Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)

Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) is an eight-week program that introduces you to mindfulness practice in the form of sitting meditation, body awareness, and mindful movement, modeled by Jon Kabat-Zinn, PhD. This program can help if stress is having a negative impact on your life, if you are experiencing chronic physical or mental distress, or if you are simply interested in learning ways to maintain health and well-being. Over 6,000 research papers have published findings on MBSR including decreased depression, pain, and distress, and increased attention, concentration, performance, and quality of life. 

Participation in an Orientation and Introduction to Mindfulness is strongly encouraged for anyone enrolling in or considering enrolling in MBSR. The session consists of meeting the instructor and other participants; an introduction to what participation in the class entails; a talk about the impact of stress and mindfulness on health, the history of MBSR, and research on the MBSR model; and instruction in and practice of introductory mindfulness techniques.

The MBSR program is comprised of the free Orientation and Introduction to Mindfulness, a 30-minute private interview with the instructor before the first class, 8 weekly sessions, and one daylong session on a Saturday or Sunday.

Fee:
$376 tuition + $19 for materials
$341 tuition + $19 for materials for UCSF faculty, staff, and students
E-mail [email protected] to receive the applicable discount. 

Please note that you will need to purchase separately a copy of Full Catastrophe Living (Revised and Updated Edition, 2013) by Jon Kabat-Zinn, PhD. For in-person classes, the book fee is $16. Also, due to program capacity challenges, students can participate in only up to 3 MBSR courses.

2021 Class Dates (Online):

March/May Wednesday Afternoons, 1:00 – 3:30 pm (First and last class may be up to 3 hours)
Orientation: March 3
Class Dates: March 17 – May 5
Retreat: Saturday, April 24, 9:30 am – 4:30pm 
Instructor: Jane Baraz, MA

April/June Monday Afternoons, 1:00 – 3:30 pm (First and last class may be up to 3 hours)
Orientation: April 12
Class Dates: April 19 – June 7
Retreat: Saturday, May 29 9:30 am – 4:30pm 
Instructor: Bonnie O'Brien Jonsson

April/June Tuesday Evenings, 6:00 – 8:30 pm (First and last class may be up to 3 hours)
Orientation: April 6
Class Dates: April 20 – June 8
Retreat: Saturday, May 29 10:00 am – 5:00pm 
Instructor: Nichole Proffitt

June/July Wednesday Evenings, 7:00 – 9:30 pm (First and last class may be up to 3 hours)
Orientation: May 26
Class Dates: June 9 – July 28
Retreat: Sunday, July 18, 9:30 am – 4:30pm 
Instructor: James Mitchell, PhD 

September/November Thursday Afternoons, 2:45 – 5:15 pm (First and last class may be up to 3 hours)
Orientation: September 16
Class Dates: September 30 – November 18
Retreat: Sunday, November 7, 9:30 am – 4:30pm 
Instructor: James Mitchell, PhD

October/November Tuesday Evenings, 6:00 – 8:30 pm (First and last class may be up to 3 hours)
Orientation: September 28
Class Dates: October 12 – November 30
Retreat: Saturday, November 20 10:00 am – 5:00pm 
Instructor: Nichole Proffitt

Should you need accommodation in order to apply to or participate in a program offered by the Osher Center, please contact the Osher Center clinic education coordinator at [email protected] or 415-353-7700.