Teacher Training and Experience:
Susan trained and was certified as a MBSR teacher by the Center for Mindfulness at the University of Massachussetts Medical School (CFM). In 2020, she trained in and was awarded Teacher Certification for teaching MBSR LIVE ONLINE by East Coast Mindfulness USA.
Susan is a MBSR Teacher Trainer and tutors on the Masters in Mindfulness Based Wellbeing in University College Cork (UCC) as well as their Post Graduate Diploma Programme in Mindfulness Based Practice and Research. She has also tutored with University of California San Diego (UCSD) and has assisted on Teacher Training programmes with CFM.
Susan also trained with Becca Crane and colleagues from the Centre for Mindfulness Research and Practice at Bangor University (UK) to assess and grade trainee mindfulness teachers using the internationally recognised MBI:TAC reflective and assessment tool.
Supervision Training and Experience:
Susan qualified as a Mindfulness Supervisor in 2019 with The Centre for Mindfulness Research and Practice at Bangor University (UK) and offers supervision to both Mindfulness teachers and trainees. During 2022, she undertook a 12 month in-depth Supervisor training programme with Lot Heijke and colleagues, The Netherlands. She is passionate about supporting teachers of all Mindfulness Based interventions to continue to refine their teaching skills and the spirit of deep personal inquiry that is integral to the work.
Susan continues to engage in her own regular supervision for both her teaching and supervision work.
Susan is an active member of the MTAI Supervision Sub-group, a group that has helped to developed standards and a code of ethics for the Supervision of mindfulness teachers, thus supporting the integrity of our work in Ireland and ensuring the safety of members of the public who engage in it. A working definition of Mindfulness Based Supervision is as follows:
“Mindfulness supervision is a regular, safe and co-created restorative space that is held within the container of mindfulness and contracted between supervisor and supervisee. Embodying a compassionate presence and through mutual inquiry, the supervisory process enables reflection on the supervisee’s mindfulness teaching practice and balances the supportive, educative and ethical strands of mindfulness teaching and practice. The process is dedicated to deepening the growth, understanding, integrity, safety and effectiveness of the integration of mindfulness, both personally and professionally, in the supervisee’s working life.”
Other relevant training and experience:
Susan trained in Mindful Self-compassion with Dr. Chris Germer and in Trauma Sensitive Mindfulness with David Treleaven.
Susan has extensive experience of group facilitation. In her previous work, Susan worked as a Community Development Consultant with a range of statutory and voluntary agencies throughout Kerry and neighbouring counties, assisting them with change management, strategic planning, and goal setting. She also trained in Conflict Resolution with Roundtable Mediation, Cork.
For more than 3 decades, Susan has been committed to a personal meditation practice that includes Insight meditation (Vipassana), Metta practices, Self-compassion practices and Insight Dialogue, a practice of deep inquiry and interpersonal dialogue. Susan has participated in many silent retreats over the years and continues to commit to this on a regular basis.
