Center for Mindfulness

Center Base Path
mindfulness

8-Week Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy

Have you ever felt swamped with negative thoughts and emotions? Have you ever found yourself feeling down and blue? You are not alone. Feeling anxious or sad is really common and the World Health Organization (WHO) says that depressive mood and anxiety could be the biggest health problems we face in the world.

Well, you have come to the right place! Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy(MBCT) is an 8-week, evidence-based, experiential program that combines ideas of cognitive therapy and mindfulness meditation practices to cultivate present moment, non-judgmental awareness. It is designed to cultivate resilience and safeguard against recurring bouts of negative thoughts, emotions, and low mood. Research finds MBCT to reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress, and stands as a validated alternative to medication. 

In this course, you will be able to understand the traits of mood disorders and cultivate a new, heartful relationship to them by turning towards habitual patterns of thinking that keep you stuck and spiraling down. With practice, you will be able to build your capacity to respond to life’s challenges in more mindful and attentive ways. 

Participants will be required to meet with the instructor before the program starts. You will receive more information on this closer to the start date.

Join us and unlock your inner resilience and embrace emotional balance by joining this transformative 8-week course!

What You’ll Learn
  • Attend to patterns of thought, emotions, behavior
  • Raise awareness of and reduce identification with negative states
  • Build skills to prevent relapse using mindfulness meditation techniques
  • Learn to respond rather than react, using the element of choice
Who Should Participate

If you often worry about the future or dwell on the past, experience low mood, or have a history of anxiety and/or depression, this is the class for you. A commitment to attendance of 80% of the full series and home practice activities is required. Participants are strongly encouraged to attend the daylong silent retreat.

Helpful Resources
  • The Mindful Way Workbook: An 8-Week Program to Free Yourself from Depression and Emotional Distress — John Teasdale, Mark Williams, and Zindel Segal (Foreword by Jon Kabat-Zinn).
  • Video: Zindel Segal speaks about MBCT
  • Kuyken (2016): Individual patient data meta-analysis of randomized trials (MBCT and relapse prevention).
Objectives

At the completion of this activity, participants should be able to:

  • Articulate the key aspects of mindfulness as it relates to coping with negative moods and preventing relapse of depression and anxiety.
  • Differentiate MBCT from and other CBT techniques that may seem similar but are quite different in contending with negative mood states.
  • Practice the key aspects of mindfulness to manage symptoms and to prevent relapse of depression and anxiety.
  • Apply mindfulness and cognitive therapy techniques when managing difficult situations and emotions in both personal and professional settings.
  • Explain the potential benefits mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (and mindfulness) to family and friends
  • Create plans to continue and deepen personal practice of mindfulness.

Note: This course does not train facilitators; it is for participants wishing to learn MBCT tools for themselves.

Continuing Education

Additional $50 fee for CE credits. This must be paid before the program starts and you must attend all sessions to receive the CE certificate.

Continuing education credits are awarded in the following categories: American Psychological Association and Board of Registered Nursing.

Psychologists

UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness maintains responsibility for this program and its content. 22.0 CE credit.

California Licensed MFTs, LPCCs, LEPs, LCSWs

This activity is an approved continuing education program by the American Psychological Association. Credit hours may be applied to your license renewal through the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. 22.0 CE credit.

Nurses

UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing to sponsor continuing education. Provider Number CEP16351. 26.0 contact hours.

Cancellation Policy

A refund (minus your $50 non-refundable/non-transferable deposit) will be made for cancellations submitted in writing up to 7 days prior to the event start date by emailing mindfulness@.ucsd.edu. No refunds will be allowed within 6 days of the event start date.

Please be aware that the registration fee, deposits, and funds are non-transferable to other programs.

In the unlikely event that the course is cancelled, UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness is responsible only for a full refund of the registration fee. In regards to in-person programs, the center is not responsible for any refunds to transportation, hotel accommodations, or any miscellaneous expenses.

Refunds are processed using the same method as the original payment (unless past 180 days).

Contact Email
mindfulness@ucsd.edu
Primary Center
Price
$595
Pricing Details
$545 if paid in full 30 days in advance.

UC San Diego employees may take the course for $545 ($495 if paid in full 30 days in advance).
Audience Type
Program Summary
An evidence-based 8-week online MBCT program combining mindfulness and cognitive therapy to reduce stress, support emotional balance, and prevent relapse of depression and anxiety.
Use phased schedule
Off
Program Session
Thursdays 12–2 PM PT

No class on May 28. This course includes an all-day session on Sunday, May 17, from 9 AM – 4 PM PT. Past MBCT participants can register here.

Enrollment requirement

CFM requires a minimum of 10 registrants. Programs with fewer than 10 will be canceled and fully refunded.

Mindful Preparation and Integration for Psychedelic Interventions

If you are interested in this program, please fill out this form to be added to the interest list. We will contact you once this program is scheduled.

Embark on a transformative journey with our unique course, seamlessly blending mindfulness training and education on the science of psychedelics. Discover the power of mindfulness as a foundation for navigating professionally led psychedelic experiences--learning to approach your experience with clarity, presence, and intention. Explore the depths of consciousness, guided by ancient mindfulness practices and modern insights.

Mindful Preparation and Integration for Psychedelic Interventions course offers a comprehensive understanding of both mindfulness and psychedelic science, providing tools for stress reduction, inner exploration, and personal growth. Gain practical skills to prepare for and integrate profound psychedelic experiences, harnessing their potential for healing and self-discovery.

Join a supportive community and expert-led sessions, unlocking a holistic approach to well-being that combines mindfulness practices and the transformative potential of psychedelics. Begin your journey toward inner harmony and expanded consciousness.

Legal Statement: Please note that our course strictly adheres to all relevant local, national, and international laws regarding the use, possession, and distribution of controlled substances. We do not condone, facilitate, or engage in the use or procurement of illegal substances. The educational content provided about substances such as psilocybin is for informational and academic purposes only and does not constitute encouragement or promotion of their use in any form that would contravene existing laws.

Ethical Statement: We uphold a strong commitment to ethical practices and responsible education. Our curriculum aims to provide factual, evidence-based information regarding substances like psilocybin, focusing on their historical, cultural, psychological, and therapeutic aspects. We prioritize the safety, well-being, and legal compliance of our students and do not endorse or advocate the use of any illegal substances. Our intention is to foster informed discussions, critical thinking, and ethical decision-making in the realm of psychedelics and related topics.

Outcomes

Short-Term:

  • Improved Integration: Participants will demonstrate an increased ability to integrate psychedelic experiences, making meaning from insights, and applying them to personal growth and positive life changes.
  • Emotional Well-being: Participants will report improved emotional regulation, resilience, and the ability to navigate difficult emotions both during psychedelic experiences and in daily life.
  • Ethical Engagement: Participants will show an increased understanding of ethical considerations, harm reduction practices, and responsible use of psychedelics, promoting safety and integrity in their engagement with plant medicine.

Long-Term:

  • Personal Transformation: Participants experience profound personal growth, healing, and positive life changes resulting from the integration of contemplative practices and psychedelic experiences.
  • Community Impact: Graduates of the course become advocates for the synergistic application of mindfulness-based interventions with the safe and intentional use of psychedelics, actively supporting others in their integration journeys and contributing to the destigmatization and responsible use of psychedelics.
  • Cultural Shift: The course contributes to a broader cultural shift towards recognizing and valuing the transformative potential of classical psychedelics and contemplative practices, leading to increased acceptance, research, and accessibility to psychedelic therapies.
Target Audience
  • People interested in mindfulness-based interventions and their synergistic relationship with classic psychedelic plant medicine.
  • People contemplating psychedelic assisted therapy and looking for skills to manage perceptions and emotions associated with the process.
  • People wanting to sustain the impact of psychedelic-assisted therapies—further integrating these transformational experiences into their daily lives.
Objectives
  • Increased Knowledge: Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of classical psychedelics/plant medicines, contemplative practices, integration techniques, the benefits and risks of psychedelic use, as well as the legal and ethical guidelines associated with psychedelic use.
  • Enhanced Skills: Participants will acquire practical skills for self-reflection, emotional regulation, mindfulness, and integration of their psychedelic experiences -- enabling them to safely and effectively navigate, integrate, and benefit from the transformational potential of these practices.
  • Increased Self-Awareness: Participants will learn evidenced-based mindfulness practices for deepening self-awareness, gaining deeper insight into their conditioned emotions, beliefs, and behavior patterns, and develop a greater understanding of the impact their psychedelic experiences may have on their psychological, emotional, and behavioral health. Participants will also develop an understanding of their choice to take plant medicine and how it is determined by many factors: including, but not limited to, culture, society, gender, race, experiences of personal and generational trauma, spirituality, and many more.
  • Supportive Community: Participants will be given the opportunity to develop and foster a sense of community and connection with others on a similar--a safe and non-judgmental space for sharing, learning and compassionate support.
Continuing Education

Additional $50 fee for CE credits. Continuing education credits are awarded in the following categories: American Psychological Association and Board of Registered Nursing.

Psychologists

UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness maintains responsibility for this program and its content. 20.0 CE credit.

California Licensed MFTs, LPCCs, LEPs, LCSWs

This activity is an approved continuing education program by the American Psychological Association. Credit hours may be applied to your license renewal through the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. 20.0 CE credit.

Nurses

UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing to sponsor continuing education. Provider Number CEP16351. 24.0 contact hours.

Cancellation Policy

A refund (minus your $50 non-refundable/non-transferable deposit) will be made for cancellations submitted in writing up to 7 days prior to the event start date by emailing mindfulness@.ucsd.edu. No refunds will be allowed within 6 days of the event start date.

Please be aware that the registration fee, deposits, and funds are non-transferable to other programs.

In the unlikely event that the course is cancelled, UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness is responsible only for a full refund of the registration fee. In regards to in-person programs, the center is not responsible for any refunds to transportation, hotel accommodations, or any miscellaneous expenses.

Refunds are processed using the same method as the original payment (unless past 180 days).

Contact Email
mindfulness@ucsd.edu
Primary Center
Price
$595
Pricing Details
$545 if paid in full 30 days in advance.

UC San Diego employees may take the course for $545 ($495 if paid in full 30 days in advance).
Audience Type
Program Summary
An 8-week online course blending mindfulness training with psychedelic science to build skills for preparation, emotional regulation, and integration, grounded in legal and ethical education.
Use phased schedule
Off
Enrollment requirement

CFM requires a minimum of 10 registrants. Programs with fewer than 10 will be canceled and fully refunded.

5-Week Guided Meditation iRest Yoga Nidra Program

Join us online for a 5-week deep dive into guided meditation with iRest Yoga Nidra. iRest is a meditation practice based on the ancient tradition of Yoga Nidra and adapted to suit the conditions of modern life.

This 5-week course is designed to bring you the tools to meet each moment with a sense of well being. The instructors will guide you through meditations and discussion each week to build your own resource toolbox with tools that can help with better sleep, offer more clarity experiencing difficult sensations or emotions, dealing with trauma and expanding your own experience of joy and wellbeing.

This course can be repeated, each series is adapted to the class and each session is unique.

The 5-Week Guided Meditation iRest Yoga Nidra Program doesn’t require any previous meditation or yoga experience. This course is for everyone, new and experienced practitioners are welcome and will benefit from the class. All are welcome in this inclusive, accessible class.

In the 5-week course, participants will learn to:

  • Discover ways to nurture your resilience, inner peace, and well-being
  • Learn techniques to integrate mindfulness and meditation into daily life
  • Develop skillful strategies for navigating stress, anxiety, and challenging emotions
  • Experience deep relaxation and an expanded sense of safety and balance
  • Reconnect with your Essential Wholeness and remember your true nature
  • How to move beyond attachment and identification with your body, mind, and experiences to uncover feelings of peace, wholeness, and authenticity
  • How to apply the 10-step iRest protocol in your own life
  • Techniques to support self-regulation and inner calm
  • Practices to promote restful sleep and relaxation
Who Should Participate

This course is for everyone. New and experienced practitioners are welcome and will benefit from the class.

Schedule and Registration

Note: CFM requires a minimum of 10 registrants per program. Classes with fewer than 10 registrants will be cancelled and provided a refund. Please be aware of this when making arrangements to attend this program.

The sessions will be recorded and available for a limited time. You must register to receive these recordings each week.

Cancellation Policy

A refund (minus your $50 non-refundable/non-transferable deposit) will be made for cancellations submitted in writing up to 7 days prior to the event start date by emailing mindfulness@.ucsd.edu. No refunds will be allowed within 6 days of the event start date.

Please be aware that the registration fee, deposits, and funds are non-transferable to other programs.

In the unlikely event that the course is cancelled, UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness is responsible only for a full refund of the registration fee. In regards to in-person programs, the center is not responsible for any refunds to transportation, hotel accommodations, or any miscellaneous expenses.

Refunds are processed using the same method as the original payment (unless past 180 days).

Contact Email
mindfulness@ucsd.edu
Primary Center
Price
$295
Pricing Details
$275 if paid in full 30 days in advance.

UC San Diego employees may take the course for $275 ($255 if paid in full 30 days in advance).
Audience Type
Program Summary
A 5-week online guided meditation program using iRest Yoga Nidra to support deep relaxation, better sleep, resilience, and practical tools for stress and emotional regulation.
Program Session
Fridays, 12–1 PM PT
Enrollment requirement

CFM requires a minimum of 10 registrants. Programs with fewer than 10 will be canceled and fully refunded.

Natalie Bell

First Name
Natalie
Last Name
Bell
Institution Affiliation
Headshot Image
Image
image
Titles
PT, Certified MSC Teacher
Organizational Roles
Short Bio

Natalie is the founder of Mindful Wellness and a senior certified mindfulness and self-compassion teacher who brings practical tools for calm, clarity, and resilience into everyday life. She leads program development for the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion, teaches with UCLA’s MARC, co-created major self-compassion trainings (including for healthcare professionals), and works globally with individuals and organizations.

Bio

Natalie is the founder of Mindful Wellness, a training and coaching platform to help you build your own source of calm, clarity, and powerful resilience. Her approach brings the benefits of mindfulness, meditation, and compassion training into the practical realm of our daily lives teaching you to discover calm and balance in a common sense, relatable manner.

Natalie is a senior certified teacher and the Director of Program Development for the global Center for Mindful Self-Compassion overseeing programs on Mindfulness and Self-Compassion for the public, healthcare professionals, and Mindful Self-Compassion teachers. She is the co-author, with Dr. Kristin Neff and Dr. Chris Germer, of the “Self-Compassion Training for Healthcare Professionals” program, the only self-compassion training available for healthcare providers. Natalie also supported the development of the NEW Fierce Self-Compassion 8-wk course with Kristin Neff and the Self-Compassion for Shame 8-wk course with Chris Germer. Natalie is also a faculty member of UCLA’s Mindful Awareness Research Center, MARC, as a certified mindfulness teacher.

As a leading teacher of mindfulness and self-compassion she works globally with individuals and companies. Natalie has been practicing mindfulness and meditation since 1985 and lived in an ashram for a year in 1989 dedicating herself to intensive practice of meditation and self-compassion. After studying neuropsychology she became a Physical Therapist, working for 17 years as a clinician, Director of Rehabilitation, and a clinical specialist for medical devices in rehabilitation.

Natalie has been featured in Today, Travel and Leisure, the LA Times, MSNBC Your Business, and Thrive Global for her passionate embodiment of presence and compassion. She has brought her work to Fortune 500 companies, CEOs and organizations like NBC Universal, the Milken Institute, Getty Foundation, Wharton, and many others. She believes our work is to learn how to become our own best ally so we can thrive is today’s over-busy world. Her programs and retreats allow you to experience deeper fulfillment and happiness, reconnect with your own joy, and feel more calm and connected.

Show in directories
On

8-Week Self-Compassion for Shame: Returning Home to Yourself

What would happen if, in moments of shame, you could care for yourself instead of going small, attacking yourself, or shutting down?

We are excited to invite you to Self-Compassion for Shame: Returning Home to Yourself, a groundbreaking 8-week program developed by Dr. Chris Germer, Natalie Bell, and the SC-Shame development team. In this course, we take a unique, non-pathological look at shame through the lens of mindful self-compassion—and learn why self-compassion is the antidote to shame.

Who Should Participate

Prerequisites: This course is suitable for everyone who has completed either the 8-Week MSC, the 5-Day MSC Intensive, or the Short Course in MSC-along with a personal self-compassion practice of 1 year or more. You should be able to recognize that shame may be limiting your full potential—and want new resources to be able to work with it in a healthy balanced way.

SC-Shame is a resource-building program (like MSC), not psychotherapy. Because we’ll be touching shame with self-compassion, challenging emotions may arise. Our teaching team is committed to co-creating a safe and rewarding learning environment together with participants.

“Self-Compassion allows us to see through shame—to see our inherent worth and value.”

What You’ll Learn

You will build practical resources to meet shame with greater acceptance and authenticity so you can stay connected, think in a balanced way, and make wise, healthy choices. The course weaves together talks, experiential exercises, meditation, and group discussion, alongside theory and research on shame and self-compassion. Special topics include:

  • Mindfulness of shame
  • Origins of shame
  • Self-criticism
  • Body shame
  • Self-forgiveness
  • Hidden parts
  • Social justice

“Shame makes us want to go small, go silent, or go away. Self-Compassion shows us how to be strong and have a voice.”

Why This Course

Prior participants of the SC-Shame 8-week course reported:

  • 96% would recommend the course
  • 96% said their experience of shame changed as a result of the course
  • 89% would consider taking the course again
  • 85% had better mental and emotional wellbeing after the course
Program Structure
  • 8 weeks, 28 hours total (20 hours class time plus 8 hours optional practice group)
  • Weekly classes: 2.5 hours each
  • Optional practice group: 1 hour weekly, facilitated by SC-Shame teachers
  • Class size: maximum 30 participants
Free Orientation Session

Join us for a free orientation session as a preview of the upcoming 8-week course starting in April 2026. Register here.

Continuing Education
Certificate of Completion

To be eligible for a Certificate of Completion, you must attend at least 6 of the 8 weekly sessions. After completing the end-of-program survey, please email mindfulness@health.ucsd.edu to request your certificate.

CE Certification

CE certification requires an additional $50 fee for CE credits. You must attend all sessions in order to receive the CE certificate.

Continuing education credits are awarded in the following categories: American Psychological Association (APA) and Board of Registered Nursing (BRN).

Psychologists

UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness maintains responsibility for this program and its content. 20.0 CE credit.

California Licensed MFTs, LPCCs, LEPs, LCSWs

This activity is an approved continuing education program by the American Psychological Association. Credit hours may be applied to your license renewal through the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. 20.0 CE credit.

Nurses

UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing to sponsor continuing education. Provider Number CEP16351. 24.0 contact hours.

Page Sections
On
Objectives

Explain the theory and research on shame and self-compassion

brain
The Science of Shame

Describe how self-compassion is an antidote to shame, including the three paradoxes

heart
Shame & Self-Compassion

Identify personal childhood and cultural disconnections that lead to shame

layers
Roots of Shame

Use self-compassion practices to alleviate body shame

shield
Body Shame

Direct self-compassion toward hidden parts of yourself

eye
Hidden Parts

Reduce habitual self-criticism

zap
Inner Critic

Apply new practices to relieve the burden of shame in daily life

sun
Daily Relief
On
Testimonials
This course did not disappoint. I could not have asked for a better experience. It supported and deepened my own practice, and I hope to bring my learning into my clinical practice.
I learned that I can disempower shame and de-shame shame with my practices and by sharing in these groups. It opens the possibility of befriending shame and the wisdom it can reveal.
I feel understanding and compassion towards myself instead, and even freedom, like permission to do things I could not do before because I was too ashamed.
Because of underlying shame I keep getting out of touch with my own values. I can help myself be aligned with them now as I practice self-compassion. It brings me so much hope for the rest of my life.
I can identify shame more quickly and validate myself more quickly as well. As a result, I spend less time ruminating. I find it easier to offer myself compassion in certain areas of my life.
The whole idea of shame becomes much lighter. I feel less burdened by shame and less fearful of shame. I feel I can see shame with a new kinder, more patient lens.
Cancellation Policy

A refund (minus your $50 non-refundable/non-transferable deposit) will be made for cancellations submitted in writing up to 7 days prior to the event start date by emailing mindfulness@.ucsd.edu. No refunds will be allowed within 6 days of the event start date.

Please be aware that the registration fee, deposits, and funds are non-transferable to other programs.

In the unlikely event that the course is cancelled, UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness is responsible only for a full refund of the registration fee. In regards to in-person programs, the center is not responsible for any refunds to transportation, hotel accommodations, or any miscellaneous expenses.

Refunds are processed using the same method as the original payment (unless past 180 days).

Contact Email
mindfulness@ucsd.edu
Primary Center
Price
$695
Pricing Details
$595 if paid in full 30 days in advance.

UC San Diego employees may take the course for $595 ($575 if paid in full 30 days in advance).
Audience Type
Program Summary
An 8-week online program using mindful self-compassion to understand shame, reduce self-criticism, and build practical resources for greater connection, authenticity, and well-being.
Use phased schedule
Off
Program Session
Wednesdays, 5–6 PM PT

No class on May 6. Optional practice group: Saturdays, April 11 – June 6, 2026 (skip May 9), 9–10 AM PT

Enrollment requirement

CFM requires a minimum of 10 registrants. Programs with fewer than 10 will be canceled and fully refunded.

Mindfulness for Teens (Ages 13-17)

In today’s world, teens and pre-teens are under more pressure and experiencing higher levels of stress than ever before. Increasing demand in technology, academic preparation, and life transitions often result in physical and emotional stressors, such as:

  • Irritability
  • Anxiety
  • Depression

These stressors can affect your child’s well-being and happiness. A crucial skill in managing stress effectively is to be able to deal with change whenever it occurs.

In This Course Students Will Learn To:
  • Sharpen their ability to focus and pay attention
  • Experience life situations with less emotional reactivity
  • Learn effective strategies for making better choices
  • Increase kindness and compassion for themselves and others

Learn skills for self-care

The Practice
  • Gentle stretching and yoga
  • Mindful meditation practices to support relaxation and awareness
  • Self-reflection through journaling, activities, and group discussion
Cancellation Policy

A refund (minus your $50 non-refundable/non-transferable deposit) will be made for cancellations submitted in writing up to 7 days prior to the event start date by emailing mindfulness@.ucsd.edu. No refunds will be allowed within 6 days of the event start date.

Please be aware that the registration fee, deposits, and funds are non-transferable to other programs.

In the unlikely event that the course is cancelled, UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness is responsible only for a full refund of the registration fee. In regards to in-person programs, the center is not responsible for any refunds to transportation, hotel accommodations, or any miscellaneous expenses.

Refunds are processed using the same method as the original payment (unless past 180 days).

Contact Email
mindfulness@ucsd.edu
Primary Center
Price
$435
Pricing Details
$410 if paid in full 30 days in advance.

UC San Diego employees may take the course for $410 ($385 if paid in full 30 days in advance).
Audience Type
Program Summary
An 8-week online mindfulness course for teens ages 13–17 to build focus, manage stress, and develop practical skills for emotional regulation and self-care.
Program Session
Wednesdays, 5–6:30 PM PT

No class on April 1.

Enrollment requirement

CFM requires a minimum of 10 registrants. Programs with fewer than 10 will be canceled and fully refunded.

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Program

Don't know where to start? Our Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program is our flag-ship program and a great place to learn about mindfulness and what it has to offer in your life.

Many participants come to us suffering from the following:

  • Chronic pain
  • Stress, anxiety, and worry
  • Chronic or life-threatening medical illnesses
  • Depression
  • Relationship difficulties
  • Sleep disturbance
  • Hypertension and headaches
  • Grief and loss

Now is the perfect moment to bring balance back into your life with this evidence‑based, 8‑week MBSR program—designed to help you regain calm, resilience, and heightened awareness.

MBSR involves cultivating a different relationship between you and the things that challenge you in your life, and relies completely upon the tools you already have. Specifically, mindfulness helps you access the ability to be non-judgmental, compassionate, patient, present and aware.

However, just because you have the inner wisdom and resources to contend differently with your life and all its aspects, does not mean that you routinely use them. Most of us are on “auto-pilot” much of the day and tend to react much more than we respond to the decisions and situations we face. Our courses are intended to develop the innate ability to cultivate mindfulness over “mindlessness”, with which we are all familiar. 

This is an opportunity to rediscover yourself and to access the qualities and strengths you possess deep inside. 

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) was developed by Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn, a professor emeritus of medicine and the creator of the 'Stress Reduction Clinic' and the 'Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society' at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, and the author of many books including Full Catastrophe Living.

MBSR All-Day Session (Included in our registration):

As part of the MBSR course, we offer an All-Day Session of Mindfulness, typically held between weeks 6 and 7. This teacher-led silent retreat is a chance to experience mindfulness practices you have already been learning—such as sitting meditation, mindful movement, walking meditation— in a supportive and spacious way. You'll also have the opportunity to reflect and share your experience at the end of the day and during class.

Continuing Education
Continuing Education Credits:

CE Credits require an additional $50 fee - paid for before the start date of the program. You must attend all sessions and the all-day session in order to receive the CE certificate.

Continuing Education Credits are awarded in the following categories: American Psychological Association (APA) and Board of Registered Nursing (BRN).

Psychologists

UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness maintains responsibility for this program and its content. 27.0 CE credit.

California Licensed MFTs, LPCCs, LEPs, LCSWs

This activity is an approved continuing education program by the American Psychological Association. Credit hours may be applied to your license renewal through the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. 27.0 CE credit.

Nurses

UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing to sponsor continuing education. Provider Number CEP16351. 32.0 contact hours.

Page Sections
Off
Recent Testimonial
"As a wife, mother, full time student, and full time employee, there’s rarely a moment to pause. The MBSR program has given me the rare opportunity to take just a few hours each week to slow down and focus on myself. Practicing mindfulness has been a grounding and much needed reset in the middle of my busy life."
Cancellation Policy

A refund of your registration payment (minus your $50 non-refundable/non-transferable deposit) will be made for participants who withdraw prior to the start of the 1st class by emailing mindfulness@health.ucsd.edu.

If you decide to cancel after the 1st session and before the 2nd session starts, 50% of your registration payment will be refunded. No refunds will be made after the 2nd session starts.

Please be aware that the registration fee, deposits, and funds are non-transferable to other programs.

In the unlikely event that the course is cancelled, UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness is responsible only for a full refund of the registration fee. In regards to the In-Person Programs, the center is not responsible for any refunds to transportation, hotel accommodations, or any miscellaneous expenses.

The refunds are processed in the same method as the payments were submitted (unless past 180 days).

Contact Email
mindfulness@ucsd.edu
Primary Center
Price
$595
Pricing Details
($545 if paid in full 30 days in advance.)

UC San Diego students/employees may take the course for $545 ($495 if paid in full 30 days in advance).
Audience Type
Program Summary
Restore balance with an evidence-based 8-week MBSR program that helps you reclaim a calm, resilient, and a better quality of life.
Use phased schedule
Off
Program Session
Thursdays, 9:30 AM – 12 PM PT
Online

The All-Day Session (Online) on Sunday, June 14, 2026, from 9am-4pm PT, is included with this program.

Tuesdays, 6–8:30 PM PST
6333 Greenwich Drive, San Diego

The All-Day Session (In-Person) on Sunday, June 14, 2026, from 9am-4pm PT, is included with this program.

Thursdays, 9-11:30 AM PT
Online

The All-Day Session (Online) on Sunday, July 19, 2026, from 9am-4pm PT, is included with this program.

Enrollment requirement

CFM requires a minimum of 10 registrants for ALL MBSR programs. Programs with fewer than 10 will be canceled and fully refunded.

Mindful Living Practice Groups for Graduates and General Public with Center for Mindfulness Teachers



CONTINUING PRACTICE

Join a Mindful Living Practice Group

Stay connected. Deepen your practice. Build mindful habits that last.

Our Mindful Living Practice Groups are designed to help you continue integrating mindfulness into everyday life with the support of a compassionate community.


Who These Groups Are For

  • Graduates of our public programs
  • Anyone wanting to sustain a regular mindful practice
  • Beginners who are curious and ready to explore

    No prior experience required.


What You'll Experience


?Guided Practice
Guided meditation practices from core programs

? Supportive Community
Community support and shared reflection

?Deepening Your Practice
Tools to strengthen and deepen your formal practice

?Mindful Living
Practical ways to bring mindful awareness to daily life


Why Join?

Mindfulness grows stronger with community.

These groups provide structure, accountability, and encouragement to help you stay committed and inspired.

Suggested Donation

$10-$20 per session
(Any amount is gratefully accepted.)


Choose Your Weekly Practice

Mondays

9-9:30am (PT)
Jennifer Miller
Online

Mondays

12:30-1pm (PT)
Helen Davis
Online

Wednesdays

12:30-1pm (PT)
Helen Kim
Online

Fridays

11-12:30pm (PT)
Lisette Atala
Online (In Spanish)

About



About Us

Mindfulness for Focus, Resilience, and Well-Being

We provide science-backed mindfulness training, education, and research that help people reduce stress, improve focus, and build well-being.

Our programs support patients, students, educators, professionals, and communities across healthcare and education.

48+ Mindfulness Programs

Helping individuals build mindfulness skills through structured, evidence-based learning.

475 Program Participants

Supporting hundreds of participants through guided programs and trainings each year.

127,000 Audio Listens

Extending mindfulness practice beyond the classroom through accessible resources.

22 Professional Programs

Bringing mindfulness training into professional and organizational settings.


How We Support You

Mindfulness Programs

Evidence-based courses that help individuals reduce stress, strengthen attention, and build lasting well-being through guided mindfulness practice.

Professional Expertise

Specialized training led by a network of professors, clinicians, and researchers, dedicated to integrating mindfulness into life, work, and leadership practices.

Research & Collaboration

Interdisciplinary research and partnerships that advance the science of mindfulness and expand its impact across healthcare, education, and communities.


Rooted in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is an evidence-based program developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn that uses meditation, body awareness, and mindful movement to help people respond more skillfully to stress. 

For decades, MBSR has supported improvements in mental health, resilience, and overall well-being across healthcare, education, and everyday life.

📊
Evidence Based

🏥
Clinically Informed

🤝
Compassionate Practice


Research & Collaborations

The Center for Mindfulness partners with healthcare systems, educators, and community organizations to apply evidence-based mindfulness in real-world settings. 

In 2024, five featured research and collaboration initiatives focused on expanding mindfulness across diverse contexts — including wellness training for law enforcement professionals, prehabilitation programs for surgical patients, compassion-focused mentorship for undergraduate students, classroom-based educator initiatives, and climate resilience programs for college students. 

Together, these efforts advance mindfulness through research, education, and community engagement.

Mindfulness In Other Languages

Mindfulness is meant for everybody. In attempts to make Mindfulness available to all and in response to the growing interest for Mindfulness Resources in various languages, we now have websites available for Japanese speakers.

 

Japanese Speaking Mindfulness Community Resources

(日本語でのマインドフルネスとセルフ・コンパッションの情報は下記リンクをご覧ください。)