Community Mental Health of Ottawa County 
Free Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction
Online 9-Week Class

Includes Continuing Education Credits for Mental Health Professionals and Nurses

Live on Zoom - Includes Full Online Program with video and audio instruction.
Wednesdays - September 25 - November 20, 9:30 am - 12:00 pm
All-Day Retreat: Wednesday, November 6, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm

Our personal and professional lives are full of demanding circumstances that can lead to prolonged stress and anxiety. We need tools to meet these demands effectively, both in the moment and in the long term.

Originally developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, the MBSR Program it is now offered by medical centers and hospitals worldwide. It has a proven track record of reducing pain, illness, and stress.

Recent brain research has shown that by learning to pay attention in a particular way to our inner and outer experiences, the parts of the brain responsible for learning, concentration, self-regulation, and compassion get stronger and the areas of the brain responsible for stress, worry, and anxiety get weaker.

Mindfulness training is one of the most effective ways to alter the structure and function of the brain, reduce distress, and improve the quality of our emotional fitness.

Invite calm back into your life with Mindfulness

Mindfulness is the practice of paying attention to our moment-to-moment experience with acceptance and curiosity without resisting or embellishing it. Much of our stress occurs when we let our minds run on autopilot, leading to rumination and worry. Through simple practices, mindfulness can improve our emotional resilience and strengthen our capacity to respond skillfully to life's challenges.

Class Details:

The MBSR class consists of eight weekly sessions and one All-Day Retreat after the sixth week of class. The retreat is an extended period of practice to integrate what you have learned in the course.

  • Tuition includes access to a full online version of the class including, meditation audio files, instructional videos, and the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction course handbook. 

  • Online classes meet on the Zoom video conferencing platform. Our instructors will help orient you to Zoom. (Hesitant to participate online? Read our tips for making it work, or contact us to discuss!)

You will Learn:

  • The definition and benefits of mindfulness

  • The research that supports it

  • How to step out of autopilot

  • Skills to respond rather than react to stress

  • How to work with difficult emotions

  • Formal and informal mindfulness practices

Mindfulness Meditation Practices:

During the course, you will practice several formal and informal mindfulness practices including:

  • Body Scan

  • Sitting Meditation

  • Walking Meditation

  • Mindful Yoga

  • Eating Meditation

  • Routine Activities at Work and at Home

Learning different practices will help you find the one that is right for you and your lifestyle. Manage stress better, naturally!

The Research:

  • Reduces stress, anxiety, and depression

  • Improves sleep, focus, and attention

  • Reduces symptoms of chronic illness and pain

  • Enhances the ability to experience joy and contentment

  • Increases confidence and self-acceptance

What’s Included: 

  • Weekly In-Person Zoom Meetings

  • Access to online videos, audio recordings, and a PDF workbook.

  • 27 Continuing Education credits for Mental Health Professionals

  • 32 Continuing Education credits for Nurses

  • Support of an experienced teacher