Mindfulness training, done safely

What the programmes are, and aren't

Aligned Momentum programmes are educational workplace training. I teach mindfulness, breathing and focus practices alongside safe, practical use of AI.

They are not therapy, counselling, or medical or psychological treatment. I don't diagnose or treat mental health conditions, and I don't provide crisis support. When someone needs that kind of help, I point them to the services on this page and to qualified professionals.

Helpful for many people, uncomfortable for some

Across 23 randomised trials of mindfulness training delivered at work, people reported less stress, anxiety and psychological distress, and better wellbeing and sleep. The same review found no clear evidence either way for burnout, depression or work performance (Bartlett et al., 2019).

Mindfulness can also stir things up. In a careful study of an eight-week programme, 37% of participants had at least one meditation-related experience that affected their day-to-day functioning, and 6–14% had effects that lasted, most often feeling over-alert or disconnected. The researchers note these rates are similar to other psychological treatments (Britton et al., 2021). That's why I teach with choice, keep practices short, and make it easy to step back.

Talk to a health professional first if…

Please talk to your GP, counsellor or psychologist before you start, or before you continue, if you are currently experiencing:

• thoughts of suicide or self-harm
• severe depression or anxiety
• trauma symptoms, such as flashbacks or panic
• psychosis, or a recent episode of mania
• a recent major loss or crisis

This doesn't mean you can't take part. Often a professional can help you decide how and when. You never need to tell me or your employer why you're pausing or adapting.

How I keep practice safe

Finding a qualified professional

• Start with your GP, who can refer you and may be able to arrange funded support.
• If your workplace has an EAP, it usually offers free, confidential sessions with a counsellor or psychologist.
• Find a registered counsellor: New Zealand Association of Counsellors.
• Find a psychologist: New Zealand Psychological Society.

Aligned Momentum does not refer participants to its own or any related paid sessions for mental health support.

For employers

Before I take on a programme, every participant must be able to reach an EAP or other funded counselling. I'm not a counsellor, so anyone who needs more support than I can give needs somewhere to go. Your duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 stay with you. Please give me your EAP details before Kickoff so I can include them in participants' support information.

Taking part should be each person's choice. The AI half is training; the mindfulness half is a personal journey that can stir things up, so nobody should be signed up by their manager, and everyone reads the participant information first. Please also give people clear permission to stop work and practise: the daily practice happens on work time.

If a participant tells me they are struggling, I listen, share the support options above, and encourage them to use them. What they tell me stays confidential, unless there is a serious threat to someone's life or health, where the Privacy Act 2020 allows me to share what is needed to prevent harm.