I’m Laura Taylor and I’ve been teaching mindfulness skills since 2016 – primarily MBCT to NHS patients at the AccEPT clinic at Exeter University as well as running stress reduction workshops for a variety of organisations. I completed my postgraduate diploma in Mindfulness-based Psychological Therapies and Practice at the University of Exeter in 2016 and went on to complete my MSc in Psychological Therapies, Practice and Research (MBCTA) in 2020. My background is in medicine and I continue to practice as an NHS doctor. I live and work in the South West of England and spend most of my time running about after my dogs and my kids. I have had a personal meditation practice since 2007 and was drawn to teach mindfulness because of how pivotal it has been for me in navigating life’s challenges. I adhere to the good practice guidelines of BAMBA and have regular supervision.
My Approach
I believe learning mindfulness skills can help us to tune into our true values in life and align our actions with these values. I think that the guidance can be delivered with a light touch and a sense of humour, as well as dealing with difficulties that can arise. Although the idea of group sessions can initially seem intimidating the nature of mindfulness teaching is experience rather than narrative based - there is no pressure to share personal stories or private information. In course feedback it is often the ‘shared experience’ as part of a group, and the ‘common humanity’ that participants reflect on most positively.
session format
Mindfulness is a skill which is developed through formal and informal practice. Formal practice is through periods of meditation - short and long, lying, sitting or moving - and informal practice involves paying attention in going about our usual daily activities. Each session begins with a period of guided meditation practice, followed by guided inquiry, more didactic teaching, and other exercises. You don’t have to perform, or be a certain way to come along - but engaging curiosity and an openness to new experience can help you get the most out of the sessions.
Home practice
Each course asks you to engage in some daily formal home practice. For some courses this is as little as 15 minutes a day, for the more intense courses it may be as much as 45 minutes a day. Of course, sometimes life gets in the way and we can learn much from noticing what de-rails us. However it is well recognised that those participants who gain the most from the course are those who engage most with the practices. The invitation is to suspend judgement, throw yourself into the course for the duration and then decide if this is something with which you wish to continue!