Mindfulness Courses for Teens

Teenagers have a lot on their plate. It’s a tough age to be, navigating ever more complex social situations whilst dealing with many physical and mental changes. Then there’s the stress in the form of exams and making huge decisions about their futures. It’s no wonder that 60% of young people report regularly feeling so stressed that they’re overwhelmed or unable to cope, according to a survey conducted by the Mental Health Foundation

Mindfulness is the practice of focussing on the present moment in order to deal rationally with the emotions you’re feeling. Studies in the UK have concluded that Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy is effective in reducing long-term stress. So it’s a good idea for teens to learn mindfulness to help them tackle what life throws their way.

Mindfulness for Stress - Breathworks

This organisation provides online instruction on how to practise mindfulness. They run a range of courses, but the one most beneficial to teens is the Mindfulness for Stress course. It’s possible to take it online or you can use their directory to find a teacher you can book in to see one-to-one. 

Mindfulness for Life - Youth Mindfulness

This is an 8-week introductory course that’s tailored for young minds. The course is delivered in two-hour sessions through zoom, and children of any age can join. It’s very practical. Each weekly session introduces a new mindfulness concept in a child-friendly way, with tasks and exercises to try and then reflect on during the week.

Mindfulness: A Focus on Adolescents - Glasgow University

Hosted through an organisation called Future Learn, this online course is run by Glasgow University. It delivers practical coaching and advice but also features a lot of the research and theory underpinning mindfulness. The focus of this course is on education settings, with much of the learning framed and centred on mindfulness in educational settings. It’s a four-week course comprising lessons of roughly four hours.

Mindfulness for Teens - The Mindful GP

Mindfulness for Teens is a six-week program aimed at 13 - 17-year-olds who wish to improve their emotional wellbeing. The focus of this course is very much on the self, and boosting self-esteem. The Mindful GP group is very aware of the unique pressures teens face and they have adapted their course to address this. Courses are put on at different points in the year, so watch their website for updates.

The Mindfulness Project

There’s a range of courses run by the Mindfulness Project, most of which are online. The courses worth noting for teens are the Eight-Week Mindfulness Course (MBSR) and the Eight-Week Mindful Self Compassion Course. Both look at how teens can equip themselves with skills to tackle problems on their own. The small, relaxed groups are great for encouraging participation. Courses start on cycles of eight weeks featuring one, two-and-a-half-hour session each week for eight weeks.

One-to-one practitioners

Some people will find that group learning doesn’t suit them, especially when studying something so personal. It might then be a good idea to find a local mindfulness practitioner and take private lessons. The website, mindfulnessteachers.org.uk is one of the best directories in the country, where you can find a local mindfulness coach or instructor. Findatherapy.org has a broader range of therapists. The counselling directory (counselling-directory.org.uk) also has a helpful directory.

Photo by cottonbro studio