HIV services, as a Dual Qualified Nurse and sometimes as a manager (Mental Health and Adult Nursing).
I had come to mindfulness in 2000 when my first 8-week course gave me the tools to better cope with the overwhelm of work and family life. After my MBCT training and over several years, I went on to train in Mindfulness Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP), Mindfulness Based Compassionate Living (MBCL), Mindfulness for Life, (MBCT-L) and Mindfulness for Living with Cancer.
My main teaching experience has been teaching MBCT, MBRP and MBCL in NHS, Charity and Community settings. I have also taught adapted courses, and delivered workshops in many organisations, including NHS Clinical Commissioning Departments, University Student Wellbeing Services, HIV Services in Brighton, and various Conferences. I am a regular Visiting Lecturer at the University of Brighton and have previously taught the Mindfulness Module on the Adult Mental Health Nursing BA. I am a trainer in MBRP and an associate teacher for the Sussex Mindfulness Centre.
My work is now mostly mindfulness based, and I divide my time between teaching eight-week courses, supervising, training and assessing.
Qualifications
- Mindfulness for Living with Cancer 2025 Oxford Mindfulness Foundation.
- MBI TAC assessors training to Level 3 2023 Mindfulness Network/Bangor University
- Supervision Training to Level 2 -Mindfulness Network/Bangor University 2020
- Mindfulness-based Compassionate Living Mindfulness Network 2018
- Mindfulness in Schools training-MISP Oxford Mindfulness Foundation 2015
- Mindfulness-based Relapse Prevention -Centre for Addiction Studies 2015
- MBCT Teacher Training 2015 Sussex Mindfulness Centre
- MSC Substance Misuse-University of Sussex 2003 (90% completed)
- MA Medical Anthropology SOAS 1997
- BA Social Anthropology University of Sussex 1995
- Registered Mental Health Nurse. The Maudsley Hospital. (RMN) 1991
- Registered General Nurse Jersey School of Nursing 1985 (RGN)
Teaching-Training Specialisms
- MBCT in clinical settings (as well as research) for adults with a history of or current depression
- Mindfulness Based Compassionate Living-MBCL in community settings.
- Mindfulness Based Relapse Prevention-MBRP in Clinical and community settings as well as being a trainer for this specialism.
- Mindfulness for Life-MBCT-L- in research and clinical and community settings.
- Shorter courses I have trained in and adapted shorter courses specifically for Open Access at Recovery College sites. Trauma sensitivity is essential here without having resources to in depth assessment.
Training Experience
- Trainer for MBRP with Ser Integral Portugal since 2023 teaching an annual cohort.
- Assisting with Teachbacks for Sussex Mindfulness Centre on MBCT Training-regularly since 2020.
Supervision Experience
The supervision work I do is very rewarding and I value this opportunity to gently guide students and teachers on their mindfulness journey, with the same kindness I experienced and still experience from a supervisor.
I completed the supervision training to level 2 with MN/CMRP in April 2020. I have been supervising and mentoring mindfulness students and colleagues since 2019. I am also trained to supervise IAPT students on their specific learning pathway.
I am trained in the use of the Mindfulness Based Intervention Teaching Assessment Criteria (MBI TAC) for the assessment of students in training and I assess students teaching regularly. This familiarity with the MBI TAC feels very helpful in my work with students.
Supervision Specialisms
- MBCT in clinical settings
- MBRP in clinical and charity settings
- MBCL in community settings
- MBCT-L in Clinical and community settings
- NHS Context
- Mental Health
- Palliative Care
- HIV services
Supervision Rates
1 hour individual session – £50-£60
½ hour individual session – £25-£35
Please see our Supervision FAQs for more details on the cost of supervision.
Personal Practice
I have been practicing Mindfulness meditation since 2000, when I attended my first eight- week course. I found it so useful for finding perspective and dealing with a full-time job and small children, and the anxiety that I had been experiencing. I was inspired by these personal benefits, to develop my practice further, and eventually to train as a mindfulness teacher. I attend Retreats regularly and find a real sense of peace in prolonged silent practice. My daily personal practice involves sitting and movement (Chi Kung and Yoga).
Research Activities and Interests
I have been a teacher on the Respond Trial 2021-22 looking at how participants with current clinical depression who have not responded to other treatments respond to MBCT.
I have a particular interest in making mindfulness accessible and have taught mindfulness with people affected by homelessness or insecure housing, and who are in recovery from substance misuse.
Since 2015, I co-developed and taught an adapted, particularly trauma sensitive, shortened introductory course for Students at the Recovery College in Brighton, many of whom experience mental health conditions, that would normally rule out a more in-depth mindfulness course.
I have also taught regularly with participants living with HIV and facing the challenge of added substance misuse in Brighton where I live.
Further info
I am a keen year-round sea swimmer and love to meditate on the beach or in the open air when I can.
For further info please see: https://www.simplymindfulnessbrighton.co.uk/
