MENTORING As you may know, I've been working as a qualified, UKCP-accredited psychotherapist for more than 8 years and see clients on Zoom for long and short-term work. This is profound work that looks to free up the unhelpful patterns that build up over a lifetime. I use integrative psychotherapy and energy psychology to work with trauma. If you're interested in this psychotherapy work, then you can find out more here . But sometimes that intense, long-term work is not what is needed. And so, from March 2026, I am offering one-to-one mentoring: compassionate conversations where we can discuss single issues in one or two sessions. In a friendly, 45-minute conversation, held in a warm and relational space, we might look at: spiritual issues from any direction where a Buddhist lens might prove inspiring advice and solutions for your therapy work or meditational teaching relational gridlocks where friends, family or partners are causing you anguish blockages and whirlpools at work or in creative endeavours financial, physiological, work-life conundrums the complexities of the LGBTQ+ experience mid-life issues and positioning yourself for new adventures Compassion conversations can bring a fresh set of eyes to any issue where you're stuck. Even a single session might bring solutions and plans that help you move forward. Less intense than therapy, but perhaps the kindly space you need to move things on. Sessions can be one-offs or on a monthly or sporadic rhythm when they are needed and we can agree time-slots to suit your calendar. A 45-minute session costs £45. You can arrange a session by filling in the form below. If you have any further questions, please message me on therapy@mind-springs.org. Don't struggle on your own when a compassionate conversation might set you right. Please note that compassionate conversations are not a substitute for medical care. If you are in serious psychological anguish, then please contact your GP or medical doctor for treatment. I am not an accredited therapy supervisor, so please check before bringing client work. My mentoring work also adheres to the UKCP Counselling and Psychotherapy guidelines, which can be found here . All discussions remain strictly confidential in line with those guidelines. For deeper, prolonged work that involves the treatment of trauma, please read my psychotherapy page here . Request a Mentoring Session Please take a moment to fill out the form. First Name Last Name Email Phone number Give brief outline of what you would like to discuss Submit

Relax and Enjoy — a community enquiry from Alistair / Mindsprings I've been exploring two deceptively simple questions for most of this year: what does it mean to genuinely relax, and what does it mean to genuinely enjoy your life? Not as self-improvement goals but as something more fundamental — a natural condition that somehow keeps getting squeezed out. I'd love your help thinking this through. This isn't a formal survey — it's an invitation to reflect, and your answers will genuinely shape how I teach and write about this. There are no right answers, and partial or uncertain responses are just as useful as confident ones. Take as much or as little space as you need. First name Last name Email Part One - Relaxation 1. In your own experience, what most gets in the way of relaxing? This might be external (circumstances, busyness, other people) or internal (thoughts, physical tension, a feeling that you shouldn't). Feel free to be specific and personal rather than general. Obstacles to relaxation 2. And on the other side — what conditions, if any, tend to allow relaxation to happen? Not what you do to relax, but what seems to create the ground for it to arise naturally. Things that foster relaxation 3. On a scale of 1–5, how easy do you find it to relax in ordinary daily life? (1 = very difficult, 5 = comes fairly naturally) Ease of relaxation 4. A word question: does "relax" feel like the right word for what we're pointing at, or does it carry unhelpful associations for you? Some people find it implies going limp or switching off. Others associate it with effort ("I'm trying to relax"). Does the word land well, or would something like ease feel closer? "Relax" - is it the right word? Part Two - Enjoyment NOTE: When I use the word "enjoyment" I'm talking about a state of mind that makes experience meaningful and enjoyable. It's not necessarily linked to pleasurable conditions. We might for example be able to enjoy sadness. It's more akin to an ability to savour our existence. 5. What most gets in the way of genuine enjoyment in your life? Again, external or internal, circumstantial or habitual. Try to be specific if you can — the particular is more useful here than the general. Obstacles to enjoyment 6. What conditions, if any, seem to allow enjoyment to arise naturally? Conditions for enjoyment 7. On a scale of 1–5, how much genuine enjoyment would you say is present in your daily life? (1 = very little, 5 = quite a lot) Star rating 8. Another word question, and possibly the most interesting one: When you hear the word enjoy , what does it evoke? Pleasure? Happiness? Something forced or performative ("enjoy your meal!")? Does it feel like a shallow word, or does it carry real meaning for you? And does savour feel different — more embodied, more present-tense, more about quality of attention? Or does it feel precious or food-specific? "Enjoy" - is it the right word? Part Three - A little terminology 9. Have you encountered the idea of "observer consciousness" — the sense of a part of you watching your own experience from a slight distance? Observer Consciousness Yes, I'm familiar with this I've heard it but I don't know what it means for me This is not something I recognise If you're familiar with it — do you find it a useful concept in your own practice, or does it create problems? Further thoughts on observer 10. Is there a word or phrase that YOU use — in your own inner life or practice — for the quality of enjoyment and relaxation we're circling around here? Something that captures what it feels like when experience is being met well, received fully, without grasping or aversion? This is genuinely open — I'm curious what language arises naturally for people rather than what I've been teaching. Other language for 'relax and enjoy' Finally: Is there anything else you'd want to say about relaxation, enjoyment, or the relationship between them that these questions didn't quite reach? Final thoughts Many thanks! I really appreciate you taking the time to think about this stuff with me. I hope that it will all add up to something of benefit to the world. Best wishes, Alistair Submit

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Mindsprings is a project set up by Alistair Appleton in 2005 to explore the uses and benefits of meditation in the modern world. Mindspring’s vision Mindsprings is a project set up by Alistair Appleton in 2005 to explore the uses and benefits of meditation in the modern world. Much clinical research around meditation these days concentrates on working with addiction and depression. But at Mindsprings we’re just as interested in working with wellness and the promotion of mental health before the “illness” and pathology set in. Reduce stress by understanding how the brain works Alistair combines his training as a psychotherapist with more than a decade’s study and practice in the Buddhist meditation tradition, in order to maximise the way meditation practice can really help. Not only by reducing stress or taking us to altered states but also by understanding how the human brain works in the world. How we relate to one another and how problematic patterns get entrenched. Mindsprings courses are often different from traditional meditation retreats. We don’t sit on the floor, or in total silence or utter stillness. There is space for discussion, feedback, one-on-one support. There’s often quite a lot of laughter as well as the chance for emotional work. How can we stop suffering and maximise happiness? We’re also interested in tailoring mindfulness to different experiences and finding new ways of approaching the age-old quesion: “how can we stop suffering and maximise happiness?” Often the courses will be addressing a particular theme – for example, anxiety or relationships or sexuality. And we’re always looking to explore new areas, collaborate and work with different groups. So please communicate with us about this site or any questions you have about mindfulness or the work we’re doing. A safe and progressive space for people to share People of any religious belief or none, any political stripe or none are very welcome to our courses. However, we pride ourselves on being a safe and progressive space for people to share their experiences. We welcome gay, lesbian, trans people and people with disabilities. We make a special place for refugees, the elderly and those of us suffering from mental health difficulties. Anyone who struggles financially can write to get some assistance to attend. We will never condone xenophobia, racism or sexism. Why learn online? Alistair has been teaching a big array of different courses over the last 15 years. He’s taught on anxiety, stress, time terror, LGBT shame and trauma. Mindfulness, ‘beingfulness’, embodied meditation, tapping and energy psychology. Internal family systems, Buddhist compassion, concentration and sitting practices. Earthing and courses on dissociation. It’s hard for people around the world to access these various courses, so they are becoming available at The Mindsprings school. Check out a course to work with your anxiety, to use tapping to remove blocks in your meditation practice and much more. Email mail@mind-springs.org Follow

Page Title Thank you! You enquired about psychotherapy with me. I know it's never easy to ask for help, so thanks for trusting me thus far. I will read over your message and get back to you within 48 hours with a proposed date for our 20-minute free Zoom assessment. I look forward to speaking to you soon! Alistair

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Would you like to support the Mindsprings community and get great access, make savings and roam all the material? This is the place to choose a supporting membership package. PLÄNE & PREISE Want to access all the classes? Get 10% off all retreats? Supporting members are generous souls who make a monthly contribution to Mindsprings and get free access to what we offer here. Becoming a MINDSPRINGER allows you to book all the Zoom sessions you like, browse the hundreds of video-teachings and guided meditations in the Mindsprings library, get 10% off in-person and online retreats, and 20% off the online study courses like Mastering the Monsters of Anxiety and Beingfulness. Mindspringer £ 20 20£ jeden Monat Access the online classes and the library and save on retreats and courses! 30 Tage kostenlos testen Kostenlos testen Access Alistair's weekly online sessions for free Access the complete video library Get 10% off in-person and online retreats Get 20% off the online courses for anxiety, or Beingfulness Don't let money stop you accessing everything that Mindsprings Meditation offers. If these subscriptions are too much for your budget, please don't hesitate to drop me a line and I can offer you a bursary rate. No problems!

Natural World, Natural Mind. 7-14 October 2023 MIndsprings Autumn Holy Isle Retreat Naturalise your mind on Holy Isle this Autumn... Book your place for October For the last 10 years or more, I have been gathering groups of more experienced meditators to Holy Isle to explore compassion and loving kindness. While October 2023 is still a compassion retreats of sorts, this year I wanted to do something different. Inspired by my year-long immersion in deep ecology and discovery of meditation out in the open air, I wanted this Mindsprings Autumn retreat to be a more radical retreat - in the sense of getting to the root of things. The wonderful biologist and indigenous writer, Robin Wall-Kimmerer asked a group of her undergraduate students if they loved the Earth. Naturally, almost all spoke about their passion for plants, rivers, mountains and ecology. But when she ask if they felt like the Earth loved them back, they all fell silent. Why is it that we don’t feel the love of the planet all around us? Why do we often feel lonely and isolated in a landscape that is full of trees, grasses, insects, animals, birds and weather? Is it habit of mind? Does meditating inside silent halls make that habit more intense? Spending time outside in the glorious gardens, beaches and wild spaces of Holy Isle gives us the perfect space to explore different ways to receive this love. And I have discovered that a freer, more extended form of “meditation” helps that happen. “Sitting out” practice is a free-form meditation where you pick a spot in the natural world and stay there for an hour or two (or three!) without trying to control your mind but allowing it to be “wilded” by the natural world. Within the friendly, warm and curious Mindsprings group we can then sift through our findings and explore deeper and deeper ways of connecting to the natural mind and the natural world. But particularly allowing it to soften our nervous systems and sensitise us to the richness of the surround world. This retreat is open to everyone who has a passion for the natural world but also some experience of sitting with their minds. It’s probably not suitable for complete beginners. Do contact me if you are not sure if it’s for you. What is 'sitting out' practice? Sitting out is a form of very simple but very profound mind-magic. You stay put in a 2m x 2m spot in the natural world for long periods, simply watching the mind and watching the world. There is no particular meditation instruction - everyone finds their own insight as the practice unfolds Traditionally done for 24 hours, this course is going to work with much more manageable chunks of 2-3 hours building up to longer sits if you feel inspired. The practice is best done in the natural world with just a bottle of water for sustenance, so it requires wet-weather gear. This retreat will be held as a group though the 'sitting out' sessions are done on your own. We will meet at the start and end of the day to compare notes and practice together. This is a chance for more experienced practitioners to get back to the 'wild roots' of outdoor-living yogis. But with a warm meal and hot shower at the end of the day! Please do consider coming but also recognise that it does involve long stretches of time practising outside! Beingfulness on the Island this Summer About Dundreggan The Dundreggan Rewilding Centre is one of restoration and regeneration. It's the gateway to a flagship rewilding estate and tree nursery, where Trees for Life grow tens of thousands of trees each year, including rare and hard-to-grow species. Located just eight miles from Loch Ness, the estate has been rewilded by Trees for Life since 2008, recovering from centuries of damage caused by sheep, goats and deer grazing. By allowing the forest to regenerate naturally, they have expanded important fragments of Scotland’s Caledonian forest, providing a habitat for over 4,000 species of plants and animals, including golden eagles and black grouse. When you come to Dundreggan you can now explore ancient pinewood and unique juniper forest, discover centuries of Gaelic history, and connect with a landscape undergoing transformation through rewilding. Our Rewilding Centre provides a space for a larger, more diverse audience to enjoy the wonders of nature and the heritage of the Scottish Highlands. Take a look at their video below: What to expect from a Mindsprings Retreat Our first evening together on Saturday is a chance to arrive, enjoy some food and get to know one another. Most people are tired from travel and we'll have an early night after some relaxation. The daily schedule for the Sunday-Friday is fairly similar We start with some gentle stretching and a silent sit before breakfast . This is a great way to start the day. Before our delicious breakfast, Alistair will lead us in some t'ai chi on the beachfront which is optional. But does involve hugs - which everyone seems to love. Throughout the week the schedule will vary as we build up our 'sitting out' sessions. After supper, there is a further chance to practice together and integrate what we have learned during the day. Generally, it's light's out and silence after 9.30pm - so early nights, though you could go for a moonlight walk! We often explore silence on the Island and one full day of silence somewhere in the middle. It's a very friendly silence and, again, many people love this element of the retreat. Book the retreat About the teacher Alistair is a broadcaster, psychotherapist and meditation teacher. He's worked for the BBC for more than 20 years and works as a UKCP-accredited therapist in East Sussex. Since 2004, he's run Mindsprings , his therapeutic meditation organisation which teaches body-based and Buddhist solutions to many of our everyday problems. Mindsprings offers popular meditation-based courses on many subjects: helping people with anxiety, dissociation, stress. working with mental health in the LGBTQ community. exploring the growing field of embodiment and somatic practices. teaching Buddhist practices for mental health and well-being Alistair teaches in England, Wales, Scotland, Belgium, Ireland, Sweden, Iceland and the Netherlands. Food, Accommodation and Pricing The cost of the retreat is £580 which includes breakfast, lunch and supper for six days and the teaching. Accommodation has to be booked separately. Dundreggan is a brand new centre with 20 en-suite rooms and some dorm accommodation. There are four accessible rooms. And there are Standard sized and more spacious Plus sized options. You will need to book your accommodation directly with the centre where you can specify your needs. To ensure a good number of places, we have booked the following options, the prices are all VAT inclusive and per night. We'll be in Dundreggan for seven nights: Dorms : 6 singles and 6 bunks (£30pp = £210 for the week) Ensuite Single Standard x 3 (£75pp = £525) Ensuite Single Plus x 5 (£95pp = £665 per person) Ensuite Double Standard x5 (£85 for two = £595 or £298 per person) Ensuite Double Plu s x5 (£105 for two = £735 or £368 per person) PLEASE NOTE: Dundreggan are closed until th 8th January so you may not be able to book you accommodation until then. Please call on +441320340380 or email them to organise the room you want. Make sure you let them know you are part of the Mindsprings May retreat as we have negotiated special rates . Don't use the booking. com link on their website. Book Mindsprings Retreat here Choose your accommodation here Don't let money stop you coming on retreat... Mindsprings would like people to practice even if they are struggling financially, for whatever reason. We offer a limited number of partial bursaries for these retreats. Drop us a line about bursaries Getting to Dundreggan Dundreggan is near Inverness . So if you're travelling from far afield that's going to be your key destination. The centre website has some detailed information about getting here. There is an airport and a mainline train station at Inverness and we are in discussion about running a mini-bus on the arrival and departure days for those who need transport. Stay in touch for details of that. If you're coming under your own steam, the centre is around an hour’s drive from Inverness, Kyle of Lochalsh and Fort William. It is situated on the A887 Skye road, six miles west of Invermoriston. By car: From Inverness, take A82 south for 30 miles to Invermoriston, then turn right onto the A887. From the west, follow the A87. From the south, follow the A82, then turn left at Invermoriston onto the A887. By bus: The Scottish Citylink 917 bus passes the Rewilding Centre. Please note, this is a request stop on the opposite side of the road to the Rewilding Centre. Dundreggan Rewilding Centre, Dundreggan Estate, Glenmoriston, Inverness IV63 7YJ 01320 340380 info@visitdundreggan.co.uk Frequently Asked Questions FAQ Online Courses Dundreggan Cabilla Holy Island General Gayles Sitting Out Gayles Beingfulness FAQs einrichten Allgemein Noch keine FAQs Für diese Kategorie gibt es momentan keine FAQs. Bitte später zurückkehren oder andere Kategorien ansehen. Any more questions?

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