Hilary Smyth
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction/Cognitive Therapy Teacher (MBSR/CT). Compassion Teacher (MSC & MBCL). Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy: Cancer (MBCT Ca). Certified Meditation Teacher (Tara Brach Jack Kornfield). Cert. Counselling & Psychotherapy (MSc student). RGN, BNS, MSc Palliative Care.
With a background in Healthcare and counselling, I offer mindfulness and compassion based programmes and support to healthcare and cancer services- clients, family and staff -and also to the general public.
Overview
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About Hilary
Approach, Philosophy and Specialisation
“A strong mind without a kind heart struggles to be truly compassionate; a kind heart suffers without the wise mind to guide it.”
For me, caring is about caring for ourself and caring for those around us. This enables us to begin to step out of our pain and healing to begin. To be able to respond better to the stress and suffering we witness and feel in our lives.
I founded ‘Kind Mind Ireland’ to support people to find their way along a path of personal growth. And alongside your growth, is my own. Compassion does not come easy to all of us, it was not how were were brought up and perfectionism and ‘not good enough’ abounds in todays world. But compassion is a human skill that can be learned. The first step is self-compassion. Without it, it’s difficult to be truly compassionate to others and burnout occurs.
Passionate about Healthcare and Cancer care, I offer courses & support to those giving and receiving care. I teach Mindfulness for Stress, Mindfulness for Low Mood, Mindfulness for Cancer, Mindful Self Compassion and a range of shorter courses, drop-in sessions and support groups. I also teach to the general public and privately.
Professional Background
In Healthcare I spent over 20 years working Specialist Palliative Care in Nursing and Education.
Life struggles and suffering urged me take better care of myself and my life. With deepening meditation practice, I started to train to teach in mindfulness & compassion:
- Mindfulness Based-Interventions (Mindful Academy International) 2017
- Compassion Teacher Training (MSC, MBCL: Centre for Mindful Self-Compassion, USA; Mindfulness Network, UK) 2018/9
- Professional Diploma in MBSR/CT (Mindfulness Centre, Dublin) (2020)
- Tara Brach Jack Kornfield Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Programme (2023)
- Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy for Cancer (MBCT Ca) 2023
- Commenced Masters in Counselling and Psychotherapy 2024
Teaching Experience and Personal Mindfulness Practice
Compassion is the core of my personal meditation practice-my daily practice and for the difficult days.
Goodwill or ‘metta’ practice is a particular type of kindness & compassion meditation that I practice. It can include everyone and everything – from children, pets, the earth.. and especially ourselves and our difficult feelings.
Being in a contemplative working environment drew me to meditation (as did having a toddler and another on the way!) in 2011 .
Open awareness of all of my experience is also key to my daily meditation and I practice ‘Vipasanna’ meditation alone, and in a pair with a colleague fortnightly online.
I attend retreats and gatherings several times a year, both secular and Buddhist (Zen and Tibetan)
Courses and Services Overview
In summary:
- Mindfulness:
- Mindfulness for Stress and Low Mood 8 week courses (MBSR/CT)
- Mindfulness for Cancer (MBCT Cancer)
- Self-Compassion:
- Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC 8 week course)
- Self-Compassion: Healthcare Communities (SCHC: short 6 session course)
- Follow-on Compassion:
- Mindfulness Based Compassionate Living (8 week course for those who have completed MBSR/CT)
- Workshops, staff rest days, seminars, one-on-one, drop-in sessions, group facilitation are also regular features of my work