Teacher Training
Learn to Teach MBSR Through Apprenticeship, Mentorship, and Real Classroom Experience
Our cohort-based Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Teacher Training (MBSR-TT) is an immersive, two-year, apprentice-style training that certifies you to teach the 8-week MBSR class with skill and confidence.
Learning to teach MBSR also empowers individuals to design shorter mindfulness workshops and presentations, and to integrate mindfulness into other therapeutic and healing modalities.
Our program features hands-on, in-classroom training with a high faculty-to-student ratio. Personalized feedback and warm support are the hallmarks of this unique certification program.
You may apply any time for the next cohort.
Location: Online (with optional in-person training in the Puget Sound region or Atlanta, GA)
Length: Two years. First year embedded in a learning cohort, second year on your own with mentorship support.
Outcome: Receive certification to teach the 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction class, with the knowledge, skills and confidence to teach your own MBSR and other mindfulness programs with integrity, competence and care.
Structure:
- Year One: Practicum-based training in a small cohort. Students are embedded in online or in-person MBSR classes as a participant-observer, moving into progressively more teaching. Meet online weekly with your cohort to learn and discuss teaching the curriculum.
- Year Two: Learn how to organize and teach your own MBSR classes. The program becomes self-paced with support from Senior Teachers acting as your mentors. This can be completed in a second year or over a longer period.
Prerequisites – to begin this training, you must have:
- Taken the MBSR course at least once.
- Completed at least one silent, teacher-led meditation retreat of 5 days or longer.
- Established a consistent personal meditation practice.
Mindfulness Northwest’s MBSR training provides an in-depth study of the course material, with ample time to discuss and dive into the material with senior teachers both in-person and in online group meetings. There are many opportunities to develop teaching skills with assistance from the senior teachers. The atmosphere is supportive, while also delivering important feedback.
Program Comparison
There are several established pathways for becoming an MBSR teacher. This chart offers a simple comparison of structure, cost, mentorship, and teaching requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Will this work in my time zone?
This training can be done completely online or you can connect with us in person.
Our classes are offered to accomodate most time zones with in person options for your MBSR class placements in Atlanta and Seattle.
When does the program start?
The Cohort will begin in mid-September.
What is the tuition?
The total cost for the complete two-year training program is $9,900 tuition paid with a $500 tuition deposit on enrollment and then in 15 monthly (no interest) payments for the remaining balance ($630/month).
This fee includes all administrative costs, training, mentorship, meetings, portfolio review, and certification. There are no additional fees from Mindfulness Northwest for completing this training and becoming certified to teach MBSR.
Are you a graduate of our one-year Mindfulness Teacher Training Program (MTTP)? A discounted tuition for MBSR-TT is available. Contact us for more information.
Are scholarships available?
Mindfulness Northwest’s mission is to bring the healing possibilities of mindfulness training to all people and we recognize that tuition can be a barrier. If this is true for you, we warmly invite you to apply for a scholarship after completing the MBSR-TT program application.
Please let us know if your intention is to serve underserved communities in your future work as a mindfulness teacher, and any ways you are already working with or have served these communities, as this will be weighed into the scholarship award decision.
Questions? Write to us at karen@mindfulnessnorthwest.com.
Are there prerequisites for this training?
Before beginning this program, you must have:
- Taken the MBSR course at least once.
- Completed at least one silent, teacher-led meditation retreat of 5 days or longer.
- Established a consistent personal meditation practice.
Please contact us if you have any questions about satisfying these prerequisites.
What is the application process?
Simply fill out the program application form to begin the process. An intake interview will follow to help you, and us, make sure this program is a good fit at this time. After enrollment we will work with you to assign you to your first MBSR class as a trainee.
Can I talk to someone to learn more?
Of course! A few options:
- We hold periodic online MBSR-TT Information Sessions, which include time for a Q&A with the program faculty and also alumni of the program (see higher up on the page for upcoming Info Sessions).
- Karen Schwisow, Program Director and Mindfulness Northwest Executive Director, is available at karen@mindfulnessnorthwest.com.
- Tim Burnett, Senior Teacher and Mindfulness Northwest Founder, is available at tim@mindfulnessnorthwest.com.
What do graduates have to say about the program?
The MBSR-TT program was exactly what I needed, desired and exceeded my expectations. The first phase was particularly exhilarating, learning in a group setting and shadowing a full round of the MBSR course. The weekly zoom calls with our cohort and two senior teachers was such rich ground for engagement and learning.
The quality of the staff was and is the cornerstone of any good program and Karen, Tim, and Richard at Mindfulness Northwest are phenomenal humans, teachers, and guides. I feel as though I have not just gone through a certification program but I have been welcomed into a family where I got to nurture myself and my skills. I cannot recommend this program enough!
– Kari Lyons
I live on the opposite side of the country from the MNW offices. The senior teachers for the MBSR-TT program at MNW helped connect me to a local certified MBSR teacher in Atlanta, GA who agreed to be my onsite mentor. This satellite arrangement worked out perfectly, and I felt like I got the full experience even though I was 3,000 miles away!
– Erika Bloodworth, Atlanta Georgia
The quality of training and support provided in the MBSR-TT program was transformative for me as a mindfulness teacher, helping me to gain confidence and competence.
– Teresa Johnson, Seattle, WA
Mindfulness Northwest’s MBSR training provides an in-depth study of the course material, with ample time to discuss and dive into the material with senior teachers both in-person and in online group meetings. There are many opportunities to develop teaching skills with assistance from the senior teachers. The atmosphere is supportive, while also delivering important feedback.
– Beth Glosten, Seattle, WA
FACULTY
Program Director & Teacher Trainer Karen Schwisow, E-RYT 500, is the director of Mindfulness Northwest and has been teaching yoga and meditation to individuals and groups since 2005, and facilitating 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction courses since 2011. She is certified to teach Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction by the Center for Mindfulness at the University of Massachusetts Medical School and is an MBSR Teacher Training mentor at the UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness. Karen has been building a foundation of mindfulness in her own life since the early 90s. After her discovery of yoga in 2001 she trained as a yoga teacher and co-founded Three Trees Yoga & Healing Arts Center in Federal Way where she co-developed Yoga Teacher Training programs with over 200 graduates. Through compassionate listening, authenticity, and humor she creates a welcoming container that empowers participants to experience their own innate ability to thrive.
Teacher Trainer Tushar Bhagat teaches MBSR & other stress reduction programs at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine & Cancer Research Institute to cancer patients, students, medical residents, doctors, therapists, scientists & staff. As an Assistant Professor in the Department of Oncology, Dr. Bhagat conducts translational cancer research in addition to pursuing research on mindfulness-based well-being programs for professionals. Dr. Bhagat received early yoga & meditation training from his parents. He began formal training in meditation during middle school while attending and serving 10-day silent Vipassana meditation retreats near Mumbai, India during high school.
Teacher Trainer Tim Burnett is the founder of Mindfulness Northwest. Tim has been teaching Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) since 2010, and practicing meditation since 1986. He is certified to teach MBSR by the Center for Mindfulness at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. Tim is also certified to teach Mindful Self-Compassion and Compassion Cultivation Training. Tim also brings a background in traditional Dharma practice to his mindfulness work as an ordained Soto Zen priest and teacher having received a 30 year apprenticeship with the well known Zen teacher Zoketsu Norman Fischer. Tim is the Guiding Teacher of Red Cedar Zen Community in Bellingham. Tim is passionate about the healing power of bringing a mindful compassionate attention to our lives and learning to accept ourselves more fully just the way we are.
Teacher Trainer Mark Dennenfelser is founding director of the Mindfulness Center of Atlanta (founded, 2009). He is a Certified MBSR Teacher, licensed professional counselor, and a registered yoga teacher. Mark is the Aquinas Center of Theology at Emory University commissioned lecturer on Centering Prayer. He has also completed training in the Mindful Schools Curriculum, Yoga Therapy in Cancer & Chronic Illness Professional Training with Integral Teachers Yoga Association, and Clinical Training in Mind Body Medicine, by Herbert Benson, MD, Mind/Body Medical Institute.
Program Structure
MBSR-TT unfolds over four phases. You work through the first two phases in a small cohort, with a low student:teacher ratio, in an intensive, practicum-based setting. The last two phases are more flexible and mentorship-based. Our Senior Teachers support you throughout the journey.
During Phase I, Fall & Winter of Year One, you will:
- Be embedded in two MBSR classes organized by Mindfulness Northwest and taught by our Senior Teachers.
- Observe your Senior Teacher and participate right along with the students.
- Have progressively more teaching responsibility. Other cohort members may also be in your class.
- Collect short video recordings of the Senior Teacher and your own teaching to review.
- Process your experience in a weekly debrief after every MBSR class.
- Learn together in weekly Zoom meetings with the entire cohort.
During Phase II, Spring of Year One, you will:
- Teach your first MBSR class: on your own, with a co-teacher, or with a Senior Teacher (this may be offered at our discretion).
- Continue collecting video of your teaching for review.
- Continue weekly Zoom meetings with the entire cohort for support and training.
- Write reflections on each class session taught and receive personalized feedback from a Senior Teacher.
During Phase III, Year Two, you will:
- Organize and teach three (3) MBSR classes on your own, or with a co-teacher.
- Receive nine hours of one–on-one mentorship support as you fully take the teacher’s seat.
- Have access to all of Mindfulness Northwest’s teaching materials.
Phase III is flexible:
- You can organize your MBSR classes in any community you have access to.
- It’s fine if it takes longer than a year for these classes.
When you’re ready for Phase IV, Certification, you will:
- Teach one more MBSR class without supervision
- Submit a teaching portfolio (including video of teaching from this last MBSR course and audio recordings) demonstrating that you’re ready to teach MBSR independently.
- Receive a portfolio review with a Senior Teacher.
- Keep learning: additional training and support may be recommended.
MBSR-TT Participant Agreement
In applying to join Mindfulness Northwest’s Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Teacher Training Program (MBSR-TT) I understand and agree that:
Program Basics
Program Completion
To receive a Certificate of Completion, participants must attend at least 85% of the program. Program attendance includes:
- Three MBSR courses completed as a practicum student
- Weekly video conferencing calls during year one
- Four MBSR courses that you organize and teach
Advancement to Certification
Advancement from completion of the MBSR-TT program (Phase III) into Teacher Certification review (Phase IV) is not guaranteed. MBSR-TT faculty will determine when each participant is ready to advance to supervision and certification.
No Guarantee of Certification
Participation in the supervision and certification process and payment of the required tuition fees do not guarantee that the participant will become a Certified Mindfulness Teacher through Mindfulness Northwest. The MBSR-TT program requires that each participant demonstrates “basic understanding of the fundamental principles of mindfulness and the teachings that underlie mindfulness and demonstrates competency in delivering the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) course with high fidelity to the MBSR Curriculum.” Competency will be assessed based on, but not limited to, the criteria specified in the MBI:TAC (Mindfulness-Based Interventions Teacher Assessment Criteria).
No Implied Offer of Employment
Completing MBSR-TT does not imply a promise from Mindfulness Northwest that we will provide you with employment as a mindfulness teacher.
Phase III: Teaching Your MBSR Courses
The timing of Phase III is flexible. We recommend teaching one MBSR course per quarter during the second academic year after completing Phases I and II, but you may arrange these to suit your circumstances. Phase III must be completed within three years of completing Phase II to be considered for certification in Phase IV.
Phase IV: Certification Portfolio
Your certification portfolio must be submitted within six months of the completion of your fourth self-organized MBSR course.
Your portfolio must include:
- Video recording of the entirety of Class 4 or 5 from your fourth MBSR course (record both in case of technical issues)
- Written outline of your plan for the submitted class
- Audio recordings for student homework use: Body Scan, Mindful Movement, and Open Awareness
- All written materials you plan to distribute to your students
MBSR Teacher Training Tuition Policy
Tuition Deposit
Upon admission to the MBSR-TT, a tuition deposit is due within 30 days of acceptance or on the first day of the first month in which the training begins, whichever comes first. This deposit secures your place in the program and covers preliminary administrative costs.
Monthly Payments
A no-interest payment plan of 15 months begins during the first month of the MBSR-TT. Each monthly payment is 1/15 of your total tuition.
Late Tuition Payments
Unless explicitly arranged in advance, payments are due on the schedule described above. Late payments are subject to a late fee of 5% annual interest compounded monthly.
Early Withdrawal and Refunds
Deposit is Non-Refundable
Mindfulness Northwest retains the $500 tuition deposit if a student withdraws at any time, including before the first training meeting.
Payment Plan Students
If a student enrolled in a monthly payment plan withdraws at any point in the program, Mindfulness Northwest retains all tuition paid to date. No refund will be issued. No additional balance will be collected.
Students Who Paid Tuition in Full
If a student who paid the full tuition amount withdraws, refunds are determined by the following schedule, applied to tuition paid after the deposit:
| Withdrawal timing | Mindfulness Northwest retains | Refund issued |
|---|---|---|
| Before program start | $0 (deposit already retained) | Full tuition less deposit |
| Months 1–3 | 40% | 60% |
| Months 4–6 | 60% | 40% |
| Months 7–9 | 80% | 20% |
| After month 9 | 100% | None |
Any refund owed will be paid within 30 calendar days of the student’s official withdrawal date.
Official Withdrawal Date
A student’s official withdrawal date is the earliest of: written notice to the Program Director; formal notice of termination for a policy violation; or 14 consecutive days of absence without contact with program staff.
Submission of your deposit constitutes agreement with the terms of this Participant Agreement.