“Overall I have thoroughly enjoyed the mindfulness course and feel I have gained a great deal from it. Being able to notice how I am thinking or reacting, to identify with stressful markers and un-useful thoughts has given great insight into myself and the ability to change the way I react to situations. I have been pleasantly surprised by the positive impact that adding short bursts of meditation has had on my energy levels, my happiness, my sense of humour and my relationship. With these tips and tricks and mindfulness methods I have plenty of tools to work with for life that will only enhance and prolong my positivity, happiness and health, and further strengthen the relationship I have with my partner, family, friends and colleagues. I am very grateful. Thank you Angela :)”   Rebecca, Veterinarian

“When I started this course I was quite sceptical as to what I would actually learn. I’d done some counselling in the past. I was pretty sure I knew what my issues were but I was open and hopeful to learn some tricks that would help me manage what was a less than desirable situation. I found the idea of daily meditation (and meditation in general) rather dubious but given time it started to grow on me. The breathing exercises are extremely useful and can be used comfortably at work without your co-workers thinking you’ve lost the plot. I found the compassion meditation quite relaxing and the thriving rather than surviving module was just what I needed in my current situation. For anyone like me who thinks that meditation is a waste of time all I can say is give this a go. You have literally nothing to lose!

From this course I learned to better notice my stressors, I get better sleep and when I start my new job I will have all the tools I need to reduce the stress we all experience in our work as vets.

The Structure of the course allows plenty of time to complete the modules and play around with the techniques outlined unlike other courses which have strict deadlines for viewing and completing material which when we’re talking about managing stress can only be a good thing.” Brian, Veterinarian, Ireland.

(I especially like the sentences I’ve marked in purple.  Angela)

“These are my thoughts 6 months later just to let you know how much I appreciated your help. BEST CPD I ever did. Although not clinical, it has helped me in so many ways to stop and think and appreciate life as it happens … When I am at work I am 100% at work and when I am not working I am 100% not working. I have become a much better vet because of this and have had many compliments on my laid back no stress approach from people I have worked with. When I hear that I have to try not to laugh – if you had told any of my nurses that I was not stressed a year ago they would have laughed their arses off … I continue to study mindfulness as part of my veterinary CPD and would like to take the opportunity of thanking you again for your help. Life may not always be as good as this but it is good right now and that is what matters.”

“Overall I have thoroughly enjoyed the mindfulness course and feel I have gained a great deal from it. Being able to notice how I am thinking or reacting, to identify with stressful markers and un-useful thoughts has given great insight into myself and the ability to change the way I react to situations. I have been pleasantly surprised by the positive impact that adding short bursts of meditation has had on my energy levels, my happiness, my sense of humour and my relationship. With these tips and tricks and mindfulness methods I have plenty of tools to work with for life that will only enhance and prolong my positivity, happiness and health, and further strengthen the relationship I have with my partner, family, friends and colleagues. I am very grateful. Thank you Angela :)”

“Learning to be more present in the moment is helping me to decrease my stress levels and focus on the now. What has surprised me in this is that I am seeing and hearing things I never have before, even in the same environment I sit in every day. I particularly enjoyed the procrastination piece, and ‘just doing it for 5 minutes’ had me ticking many boxes that had been left open for a long time; I had my tetanus booster which was OVERDUE by 15 years and booked my mammogram which is overdue by 2 years, all in the space of a few hours.  Just doing these 2 things gives me a sense of accomplishment and peace of mind and makes me wonder why I have put them off for so long!”

“This course’s structure was clear, and its content a good mix of science and philosophy. It provided an excellent training environment in which to learn about, and practice with, important tools of psychological self-care. The information about stress physiology as it interacts with psychological function, and how to break the negative feedback loop, should be compulsory in schools, repeated in more specific contexts throughout university, and built into people-management standards in all workplaces. Topics progress logically, building on what has gone before, and assignments stimulate personal reflections which bring new awareness of unhelpful subconscious behaviours/beliefs underlying one’s stress. Signing up is one small step. Those which follow make for a fascinating journey.”