Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction
An enhanced eight-week clinical program from Lilac Health, grounded in the practice developed at UMass, and taught by a licensed clinician. Learn to meet stress with steadiness instead of reactivity — one session, one breath, at a time.
Skills, not just relief
MBSR is a structured, evidence-based course — not a single relaxation exercise. Over eight weeks, you'll build a personal practice of body scan, sitting meditation, and gentle mindful movement, alongside the tools to recognize your own stress patterns before they take over. Most participants come to us managing anxiety, burnout, chronic pain, sleep difficulty, or the everyday weight of a demanding job or caregiving role.
Clinically grounded
Delivered by a Lilac Health clinician trained in the MBSR curriculum, with a background in behavioral health. This is a therapeutic skills class, not a wellness seminar.
A real cohort
Capped at 16 participants who meet live, on camera, every week. You'll practice alongside the same small group for the full eight weeks.
Practice you keep
Every participant leaves with a home practice library, a printed workbook, and a plan for keeping the practice going after week eight.
Eight weeks, one retreat day
Each session runs 2.5 hours and builds directly on the one before it. The themes below follow the traditional MBSR sequence, adapted for telehealth delivery.
Waking up to autopilot
Orientation to the course, and your first guided body scan — noticing what it's like to simply pay attention.
Perception and interpretation
How the mind constructs a stress reaction before the situation is even fully understood.
The power of being present
Introducing mindful, gentle movement as a form of moving meditation.
Turning toward stress
Recognizing your own early signals of stress in the body, before they escalate.
Responding, not reacting
Working directly with a difficulty you're facing right now, using the week's practices.
Mindful communication
Bringing awareness into conversations that usually put you on edge.
Day of Mindfulness
A guided, mostly-silent full day of practice — the heart of the course, where everything so far comes together.
Self-compassion
Taking the same steadiness you've offered others and turning it toward yourself.
Carrying it forward
Building a sustainable, realistic home practice for life after the course ends.
Fall 2026 dates
All sessions are held live over secure video — the same link each week. Add the retreat day to your calendar now; it runs longer than a regular session.
| Session | Date | Time (CT) |
|---|---|---|
| Intake call (1:1, 20 min) | Week of Sept 29 | By appointment |
| Week 1 | Tue, Oct 6 | 6:30 – 9:00 PM |
| Week 2 | Tue, Oct 13 | 6:30 – 9:00 PM |
| Week 3 | Tue, Oct 20 | 6:30 – 9:00 PM |
| Week 4 | Tue, Oct 27 | 6:30 – 9:00 PM |
| Week 5 | Tue, Nov 3 | 6:30 – 9:00 PM |
| Week 6 | Tue, Nov 10 | 6:30 – 9:00 PM |
| Retreat — Day of Mindfulness | Sat, Nov 14 | 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM |
| Week 7 | Tue, Nov 17 | 6:30 – 9:00 PM |
| Week 8 | Tue, Nov 24 | 6:30 – 9:00 PM |
Registration closes September 29, 2026, or once the cohort fills — whichever comes first. Your intake call is scheduled individually after you register.
Where
Live telehealth video, from wherever you are in Illinois, Wisconsin, Oregon, Nevada, or Washington. A private, quiet space is all you need.
What to have ready
A laptop or tablet with camera and mic, headphones, and a small clear space on the floor for weeks with movement practice.
Attendance
Plan to attend all eight sessions and the retreat. One missed session can typically be made up through a recorded catch-up call.
What's included
One price covers the entire eight-week course. A limited number of sliding-scale seats are held open each cohort — reach out before you register if cost is a barrier.
- 8 live weekly sessions
- Day of Mindfulness retreat
- Course workbook, mailed to you
- Guided audio practice library
- 20-minute 1:1 intake call
- Everything in early registration
- Option to split into 3 monthly payments
- Same small-group cohort size
- Same full curriculum and materials
- Short, confidential application
- Apply at least 2 weeks before start
Frequently asked
No. Most participants have never meditated before. The course is built to start from zero and build gradually.
MBSR is a wellness and skills course rather than individual psychotherapy, so it's typically private-pay. Some HSA and FSA plans do reimburse it — check your plan's guidelines, and we can provide an itemized receipt on request.
Life happens. One missed regular session can usually be made up through a recorded catch-up call with your instructor. We ask that you not miss the retreat day, since it can't be replicated one-on-one.
Not yet — Lilac Health is currently credentialed to deliver this program only in those five states. Email us and we'll let you know when your state is added.
Pay in full or set up a 3-part monthly plan when you register. Sliding-scale participants are billed the agreed rate after their application is approved.
Reserve your seat
Seats are held for 48 hours pending payment. After you submit, we'll follow up by email to schedule your intake call.
Have questions first? Email mindfulness@lilachealth.com.