One-on-One MBSR Online: Personalized Mindfulness Training That Works
This month has reminded me why I love teaching Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). Out of the blue, I received several referrals for training—and I found myself so excited that I decided to list it as a one-on-one offering on my website again. If ever there was a time the world needed mindfulness, it is now!
Let me share a little about how MBSR offerings have evolved over the years.
Hello friend,
Over the years, mindfulness meditation has moved from being closely associated with Buddhism to something practically everyone has heard of. Mindfulness entered the mainstream largely because Jon Kabat-Zinn and his colleagues created a structured, secular curriculum known as Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). When it was featured in the PBS Bill Moyers documentary Healing and the Mind, it helped ignite a cultural shift in how we understand the mind-body connection. For over four decades, MBSR has changed countless lives and continues to be one of the most researched and respected mindfulness programs worldwide.
As someone who has taught close to 200 eight-week programs, I once thought that after mindfulness became more mainstream, the need for MBSR would fade and my work would be done. But after speaking with several former students recently, I was reminded how much more MBSR offers than what you can get from apps like Calm or Headspace. I feel clear now that I still have something important to share. I’ve been steeping in this practice for so long that I sometimes forget: mindfulness is not easily learned—it thrives with guidance, reflection, and practice.
There’s also something new to explore with a one-on-one approach. I began offering individual MBSR sessions online during the pandemic and once thought it would be temporary—but my perspective has evolved. I’m thrilled to offer it one-on-one and online now, not out of convenience or necessity, but because it’s such an alive and dynamic way to teach. Each session unfolds naturally, tailored to the student’s experience, allowing for growth in ways that are harder to achieve in a large group.
1. Mindfulness is timeless, but how it’s offered evolves
Over time, MBSR programs have become less common within large healthcare systems. At the same time, mindfulness has become widely available through apps, short courses, and online programs—making it easier to access, yet often missing the depth of embodied, guided practice that MBSR provides.
The pandemic added another layer of transformation, reshaping both in-person and online learning. And the field itself continues to evolve. When I recently discovered a new version of the MBSR curriculum had been released, I realized how decentralized the landscape has become. The original UMASS Center for Mindfulness no longer serves as the single training hub—it’s now carried forward by several excellent centers, including UC San Diego and Brown University.
What remains steady is the research: MBSR continues to demonstrate how profoundly mindfulness training can improve health outcomes and quality of life. The format may shift, but the heart of the practice—awareness, compassion, and presence—remains timeless.
2. One-on-One MBSR offers a uniquely dynamic experience
Even though I trained to offer MBSR online, large group online classes have never been my favorite medium. What truly captured my heart has been offering one-on-one MBSR online. In a group, there’s a rhythm: reflective pauses, side conversations, and sometimes a few participants naturally set the tone. That can be wonderful—but it can also leave quieter participants feeling overlooked.
In a one-on-one session, the practice becomes a living conversation. Questions spark immediate back-and-forth, reflections are explored in depth, and every session adapts to the student’s unique experience. Growth happens in real time, in ways a large group class often can’t replicate. Every series is different, even when the curriculum is the same—it’s like discovering a new layer of the practice each time.
3. Teachers face new challenges, but opportunities abound
Yes, the landscape has shifted. Without centralized institutional support, teachers often handle everything themselves—public outreach, marketing, and logistics—on top of teaching.
And yet, for those of us committed to the integrity of the original MBSR curriculum, there are still meaningful ways to adapt how it’s offered without changing what is taught, a topic I focused on in my master’s degree work. That’s where one-on-one MBSR comes in. While the structure differs from a group format, the sequence, practices, and experiential learning remain true to the original design.
Offering MBSR individually requires a different skill set—one that blends deep listening, responsiveness, and the ability to weave the curriculum organically into a personalized learning journey. When handled skillfully, this format can actually deepen the essence of MBSR rather than dilute it.
4. Rediscovering the joy of teaching and curriculum
Dusting off my MBSR files and leading one-on-one series again has reminded me why I fell in love with this practice. Returning to Jon Kabat-Zinn’s original curriculum feels like slipping into a well-worn, comfortable piece of clothing—familiar, yet always revealing something new.
Even though the structure is the same, each conversation unfolds differently, shaped by the student’s questions, reflections, and experiences. Watching growth happen in real time, in a deeply personal and tailored way, is profoundly rewarding. MBSR continues to offer fresh insights and transformation—both for students and for me as a teacher.
5. Experience One-on-One MBSR for yourself
If you’ve ever wanted to explore mindfulness in a way that truly fits your life, one-on-one MBSR. is a beautiful opportunity. Together, we can tailor each session to your needs, pace, and unique experience—making the practice come alive in ways that group classes often can’t.
I’d love to support you on this journey. Schedule a call here and together we’ll explore how one-on-one MBSR. can help you bring mindfulness, clarity, and ease into your daily life—fully tailored to you.
Supporting you in mindfulness,
Denise
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