Mindful Vet Online
Mindful Vet Online
Based on the hugely successful veterinary school elective program, the Mindful Vet course is an evidence-based program built on the principles of the globally recognized Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program, but this is a mini-MBSR making it more accessible, affordable and achievable.
Facilitated by Dr. Heather Gunn McQuillan, a veterinarian, leader, educator, and certified mindfulness teacher who brings a deep understanding of the unique challenges within the veterinary profession. With over a two decades of experience in veterinary practice and a decade in leadership — including her time as Hospital Director and Assistant Dean at the Atlantic Veterinary College — Heather integrates evidence-based mindfulness practices with real-world veterinary experience to help colleagues cultivate resilience, balance, and wellbeing.
Nature Space offers the full 8-week MBSR course and also offers an MBSR specific to veterinarians, but also recognizes that these programs require a significant time committment that may not be accessible for all veterinary professionals. This is why Heather developed this “light version” of the MBSR, which presents many of the same concepts, but with only half the time committment and no requirement to participate in a silent retreat. Addidionally, the day practices are 1-15 minutes per day instead of 20-30 minutes per day.
This course has been taught at the Atlantic Veterinary College for several years as a third-year elective with exceptional course reviews, and data indicating significant improvements in personal stress scores and mindful awareness.
This mini-MBSR program is specifically tailored to veterinary professionals. This course is an experiential learning opportunity involving a mix of information, group meditation practices, gentle movement practices, sharing and discussing. There will be homebased practices that you are expected to do throughout the week between classes.
There are two separate 4-week sessions this winter: Sunday, January 18-February 8 – AND – Sunday March 1-March 22, 2026. Both start at 7:00pm and end at 9:30pm (Atlantic time).
- Sunday Evenings 7-9:30 pm Atlantic Time Zone
- Session 1: January 18-February 8 2026
- Session 2: March 1-March 22, 2026
- Small group size with a min. of 8 and max. of 16 participants
- 25% Deposit required to secure your spot
Mindfulness has proven mental health and physical health benefits
Why This Matters for Veterinary Professionals
Veterinary medicine demands not only technical expertise, but emotional resilience, communication clarity, and the capacity to show up repeatedly for others — while still taking care of yourself. Mindfulness-based training helps build that capacity.
Mental & Emotional Benefits
Reduce high-arousal states such as anxiety, overwhelm, hyper-vigilance and emotional reactivity.
Improve focus, clarity, decision-making and presence — especially during demanding or fast-paced clinic work.
Build resilience, self-compassion, and emotional regulation — important when facing grief, loss or tough outcomes.
Support better sleep, rest and recovery between shifts.
Physical & Professional Health Benefits
Lower the physiological burden of chronic stress (for example elevated heart rate, high blood pressure, tension).
Help manage physical symptoms of stress (e.g., muscle tension, headaches), and reduce fatigue from long hours.
Improve energy levels and general vitality — enabling sustained performance in demanding roles.
Strengthen your capacity to show up with patients, clients, and team members in a more grounded, authentic way.
By bringing mindfulness into the work and world of veterinary care, you’ll not only feel better — you’ll show up better, for yourself, your workplace and the animals and people you serve.
What’s Included in the Program
The 4-week Mindful Vet course is a structured, evidence-based program designed to help participants cultivate awareness, reduce stress, and live with greater ease.
Each session builds on the last, weaving together guided practice, reflection, and group dialogue in a supportive, interactive environment. Please make sure you can attend all 4 weeks.
You can expect:
Guided Mindfulness Practices
Including sitting meditation, body scan, and gentle mindful movement to help you connect more deeply with your body and breath.
Weekly Live Sessions
2.5-hour, synchronous online sessions each week where Heather guides you through mindfulness practices and group discussions — not pre-recorded, but live and engaging.
Daily Home Practice
Short, accessible mindfulness exercises (1-15 min) designed to fit into busy clinic life and support integration into routine. Clinic-specific practices that can be used during your work day (1-2 min) and shared with your team.
Veterinary-Specific Group Sharing and Reflection
Opportunities to ask questions, share experiences, and learn from others in a safe, non-judgmental space.
Practical Learning Topics
Each week explores a key theme, such as:
Awareness and autopilot
Perception and stress reactivity
- Working with difficult emotions and pain
Cultivating compassion and self-care
Community Connection Join a community of fellow veterinary professionals — a network of support outside the clinic.
About Your Facilitator
Heather is the co-owner of Nature Space Resort in beautiful St. Peter’s Harbour, PEI, and the owner of AwareVet Veterinary Consulting. She is a veteriarian and served as the Hospital Director and Assistant Dean at the Atlantic Veterinary College for nearly a decade. She actively practiced in large and small animal medicine for more than a decade before going to academia. She is still an adjunct professor at AVC, and continues to see clients as a relief veterinarian. She became passionate about mindfulness and wellbeing work nearly 15 years ago and actively taught mindfulness and the MBSR program to veterinarians and the general public as a means to help them manage stress.
She is a certified RYT 200hr Yoga Alliance Teacher (500h currently in process with certifications in Vinyasa, Yin, Yoga Nidra, and Chair Yoga). Heather has actively practiced yoga since 2009, is trained in Mindfulness Meditation (MBSR graduate), and has practiced meditation since 2013. She is also certified as a meditation and mindfulness instructor and is a graduate from Canada’s only graduate-level University program in Mindfulness (Mindfulness Based Teaching and Learning offered from The University of the Fraser Valley). Heather is also a certified MBSR facilitator from the Centre for Mindfulness Studies.
Cancellation Policy
This program can be cancelled 30 days prior to the program for a full refund of your deposit, or 14-29 days for a full refund minus a $25 cancellation fee. Cancellations made within 14 days of the program are non-refundable and the entire cost of the program is billed at that time to your credit card.
No refunds are issued should you become ill during the course or be unable to attend classes.