About
Through the empowering skill of mindfulness, alongside Active Hope workshops designed to cultivate renewal and inspiration for social change, Change in Mind equips individuals and change making organisations with tools for wellbeing, flourishing, joy, compassion and inspiration.
Our mission
For many of us our daily lives can feel busy and overwhelming, with not enough space to look after ourselves and feel alive. Add to this the weight of the world’s problems from climate change to racial injustice, and it’s easy to become burnt out, low or anxious. We can find ourselves ‘going through the motions’ of life, unsure how to make the changes we seek. For people working in social justice, these challenges can be particularly acute.
Through innovative courses, workshop and retreats, Change in Mind helps people to:
Find space in a hectic world
Experience greater joy and wellbeing
Make empowered choices
Navigate challenging socio-political times with compassion
Prevent burn-out and renew inspiration for what you care about
Deepen connections with others
Nurture an authentic contribution to a better world.
Tess’ Story
Hi, I’m Tess. I am an accredited mindfulness teacher, social justice researcher, and a facilitator of hope and empowerment. I draw on my experience in the social justice sector to offer mindfulness and compassion for our times.
My journey
I had a period of burn out after an intense period of working for human rights and the climate. I was exhausted and lost my drive. I found myself either lost in feelings of despair or overwhelmed about just having too much to do.
I was fortunate enough to be introduced mindfulness meditation one day and I can honestly say it changed my life. It was fascinating to see how meditation could shine a light on my thought processes, emotions and behaviour and create space to change. I started to understand that looking after myself actually enabled me to care more about the world and to give in ways that sustain me. I started experiencing more joy in life and more presence and connection in my relationships. Through practising meditation, I also had insights into the interconnected nature of things, and understood that seeing the world in this way had potentially radical implications for our relationship with ourselves, one another and our planet.
I was also fortunate to discover ‘The Work That Reconnects’ around this time, a powerful workshop model that supports participants to discover and nurture their unique contribution to a better world. This felt like a missing piece of the puzzle for me, and I am pleased to be able to offer this work for individuals and organisations alongside mindfulness programmes.
Connection and compassion for a better world
Today I support people to live life full of meaning, connection, compassion, joy and purpose: helping people to connect more deeply with themselves and others and to find an authentic contribution to a better world.
I also continue to work as a researcher and campaigner, focusing primarily on violence against women and girls, homelessness, trauma, mental health, diversity and inclusion, racial and climate justice, and aim to bring this knowledge and understanding into the way I support people and organisations. Find out more about my research work at tessahorvathresearch.co.uk.
Credentials
Accredited mindfulness teacher with Breathworks.
Six-month training journey to facilitate The Work That Reconnects and nature connection with Facilitation for Life on Earth.
Engaged Buddhist Training course at Eco-Dharma centre.
Co-founder of Active Hope London which runs leadership and facilitation trainings for change makers.
Ten years’ experience of meditation and Buddhist practice.
Fifteen years’ experience in the social justice sector including as a freelance research and evaluation consultant.
Inspiration
Change in Mind draws primarily on the evidence-based and world-renowned mindfulness approach of Breathworks, founded by Vidyamala Burch and colleagues. Inspiration is also drawn from teachers and guides within the Triratna Buddhist community; Joanna Macy, Chris Johnstone and friends in the Active Hope community; and many influential meditation teachers such as Sharon Salzberg, Lama Rod Owens, Rev. angel Kyodo williams, Paramanda, Jack Kornfield, Kaira Jewel Lingo and more.
Ready to start?
“Tess is a wonderful and compassionate teacher. As someone who had never meditated before, the class was accessible, insightful and gave me practical tools to embed meditation into my daily life. I feel much better for taking up meditation. Thanks Tess for creating such a warm and inclusive space!”
- Beth Williams, Environmental Funder