{"id":800,"date":"2021-04-29T07:04:40","date_gmt":"2021-04-29T07:04:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oxfordmbct.net\/?page_id=800"},"modified":"2025-07-10T11:50:14","modified_gmt":"2025-07-10T11:50:14","slug":"about","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/oxfordmbct.net\/?page_id=800","title":{"rendered":"About"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"800\" class=\"elementor elementor-800\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-0a2aebd elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"0a2aebd\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-9d7863e\" data-id=\"9d7863e\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-08bd613 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"08bd613\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.7.4 - 31-08-2022 *\/\n.elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}<\/style><h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">MBCT and me<\/h1>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-498ea31 elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"498ea31\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-fd0eb90\" data-id=\"fd0eb90\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e2cdbaa elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"e2cdbaa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.7.4 - 31-08-2022 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"1920\" height=\"1217\" src=\"https:\/\/oxfordmbct.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/zen-509371_1920.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oxfordmbct.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/zen-509371_1920.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/oxfordmbct.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/zen-509371_1920-300x190.jpg 300w, https:\/\/oxfordmbct.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/zen-509371_1920-1024x649.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/oxfordmbct.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/zen-509371_1920-768x487.jpg 768w, https:\/\/oxfordmbct.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/zen-509371_1920-1536x974.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-74ad8b2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"74ad8b2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"576\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/oxfordmbct.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/d1242c2e-1a11-49fc-afb9-4ef2084c538d.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oxfordmbct.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/d1242c2e-1a11-49fc-afb9-4ef2084c538d.jpg 576w, https:\/\/oxfordmbct.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/d1242c2e-1a11-49fc-afb9-4ef2084c538d-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/oxfordmbct.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/d1242c2e-1a11-49fc-afb9-4ef2084c538d-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 576px) 100vw, 576px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-66 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-0944c42\" data-id=\"0944c42\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-adcc308 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"adcc308\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h5 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">My Story<\/h5>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d7b920e elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d7b920e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Transformative | Life-changing<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-856dedf elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"856dedf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.7.4 - 31-08-2022 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#818a91;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#818a91;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p>In December 2006 I was diagnosed with an incurable, life-altering neurological condition called axial dystonia which has resulted in a number of difficult symptoms including: difficulty with walking &amp; balance, chronic pain, involuntary muscle spasms and tremor, spine twisting and abnormal posture. By 2017 I had tried all of the established treatments for my condition &#8211; including having a Deep Brain Stimulator surgically implanted 2016. By now my career had ended. To support my mental health I completed two courses of CBT &#8211; first in a group setting, then one-to-one &#8211; unfortunately neither helped me find me a route out of the gathering despair. Just as I reached the end of the road<span style=\"font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; color: var(--ast-global-color-3); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\">\u00a0I was offered a place on an 8-week MBCT course &#8211; in a group specially put together for patients with incurable long-term conditions, just like me\u2026<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-403f403 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"403f403\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>For me (and others on the course,), MBCT was life-changing. the training to relate in a different way to thoughs gave me with a completely new way of day-to-day living: &#8211; embracing life in the present and looking forward to a more positive future, despite my disibility. After experiencing the benefits of MBCT first-hand, I quickly resolved to re-train as an MBCT teacher myself, so I could offer the same better way of living to other people who are suffering due to physical or emotional challenges. Since the Covid epidemic online-based MBCT courses have become commonplace and so the reach of MBCT &nbsp;is truly global. Studies have shown that delivery of the live course &#8211; whether face-to-face or online does not affect efficacy.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>So, in December 2017 I graduated from UK College of Mindfulness Meditation with the British Psychological Society-approved <i>Mindfulness Now <\/i>license. Then, following nearly two years of study and supervision wiith the Oxford&nbsp;<span style=\"background-color: var(--ast-global-color-4);\"><span style=\"color: var(--ast-global-color-3); font-style: inherit;\">Mindfulness Foundation, I was &nbsp;awarded&nbsp;<\/span>the<span style=\"color: var(--ast-global-color-3); font-style: inherit;\">&nbsp;<\/span><i><span style=\"color: var(--ast-global-color-3);\">Trained&nbsp;<\/span>Teacher<span style=\"color: var(--ast-global-color-3);\"> Certificate in MBCT<\/span><\/i><span style=\"color: var(--ast-global-color-3); font-style: inherit;\"> in 2022. Since then I have been busy teaching MBCT in industry to groups of employees within Kyndryl &#8211; an offshoot of IBM with 90,000 employees <\/span>globally<span style=\"color: var(--ast-global-color-3); font-style: inherit;\">. I have also been offering<\/span><span style=\"color: var(--ast-global-color-3); font-style: inherit;\">&nbsp;MBCT to clients at the Wellbeing Clinic<\/span><span style=\"color: var(--ast-global-color-3); font-style: inherit;\"> in Headington &#8211; from where it is possible to arrange a free, no-obligation introductory chat with me.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>MBCT and me My Story Transformative | Life-changing In December 2006 I was diagnosed with an incurable, life-altering neurological condition called axial dystonia which has resulted in a number of difficult symptoms including: difficulty with walking &amp; balance, chronic pain, involuntary muscle spasms and tremor, spine twisting and abnormal posture. By 2017 I had tried &hellip;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"> <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/oxfordmbct.net\/?page_id=800\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">About<\/span> Read More &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"no-sidebar","site-content-layout":"page-builder","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"disabled","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"disabled","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"enabled","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/oxfordmbct.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/800"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/oxfordmbct.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/oxfordmbct.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oxfordmbct.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oxfordmbct.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=800"}],"version-history":[{"count":97,"href":"https:\/\/oxfordmbct.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/800\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1249,"href":"https:\/\/oxfordmbct.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/800\/revisions\/1249"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/oxfordmbct.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=800"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}