MBCT Teacher Training:

Teacher Foundations & Development with Relational Mindfulness

A Residential Continuing Education Training for Healthcare and Mental Health Professionals. October 11–16, 2026, at Omega Institute, Rhinebeck, NY. CEs sponsored by the Philadelphia Behavior Therapy Association (PBTA), with 27 CE credits included at no additional cost.

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ABOUT THIS TRAINING

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) combines the structured, evidence-based tools of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with the depth and flexibility of mindfulness practice. Originally developed to prevent relapse in depression, MBCT has since demonstrated meaningful benefits across the range of unpleasant and unwanted emotions that bring people into care.

This five-day residential training is designed for licensed health care professionals who want to develop a strong foundation of experiences in MBCT. This training is not a lecture course. You will be immersed in the MBCT curriculum experientially, practicing what you are learning, receiving guided mini-teaching experiences, and building skills through structured teach-backs and reflective practice.

The training incorporates relational practices to support the learning experience.

WHO THIS TRAINING IS FOR

This training is designed for healthcare providers, licensed mental health professionals, and graduate students in mental health fields, who wish to develop or deepen their MBCT teaching skills. Some personal familiarity with mindfulness practice is helpful, but not required.

“There is no better way to learn mindfulness and MBCT than to experience it for yourself.”

— Zindel Segal, PhD, Co-creator of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

By the end of the training, participants will have:

Understanding of the MBCT Framework and Evidence Base. You will come away with a clear understanding of how MBCT works and why, including how the mind and body respond to stress, why habits like rumination sustain emotional disorders, and how mindfulness practice interrupts those patterns. For those returning to the material, this is an opportunity to revisit the foundations with fresh perspective and renewed clarity.
A Working, Experiential Understanding of the Foundational MBCT Curriculum. You will experience the essential practices of the MBCT curriculum directly as a participant, including the body scan, sitting and movement meditation, the breathing space, and more. Teaching level will be inclusive, whether this is your first encounter or a return to familiar practices.
Teaching Experience Through Direct Practice and Feedback. You will practice guiding others through core MBCT practices and receive feedback in a supportive small-group setting. Newer teachers build with a solid foundation; those with experience may use structured feedback and peer consultation as an opportunity to refine and refresh teaching skills.
Ability to Apply and Learn from the MBI Teaching Assessment Criteria (MBI-TAC). You will have exposure to the standard framework for evaluating MBCT teaching development at every level of experience and have a clear pathway for growth.
Skills in Relational Mindfulness and Mindful Case Consultation. Relational practices are woven throughout the training, including guided experiences to consult about cases in a connected way, offering feedback with care, and tending to your own groundedness and wellbeing as the practitioner providing support.

Bonus: Graduates who complete the residential training also receive access to an optional additional 12 CE hours in 2027 at no additional cost, including a virtual follow-up community for MBCT teachers at all levels of experience. This is part of an ongoing community of practitioners who have experience and shared interest in MBCT and mindfulness. Specific CE objectives of this training are listed in detail:

more Info on CE CREDIT

RESIDENTIAL SETTING

This training invites you to step away from the pace of daily life. Held at the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, New York, Omega is a dedicated learning and retreat campus in the Hudson Valley. On-campus options for accommodations and meals are a popular choice amongst attendees. Commuter registration is available for those who prefer to stay off-site.

WHAT OTHERS SAY

"Chris Molnar, PhD, offers a high-quality MBCT training that adheres to the principles of participant experiential learning and treatment fidelity. There is no better way to learn mindfulness and MBCT than to experience it for yourself." - Zindel Segal, PhD, Co-creator of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy
“Chris Molnar's MBCT course at Omega was exceptional, creating a spacious and warm learning environment. The mindfulness skills I gained there have benefited my psychotherapy practice, enriching my work with many clients. I'm deeply grateful for this experience.” -Licensed psychologist participant in October 2024

YOUR TEACHERS

Chris Molnar, Ph.D., Licensed Psychologist, Founder, META Center (Mindful Exposure Therapy for Anxiety and Psychological Wellness Center)

Chris Molnar leads one of the handful of professional MBCT Teacher Training Organizations offering professional continuing education internationally. She is a licensed psychologist at Mindful Exposure Therapy for Anxiety and Psychological Wellness Center (META Center). Her background spans post-doctoral training in traumatic stress, neuroscience, and psychophysiology, and she brings deep expertise in evidence-based treatment for anxiety, OCD, PTSD, and stress-related conditions. Before founding META Center, she served as a clinical investigator with funding from the National Institutes of Health. She teaches both traditional MBCT and MBSR, as well as a brief adapted program designed to prepare highly distressed individuals for these approaches. She is widely published and committed to expanding access to high-quality, evidence-based care.

→Learn more about Dr. Molnar and listen to her guidance of some of the formal MBCT practices.

Alissa Yamasaki, Ph.D., Licensed Psychologist, Founder of Ayama Psychotherapy

Alissa Yamasaki holds a doctorate from Penn State University and founded Ayama Psychotherapy, a group practice in Lemont, Pennsylvania known for its thoughtful, mind-body approach to care. She specializes in working with adults with chronic and complex anxiety, integrating MBCT, relational insight, and CBT. Beyond her clinical practice, Dr. Yamasaki mentors and teaches clinicians, physicians, and others doing meaningful work in health and healing.

→ Learn more about Dr. Yamasaki at https://www.ayamapsychotherapy.com/

DETAILS

Dates: October 11–16, 2026
Location: Omega Institute, 150 Lake Drive, Rhinebeck, NY
Tuition: $630 standard / $565 Omega members / Tuition awards available
On-campus accommodations: Available from $575–$1,850 (5 nights, all meals included)
Commuter rate: $375 (meals and facilities included)
Who may attend: Licensed mental health professionals, healthcare providers, graduate students in mental health programs
CE Credits: 27 hours, included at no additional cost, sponsored by PBTA. CEs are approved by the American Psychological Association, the NY State Education Department for Psychology CE, and Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Clinical Social Workers, licensed in the state of Pennsylvania.