Many people reach a point where they recognise that managing stress, anxiety, or low mood requires more than simply coping day to day. When demands increase and mental load builds, there is often a desire for something deeper and more sustainable that supports long term emotional wellbeing rather than short term relief. This is often the point at which people realise they want something more sustainable than simply pushing through.
Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy, commonly known as MBCT, offers a grounded and evidence based way to build emotional resilience, deepen self-awareness, and support long term mental wellbeing.
At Sereno Therapy, our online MBCT course is designed to help you develop a kinder, more balanced relationship with your thoughts and emotions, while creating meaningful and lasting change. Our approach reflects a growing shift in mental health care towards building awareness, resilience, and choice, rather than fighting or suppressing internal experiences.
What Is Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy
Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy is an internationally recognised therapeutic programme that brings together principles from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Mindfulness practice.
Rather than focusing on changing or analysing thoughts, MBCT helps you notice them with curiosity and compassion. Over time, this shift allows you to respond more skilfully to difficulty, instead of becoming caught in habitual patterns of worry, rumination, or self-criticism.
MBCT was originally developed as an approach to address long term pain, then later expanded to managing stress and vulnerability to low mood. It has since been extensively researched and is now widely used to support people experiencing recurrent depression, anxiety, and broader wellbeing concerns. It is recommended by the NHS and NICE as an effective approach for relapse prevention in depression.
How the MBCT Programme Works
The MBCT course at Sereno Therapy follows a structured eight week format, with weekly ninety minute sessions delivered entirely online. This makes the programme accessible while maintaining depth, continuity, and a strong sense of connection within the group.
Each session introduces new mindfulness practices alongside guided reflection, helping you work with thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations.
Throughout the course, you will learn how to:
- Recognise early signs of stress or emotional overwhelm
- Step out of automatic thought patterns
- Develop greater emotional balance and clarity
- Build self compassion and resilience
- Apply mindfulness in everyday life
The programme includes guided meditation, gentle mindful movement, group discussion, and practical exercises that support learning both during sessions and between them.
What Makes MBCT Different
Traditional CBT often focuses on identifying and challenging unhelpful thoughts and behaviours. MBCT takes a different approach by helping you relate to thoughts, emotions and physical sensations in a new way.
By learning to observe thoughts without judgement, we create space for choice, allowing you to respond with intention rather than react on autopilot.
Many people who complete an MBCT course report:
- Reduced anxiety and emotional reactivity
- Improved concentration and mental clarity
- Greater self-acceptance and compassion
- Increased confidence in managing low mood
- Stronger relapse prevention skills
These changes tend to build gradually and continue long after the course has ended.
Choosing a High Quality Mindfulness Course
As mindfulness has become more widely available, there has been a significant increase in courses, apps, and workshops. While this accessibility can be helpful, quality and depth can vary considerably.
When choosing a mindfulness course, it is important to look beyond surface level relaxation techniques and consider how the programme is structured and delivered.
High quality courses are typically grounded in evidence based models such as Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy and follow a clear, progressive structure. This allows skills to build gradually and supports lasting change.
Facilitator training and clinical understanding also matter. Skilled teachers should have formal training in mindfulness based approaches and an understanding of mental health, particularly when working with stress, anxiety, or low mood.
Group size and format can significantly influence your experience. Smaller groups often provide a safer and more reflective environment, with space for discussion, shared learning, and individual guidance.
It can be wise to be cautious of courses that promise quick fixes or guaranteed outcomes. Mindfulness is a skill developed over time, and effective programmes emphasise curiosity, patience, and self-compassion rather than pressure to feel better quickly.
Our MBCT Course at Sereno Therapy
At Sereno Therapy, our MBCT online course reflects the core principles of high-quality mindfulness-based practice. The programme follows the internationally recognised eight-week Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)structure and is facilitated by experienced, accredited mindfulness instructors with a strong clinical background.
Our groups are intentionally kept small to create a safe, reflective space where participants can explore their experiences with care and depth. The course balances guided mindfulness practices, psychological understanding, and group discussion, supporting both personal insight and practical application of mindfulness skills in everyday life.
Our lead instructor, Ieuan, brings over 15 years’ experience delivering MBCT courses and supporting hundreds of clients in developing mindfulness and emotional resilience. Known for his warmth, clarity, and expertise, Ieuan has consistently received excellent feedback for his ability to make mindfulness accessible, engaging, and personally meaningful. He looks forward to guiding you on this journey, helping you embed mindfulness skills and strengthen long-term emotional wellbeing.
Unlike more generic mindfulness offerings, our MBCT online course is designed to support lasting emotional change. It integrates seamlessly with the wider therapeutic services we offer, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, EMDR, counselling, and interpersonal therapy, allowing clients to build consistent skills across different forms of support.
This approach ensures mindfulness is not taught in isolation, but as part of a thoughtful and evidence based pathway to long term wellbeing and sustained mental health benefits.
MBCT and Other Therapy Options
Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy can be accessed as a stand-alone programme or as part of a structured relapse prevention plan. It is not typically recommended to run MBCT concurrently with other intensive therapies, but it can be an excellent addition to follow individual support when timed appropriately.
Mindfulness skills can strengthen the impact of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy by enhancing awareness of thought patterns, support emotional processing following EMDR, and complement counselling or interpersonal therapy by improving reflection and emotional regulation.
If you are unsure which approach is most suitable, our team can help guide you in choosing the option that best supports your needs.
Who MBCT Is For
Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy can be helpful if you:
- Experience recurring stress, anxiety, or low mood
- Have completed therapy and want to maintain progress
- Feel emotionally reactive or overwhelmed
- Want to develop a more mindful and intentional way of living
MBCT can be accessed as a standalone programme or as part of relapse prevention following individual therapy. Many clients find it complements individual work particularly well by strengthening awareness and emotional regulation skills.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is MBCT the same as mindfulness meditation
MBCT includes mindfulness meditation, but it is more than meditation alone. It is a structured therapeutic programme that combines mindfulness practice with psychological understanding.
Do I need previous mindfulness experience
No prior experience is required. The course is designed to support beginners as well as those who have practised mindfulness before.
Can MBCT help with anxiety and stress
Yes. MBCT is widely used to support stress and anxiety by helping people chan change how they relate to difficult thoughts and emotions.
Is MBCT suitable alongside therapy
MBCT can be highly beneficial as part of a structured relapse prevention plan or following completion of individual therapy. It is generally not recommended to run MBCT concurrently with intensive therapies, but it can complement therapy when timed appropriately, helping to strengthen emotional regulation, awareness of thought patterns, and long-term resilience.
Supporting Long Term Mental Health
As conversations around mental health continue to evolve, there is growing recognition that lasting wellbeing comes from learning how to relate to our inner experiences differently, not simply managing symptoms.
MBCT supports this shift by helping you slow down, reconnect with the present moment, and build resilience from the inside out. In a fast paced and demanding world, these skills are increasingly essential.
Whether your goal is relapse prevention, anxiety management, or personal growth, MBCT offers a structured yet gentle framework for meaningful change.
Mindfulness Skills Sessions at Sereno Therapy
In addition to our full MBCT programme, Sereno Therapy now offers Mindfulness Skills sessions. These are individual ninety minute group sessions focused on a specific mindfulness skill, offering practical tools, guided practice, and supportive discussion.
Each session provides an opportunity to experience mindfulness in a structured yet accessible way, explore helpful resources, and gain a clear sense of what to expect from the full MBCT course. These sessions can be helpful as standalone support or as a gentle introduction to mindfulness based therapy.
We will be running a number of Mindfulness Skills sessions over the summer, followed by our next eight week Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy course starting in September. Places are limited to maintain a high quality group experience.
To find out more visit SerenoTherapy.com or to book onto a session, contact us at hello@serenotherapy.com
