The Centre for Mindfulness Studies Canada and FriendlyCare Foundation, Inc. paid a courtesy visit on the Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines, Honorable John Holmes to convey the upcoming intensive training certification program by the Canadian faculty from the Centre for the Filipino participants. The intensive training is Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Behavior (MBCT) Facilitation Certification designed to capacitate the participants in facilitating Mindfulness-based Interventions (MBI) for mental health, wellness and resiliency to the Filipino communities.

Joining the Honorable Ambassador John Holmes (third from left) are: (from left to right) Dr. Eleazar Lim, FriendlyCare Medical Director; Tim Warner and Tita Angangco from the Centre for Mindfulness Studies; Teresita Panganiban, FriendlyCare President; Rosalie Operaña, FriendlyCare Marketing and Donor Development Manager; and Dr. Alejandro Legarda, FriendlyCare Quality Assurance.

Tita Angangco, the Executive Director and Community Services Director of the Centre is leading the Canadian entourage. Dr. Patricia Rockman, Director of Education and Clinical Services leads the training of facilitators in the MBCT intensive facilitation certification, together with other Canadian faculty members Evelyn Lim Tan and Allison MClay.

The Centre has trained Filipino facilitators of MBI Programs with FriendlyCare Foundation since 2016. This year, it is partnering with FriendlyCare and the UP Social Observatory, Office of the Chancellor, University of the Philippines Diliman in bringing the MBCT training to the country.

MBCT Facilitation Certification is an internationally-recognized training for facilitators of MBCT program. MBCT is an evidence-based group modality that combines the tools of cognitive therapy with the practice of mindfulness. It is designed to prevent depressive relapse and treat mood disorders. Since 2004, the UK National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) has endorsed MBCT as an effective treatment for prevention of relapse.

The core group of Filipinos who will complete the 15-day MBCT intensive training in March 2018 will help make the MBCT program available especially to those who are unable to afford and to get access to quality mental health interventions. Registered participants in the training include doctors of psychiatry, psychologists, educators, counselors, coaches, social workers, healthcare workers and lay people from different institutions including the Department of Health, National Center for Mental Health, The Medical City, Makati Medical Center, In Touch Community Services, De La Salle University, and UP Diliman.

This article was originally published on FriendlyCare Clinic’s Website