AP Courses
Introduction
The purpose of AP is to help us live happier, more contented and peaceful lives.
It is to relieve the suffering and pain of emotional problems such as depression, anxiety, anger and stress.
AP offers a sound training in mindfulness daily practice and meditation to find the deep quiet peace within ourselves away from the distracting, agitating and worrying thoughts that so often plague us. AP gives us the strength and courage to live with our emotions without being overwhelmed by them and without their driving us in what we say, do and think.
AP provides a structured programme based on the practice, psychology and wisdom of Zen Buddhism, which is now scientifically proven to be effective for serious problems including major depression. Many people have learned to deal with obesity, anxiety, anger, eating problems - anorexia and bulimia - and stress by training in AP.
The Courses
There are four courses to train in mindfulness daily practice and meditation in AP: Basic, Intermediate, Advanced and Teachers Course.
Courses can be one-to-one or can accommodate up to 40 people at a time.
Everyone starts AP with the Basic Course. For most people this is enough to make significant changes to how they cope with common difficulties and challenges.
Following the Basic Course the Intermediate and Advanced Courses go progressively deeper into the practice and underlying principals of AP.
The Teachers Course follows on from the Advanced course.
Individual support and advice are provided during and after each course.
Basic Course
This is a ten-week course of one session per week with continued practice at home and work. Special arrangements can be made to suit groups and organisations, such as four half days or other timings.
No prior knowledge or practice is necessary.
The Basic Course gives a sound introduction to mindfulness-based daily life practice and meditation as well as to the underlying principles of AP.
It is a hands on course and participants have the opportunity to make substantial changes in their lives.
Individual support and advice are offered during and after the course.
Who is it for?
The Basic Course in AP is for people who want to change something about themselves, their habits, their feelings, their thinking or their performance.
Courses are run for the general public and separately for specific groups, including professionals and organisations.
People come to learn AP for many reasons. It might be to improve their performance, confidence, relationships, negotiation skills or to sharpen their decision-making skills.
People come in order to deal with depression, anxiety, phobias, obsessive compulsive disorder, stress or anger; or to deal with eating disorders (bulimia or anorexia), self-harm, or physical or emotional abuse.
Confidentiality
Confidentiality is of the utmost importance in AP. Trainees do not need to reveal anything of their personal life other than what they choose to say in private interviews with the teacher.
Private individual support and advice is available throughout and after the course: in person or by phone and email.
Effects of AP
Many people notice deep changes within as short a time as a few days.
A common comment is "AP puts into words and practice what I have always felt to be true".
To reap the profound benefits of AP and to ensure that they last the new skills and attitudes need to be practised again and again.
Full details are available on request.
Intermediate Course
Through continued training and practice these courses give an increasingly deeper understanding and insight into ourselves and into human life generally.
With increasing strength and clearer insight challenges can be met with more courage and more appropriate decisiveness.
The Intermediate Course gives a deeper understanding of how cause and effect determine our actions and thoughts and influence the quality of our life.
We learn how our actions can resolve problems and create a better future.
Who is it for?
The Intermediate Course is for anyone who has completed the Basic Course and wishes to train further in AP.
Adaptation is a natural process, which takes time and practice. The Intermediate Course consolidates what has been started in the Basic course: it increases inner strength, deepens insight and sharpens the focus of attention.
Full details are available on request.
Advanced Course
The Advanced Course makes the mindfulness-based practice, meditation and understanding yet broader and deeper.
AP, like Zen Buddhism, which mindfulness comes from, needs to be thorough. Life presents challenges and hurdles in many different ways and in many different forms. We might think we know where we are and then are taken by surprise with something we have not encountered before.
When we are not truly settled in the practice we are unlikely to be caught off guard and not know how to react. Just when we think everything is going well catastrophe can strike. Or, when we think all is lost and done for a new light shines over the horizon.
To become free is rare. As long as we lack awareness and clear vision we remain slaves to our emotions and thoughts and are prisoners often without realising it.
The Advanced Course takes us step by step towards freedom.
Who is it for?
The Advanced Course is open to anyone who has successfully completed the Intermediate Course and wishes to go still deeper into AP and into mindfulness-based practice and meditation.
Having completed the Intermediate course you will have changed significantly and will be realising that there is still more to be done. Life is often likened to the ocean: the more we go into it the deeper it is and the more we realise that there are deeper depths beyond.
Full details are available on request.
Teachers Course
Following on from the Basic, Intermediate and Advanced Courses this the Teachers Course reviews the whole spectrum of AP and prepares trainees to be able to teach it to others. Students on the Teachers Course are still trainees. Maturity in the practice comes after years of experience. Having successfully completed the Teachers Course supervision is provided for as long as is needed.
To be able to teach AP requires a sound understanding of the practice. Intellectual knowledge alone is not enough – the practice needs to have become incorporated in the body, in our way of life. It needs to have become second nature.
The Teachers course leads to certification and registration as an AP Teacher.
Full details are available on request.