MBSR Course Informed Consent Agreement

The purpose of this Informed Consent Agreement is to notify you of the conditions and requirements for your participation in the live MBSR course on Zoom. You acknowledge that you understand and accept these conditions and requirements:

  1. Your participation in this course is completely voluntary, and you may choose to discontinue participation at any time by notifying the teacher. However, no refunds will be provided after the start of Orientation.
  2. Course participants will receive a course completion certificate, subject to participating in Orientation, all live classes, and the Day of Practice.
    1. Participants may miss one live session due to circumstances out of their control and still qualify for a certificate of completion.
    2. However, they must attend all other sessions.
    3. Participants in time zones greater than three hours difference may miss part of the Day of Practice and still qualify for a certificate of completion.
  3. This course is designed to teach you meditations and exercises, and it is not intended as therapy of any kind. You acknowledge that this course is not meant to replace formal medical or psychiatric treatment. You agree to take care of yourself during this course, and as needed, to consult with doctors and/or other care providers for your own physical, mental, and psychological well-being. Should the discussion move into topics outside of the scope of what the teacher can safely support in a Zoom course, you understand that they will suggest that you seek individual support from your own care provider team.
  4. You will keep all personal information shared by participants in this course confidential. No participant recordings or transcriptions of the sessions are permitted during the course.
  5. During this course, we will use breakout room discussions; these are not optional. You agree to participate in these smaller group discussions, since they are an important component for embodying and applying course concepts, and for processing course assignments.
  6. You agree to come prepared to give the discussion your full attention. While it is difficult with partners, roommates, children, and pets to close ourselves off at home, you agree to find a way to sequester yourself as much as possible during class sessions, just as you do when you come to a class in person.
  7. You agree to refrain from being under the influence of alcohol or other perception-influencing substances in any and all live sessions.
  8. You agree to use all practices and guided meditations only as directed, and to follow any guidance about these practices that are shared during the course. You agree to not substitute other meditations or practices during the course. You are welcome to continue other practices that are part of your daily routine; however, the course meditations, practices, and other assignments must also be done as provided.
  9. The materials, exercises, and information provided in this course are intended for your personal use only and shall not be used for any other purpose, including the teaching or training of others. You may not copy, modify, reproduce, or publish any data, information, or any other curriculum materials without express written permission.
  10. This course is not designed to provide you with any competency to teach mindfulness to others. Because of the deep physiological and psychological processes that can be affected by the material, you understand that for you to teach without completion of an accredited MBSR teacher training program would be unethical and may cause harm. The certificate of completion for this course does not convey any teaching credentials. Participants are not teachers at the conclusion of this course, and may not in any way suggest they are MBSR teachers or “certified” in MBSR. The certificate of completion is only acknowledgment of finishing the minimum requirements of the course, which is the first step of many to become an MBSR teacher if you choose to follow that path.