Supervision exists at the core of the Mindfulness Network, enabling mindfulness-based teachers to flourish and work with integrity. But what exactly is Supervision? Cindy Cooper and Jody Mardula (2011, 2016) describe it as: “A regular space that is contracted between supervisor and supervisee, which enables reflection on the supervisee’s mindfulness teaching practice and how this interfaces with their personal mindfulness practice and their life.”
At the Mindfulness Network, we employ the Mindfulness-Based Supervision Framework as the foundation for our Supervision Pathway, developed alongside colleagues by Alison Evans, our Supervision Lead. We offer a variety of training courses and professional development opportunities for supervisors. Participants have found these courses valuable, with one stating: “The Supervision Course has been crafted with care and purpose, with Supervisors who have drawn on years of experience and inherited experience. I would highly recommend this for Mindfulness teachers who intend to supervise and for those who want to take their qualifications to another level.”
Over the years, we have received regular requests for “more” from participants. Alison explains: “Different people have different needs, and we became increasingly aware that there was more that we could fit into the course “. As a result, the decision was made to write a book dedicated to mindfulness-based supervision. She adds, “Roll on a couple of years and that book [Mindfulness-Based Supervision and Mentoring. Using an Embodied Dialogue to Support Learning and Reflection by Alison Evans and Pamela Duckerin] has just been published. It will now be essential reading for the training, and we will connect the relevant chapters/pages that link to the different parts of the training, and let trainees know where to read at a time and pace that suits them”.
Each participant’s specific needs are taken into account when planning the training. Cultural sensitivities in training are essential for fostering inclusive environments. At the Mindfulness Network, we consider the diverse backgrounds of participants, and feedback suggests that while some people prefer to practice and converse in their language, others prefer to be in a multicultural mix. The supervision training team continually reviews feedback and looks for ways to accommodate individual preferences and meet particular needs. For example, Alison explains: “We used to let the breakout rooms be set up randomly, but heard from you that sometimes you ended up being with the same people on several occasions. We now work out the rooms behind the scenes each evening to try and mix people as best we can.”
Another way that the team has responded to the needs of the international community is by adapting the training times, noting how few teachers from the US and Canada access the training compared to other parts of the world. “We have received feedback that timing was an issue, so with this in mind, we have scheduled our next Level One training in September specifically for those teachers,” says Alison.
The Mindfulness Network’s three-day Level One training course is designed to develop understanding, confidence, and skills to enable experienced mindfulness-based teachers to step into the important role of supporting other teachers. The international course is online and runs from Friday, September 19, until Sunday, September 21, 2025. For a more detailed description and to book the course, click here.
The two-day Level Two course builds upon the three-day Level One mindfulness-based supervision training. We aim to deepen our work by using embodied inquiry within mindfulness-based supervision, using the mindfulness-based supervision framework. Discussion and skills practice focus on furthering our understanding of mindfulness-based supervision, including the use of the MBI: TAC/TLC, reviewing supervision, agenda setting, and supervision of supervision (supra-vision). Our next Level Two Course is in October 2025. Find out more and book here.
The Supervision Pathway also involves attending retreats, Supra-vision and the opportunity to join the International SiTT Group for Supervisors. While all MN retreats are highly suitable for supervisors, we regularly offer a specific retreat, “Drinking deeply from the well of mindfulness together,” which explores the mindfulness-based supervision framework through mindfulness practice with other supervisors and Supra-vision ( supervision of supervision) is offered for individuals and small groups. You can experience this by joining our next retreat day of practice for mindfulness-based supervisors, mentors and leaders in November 2025, followed by a weekend retreat for mindfulness-based supervisors, mentors and leaders in January 2026.
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Feedback from the Training Pathway
The Mindfulness Network will host the launch of the book Mindfulness-Based Supervision and Mentoring. Using an Embodied Dialogue to Support Learning and Reflection by Alison Evans and Pamela Duckerin on Tuesday, 22 July, to attend the event, book here.
