About Us

The Centre for Mindfulness Studies is a mental health charity founded in 2011 in downtown Toronto. We are the leading professional development and service delivery organization for mindfulness-based interventions in Canada.

We help those who face economic and social barriers and who have little or no access to mental health services by providing affordable and effective online and in-person mindfulness-based mental health services.

We achieve this through the following 3 initiatives:

Grant-Funded Free Mental Health Support Services:

We design and implement mindfulness-based mental health programs for communities in need (i.e. BIPOC, newcomers, students, healthcare workers, etc.)

Fee-Based Mindfulness Programs:

We deliver Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC), and Mindfully Managing Anxiety & Uncertainty (MMAU).

These programs are taught by highly skilled health practitioners and are covered by third-party insurance. The revenue incurred from these programs support our charitable programs and services. 

Pay-What-You-Can Program Support:

Our Bursary Program provides financial assistance to those who are experiencing financial instability and/or from an underserved community who would like to take an 8-week mindfulness program for their mental health.

The Bursary Program is funded by donations and by the revenue from our fee-based programs.

Our Mission

Providing Access:

To break down barriers to the availability of mental health services for those who are economically and socially underserved.

Leading Change:

To shift the world’s view on mental health by innovating, collaborating, and establishing best practices of mindfulness within a unique training model.

Helping with Purpose:

Increasing mental health capacity and helping people through the training, development, and delivery of evidence-based mindfulness programs.

Sharing Space:

Building communities of practice to cultivate connection, enhance resilience, and openness, and bring mindfulness, as a healthcare service to at-risk populations.

Inclusion Statement

We create communities of well-being in an intentionally inclusive, equitable, and safe environment where all are welcomed, respected, and cared for with compassion.

We support people with purpose and integrity.  We empower them to foster meaningful connections with themselves and with others.

We embrace and value the diversity of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, religion, range of abilities, financial means, education, world views and political perspective, amongst all of our community members.

Professional Development

We offer internationally recognized MBCT and MBSR Certificate Training Programs at the Centre which provide experiential learning and comprehensive training to those wishing to facilitate these 8-week Mindfulness-Based Programs.

We also offer a variety of professional development trainings and workshops to those wishing to learn more about the benefits of mindfulness in a professional setting.

The Centre for Mindfulness Studies is committed to making mindfulness-based mental health services available to everyone and providing sustainable support that helps current and future generations’ well-being.

This is at the heart of the work we do.

Our Faculty

Our faculty are physicians, social workers, psychotherapists, and other highly qualified practitioners, led by our Director of Education and Clinical Training, Blakie Sahay OT. For a complete faculty list and bios, please see our Faculty page.

Registered charity

The Centre for Mindfulness Studies is a registered Canadian charity with the CRA. Reg. No. 845368760 RR0001.

Land Acknowledgement

The Centre for Mindfulness Studies acknowledges our office, that is located in Toronto, Ontario is on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabe, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. We also acknowledge that Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 with the Mississaugas of the Credit. 

For virtual participants to find out more about the lands you live on visit the land map at Whose.land

Volunteering

If you think you might be interested in volunteering, please email us! 

Donating

Your donation to our Community Program is an investment in individuals who experience mental health challenges by removing the financial barriers and helping them access quality mindfulness programs.

Click here for more information.

Partners

The Centre for Mindfulness Studies is a proud non-Aboriginal member of the Canadian Council of Aboriginal Business.

Check out our complete list of Partners and Funders.