Become a Certified Workplace Mindfulness Facilitator

We estimate 3-4 hours of work each week the course is in session. This includes class time, time to complete all assignments, and the certification process.

This course is a complement or an alternative to meditation teacher training programs and is not a competitor of such programs. As such, this makes the world of mindfulness meditation facilitation more accessible for experienced meditators without the large time and financial investment in meditation teacher training programs. 

The Facilitator Training course with toolkit focuses on: 

• The logistics and best practices of quickly starting up and sustaining an engaging workplace or community program
• Teaching you the skills of how to expertly lead live, guided meditations 
• Ensuring you know the key essentials to teach your participants
• Equipping you with a quick-start toolkit of scripts and templates
  

Interestingly, some of the most successful programs are not started as formal ‘Human Resources’ or ‘Health & Wellness’ programs. Instead, some are started by people who are passionate about helping others and want to spearhead a workplace mindfulness program. 

Every organization is unique, and we recommend getting the necessary 'OK' from the appropriate governing body before starting a new program. Often it's as easy as letting the Human Resources department know what you plan to do and/or obtaining permission to use a specific meeting room for the practice. Some departments require a more hands-on approach and want to be more involved, so it is important you are familiar with your specific organization's policies. Additionally, do what feels comfortable for you. If that means starting with your own team first, then start there and transition to larger company practices over time.

To summarize, this does not need to be a ‘top-down’ program and can be very successful if you start small and grow this from a grassroots level. This approach can build trust amongst the employee community and lets you get comfortable as you grow the program.

After finishing the training, Facilitators will be able to: 

• Begin leading mindfulness meditation talks and sessions at their place of employment 
• For those who have their own business, such as coaches, yoga instructors, massage therapists, etc, add mindfulness to their service offerings 
• Start-up a side business offering mindfulness services to organizations

Facilitators all say that doing this compassion practice has brought great meaning to their lives. When they talk about their experience as a Facilitator, their joy is palpable. 

Facilitators also say it really helps them with their own personal practice – it helps them ‘up their own game’ by staying on top of their own personal practice and they love to continually learn and try new meditations. 

Overall, they feel a deep sense of purpose in their lives to help others. The time it takes to start leading others varies greatly, depending on the Facilitator’s situation. Some have already started facilitating even before they take the course, some start immediately, and some may take months as they wait for the right circumstances and timing at their workplace or in their community.

People from various walks of life, backgrounds, careers, and experiences become Facilitators. We've trained people from all over the world including Canada, the United States, South America, Europe, and Asia. Many Facilitators are employees within organizations and voluntarily lead sessions at work. Many are service providers - individuals offering this to their communities or clients, such as professional counselors, teachers, and yoga instructors, while others are internal champions - starting and leading programs at their place of work. Some Facilitators even have their own businesses offering mindfulness talks and workshops as a for-profit service.

It doesn’t matter what job you have; it's possible to be a catalyst for workplace mindfulness in any position. The CWMF training will give you the necessary tools and knowledge to successfully facilitate workplace mindfulness programs where you need it.

This certification does not qualify or permit Facilitators to teach the copyrighted courses. It is not a Train-the-Trainer program. The course and toolkit are solely to equip you personally as you lead others in mindfulness meditation. If others are interested in becoming certified Facilitators, they are welcome to take the course.

Certification provides you with specific evaluation and feedback in a very supportive way, so you know you are offering quality facilitation to your participants. It's about your credibility - people want to know that their Facilitator is properly trained and qualified. 

Facilitators working within an organization and those who are offering facilitation as a service find certification desirable. Those who are already offering facilitation as a service, in particular, feel the necessity to obtain certification. 

Without certification, you may still facilitate, but Mindful Leader cannot endorse your skillset without validation through the Certification Program.

Yes. We estimate it will take approximately 36 - 48 hours to complete the course and certification process, this includes class time.

For participants who are not granted certification, we will provide guidance on where to improve and we will work together towards meeting the requirements for certification. 

We will announce the next course a few months before it begins. Make sure to sign up for the waitlist and check in for updates.  

Certification is good for up to one year from the date of completion. There is an annual recertification application and $300 renewal fee, along with an Updates Training to assure Facilitators are equipped with the most up-to-date information in the field. Recertification includes access to private groups, updated resources, and special discounts on other Mindful Leader offerings.

After you successfully are granted your certification, you: 

• May indicate that you are a 'Certified Workplace Mindfulness Facilitator by Mindful Leader' or ‘CWMF’ in your profiles, signatures blocks, websites, etc. 
• Will receive an electronic certificate, showing that you are certified
• Listing on the Mindful Leader certified facilitator directory
  

We put a great deal of effort into packing incredible value into this program. We stand behind our work and unconditionally guarantee your satisfaction with your purchase.  If you’re not 100% satisfied, simply email us anytime up to a day after orientation for a full refund minus a $50 application fee. 

The course does not teach how to practice mindfulness and/or meditation – to become a student, you must already have at a minimum basic MBSR (mindfulness-based stress reduction) training. 

Eligibility Requirements: 

• Successfully completed an 8 Week MBSR course (official standard & taught live) 
  

Code of Conduct 

The following code of conduct applies to when you are facilitating mindfulness in a workplace environment. 

I commit to:

• Practicing mindfulness regularly and being aware of the way it impacts me, those around me, and my ability to serve
• Treating everyone with dignity and respect and to creating an environment where people from any race, ethnicity, religion, sexuality, or gender identity feel welcomed
• Doing no harm and considering the impact of my actions on other people, the environment, and the greater good
• Contributing to and leveraging the collective intelligence of the facilitator community
• Continuously improving myself, my abilities, and my skill set, all while maintaining an open mindset

We do not expect you to be a meditation expert before this program, but if your only experience is occasionally listening to a meditation app, it may not be sufficient for this program. Not sure you qualify? Apply and we will review your application where we will ask specifics regarding your background. If you are not approved you will not be charged. We encourage you to contact us to explore eligibility if you are unsure, as we can suggest ways to build your minimum skill set in order to enroll in this program. 

The first 9 weeks focus on the training course and the final 3 weeks focus on the certification phase.

The certification phase is about giving you ample practice in leading live meditations. To achieve certification you will need to complete the following:

• Agree to the the Mindful Leader Code of Conduct
• Attend all CWMF live classes over a 12 week period (including orientation)
• Pass the CWMF certification exam
• Facilitate 3 mindfulness practice sessions:
• With your class pod group (group of up to 6 peers)
• Demo in front of a class instructor
• Self-organize session for 3 or more participants
• Submit a CWMF development plan

At the end of the program, your certification portfolio will be assessed and you will receive an email about your certification.

Your certification will be valid for one year, after which there will be an annual certification renewal, including a $300 fee.

This course is accredited by Mindful Leader. Our certifications are managed on the Accredible platform and are Open Badges 2.0 Certified.