I would also encourage any experienced mental health professional who is interested in offering this training to use the infomation below as a model for programs that may be offered.
If you are a mental health professional who is interested in offering CEU programs, drop me a note and we can discuss your purchasing my materials including powerpoint outlines, homestudy articles and question/answer materials.
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Group Psychotherapy and Training for Psychotherapists
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction: An Integrated 8-Week Program (20 CEUs Available)
Mindfulness in Psychotherapy: a 24-CEU Program for Mental Health Professionals
Mindfulness-Based Group Therapy: Making Space for Deep Healing
Other Mindfulness-Based Experiential Programs (CEUs available)
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Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction: An Integrated 8-Week Program for Cultivating the Inner Resources of Compassion and Disciplined Presence (20 CEUs Available for Mental Health Professionals).
"It's really about making a fundamental shift in your life. It's not just about having a few tools to calm yourself down when you are stressed out." Tampa Tribune, 11/17/04
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is an experiential program developed and popularized by Jon Kabat-Zinn at UMass Medical School over the past 25 years. MBSR has been shown in clinical research to have a profound effect on ones ability to effectively regulate the mind, and consequently the emotions and to a significant degree, physical health. It is used in complementary and alternative medicine programs at a number of universities, including UMass, Stanford, Duke, U of Virginia, UC San Francisco and many others around the world (i.e. 250+ universities and hospitals worldwide according to a recent count). With its focus on the development of non-judgmental awareness of our moment-to-moment experience, MBSR offers a powerful, integrated approach to working with our daily physical, emotional and psychological stress, as well as offering powerful coping tools for dealing with chronic pain and debilitating illness. For many, this program provides a solid foundation for deep emotional healing and spiritual growth.
This program can provide 20 Continuing Educational Credits if you are a: Licensed Psychologist, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Licensed School Psychologist, Dietitian/Nutritionist or Nutrition Counselor or Licensed Nurse Midwife. Fourteen of these credits are for in class participation, six are for Home Study materials with tests (i.e. 3 journal articles related to MBSR's application in clinical settings). There is no additional fee for processing the 20 CEUs. Learn more about CEUs.
About the Practice of Mindfulness
Mindfulness can be described as intentionally paying attention to the present moment without being pulled into the mind’s usual elaborations of judgment, internal dialog and the emotional reactions such elaborations can trigger. It is being with the experience of the moment with gentle compassion and a strong disciplined intention to simply stay present with whatever is happening in the moment, allowing space for the experience to raise and fall away without adding our usual overlay of suffering, frustration or panic. More about Mindfulness.
In this program, we will learn to come into and remain in the richness of the present moment. We will focus on bringing our attention to our breath, physical sensations, thoughts and feelings through a variety of meditation techniques including mindful yoga, sitting, walking and eating meditation as well as mindful speaking and listening.
How will what I will learn through MBSR help to reduce my stress?
Stress research has shown us that it is not so much the stressor itself, but how it is perceived and what the mind/body does in reaction to that perception that’s determines whether or not we experience distress in response to a stressor.
By cultivating mindfulness we learn to relate to our experience with less anxiety and fear, allowing more space between experience and perception. With this skill, we can move from mindless reactivity to skillful response, from a sense of urgency to a calm inner peace. We bring a more compassionate attitude towards ourselves and our situations and therefore cause ourselves less suffering through unskillful reactive habits (e.g. a host of addictions, venting anger inappropriately, poor self care).
The skills learned through MBSR training can help reconnect us with our sense of wholeness regardless of what challenges we are facing. We can experience greater balance in our lives regardless of how chaotic things may appear from the outside. These skills can be helpful to those living with work or family stress, relationship issues, mid-life transitions, emotional and psychological challenges, chronic pain or physical illness.
Those who practice mindfulness techniques, commonly report experiencing:
- A relaxed awareness of the present moment
- Enhanced psychological flexibility
- Release of unhelpful attachment or aversion
- Greater stress tolerance and impulse control
- Clarity and awareness of thought patterns
- Greater insight
Clinical research findings related to MBSR and other Mindfulness-Based programs over the past 20 - 25 years are very encouraging. Those completing these programs consistently demonstrate and report long-lasting improvements such as:
- Improved health-related quality of life
- Increased sense of life meaning and manageability
- Reduced anxiety & depression
- Enhanced self-esteem and activity levels
- Reduced chronic pain and physical distress
- Fewer panic type experiences
- Strengthened immunity
- Increased social activity and vitality
- Reduced tension, anger, and fatigue
- Improved sleep quality
- Reduced pain-related drug use
- Improved emotion regulation, reduced anxiety
- Halved rates of depression
- Decreased blood pressure
- Optimal states of relaxed alertness
- Decreased psychiatric hospitalizations
- Reduced harmful behaviors
- Reduced substance abuse
- Decreased interpersonal problems
- Fewer and less intense headaches
- Brain activity associated with positive emotion
Read what some of our participants had to say after completing this program. To learn more about this powerful program, see a recent review article (.pdf file), abstracts of recent MBSR research and associated references, and Mind Body Health Associates.
In this program which closely follows the model developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn, seven (or at times eight) weekly two hour sessions (sometimes extended to 2.5 hours with larger groups) combine with a full day (i.e. 7 hour) retreat at week six, seven or eight for a total of 21 to 27 hours total in-class instruction. There are daily homework exercises and training CDs for further deepening awareness during ordinary daily activities. To help extend and deepen the life-enhancing effects of this program, annual full day "reunion" retreats are available to all graduates of this program at no charge for as long as I continue to offer this program.
NOTE: This program is also offered occasionally as A Weekend Program, meeting 4 times usually from 10:30 to 2 ( i.e. 3 1/2 hours ), every other Sunday for the 8 weeks followed by a Day-long retreat. (21 hours in-class time, 20 CEUs available). Because of the extended hours in each session, the weekend programs allow for deeper exploration of key aspects of the application of mindfulness in everyday life in the areas of: physical health, intimate relationships and emotional wellness. This format also allows for a greater variety of teaching methods (e.g. journaling, small group sharings, video presentations, guest speakers). While it is designed for the beginner, it's a wonderful program for those who have completed an 8-Week MBSR program and are seeking to re-establish or deepen their practice.
The fee for these eight week programs is on a sliding scale, based upon ability to pay, and ranges from $250 to $500 (Visa/MC accepted). You set your own fee based upon your financial situation, no questions asked. Costs include: (1) in-class instruction, (2) four training CDs (i.e. Body Scan and Guided Meditation, each 45 minutes and when co-led by Lena Koob-Emunds: Mindful Hatha Yoga, 70 minutes, and Yoga Nedra, 60 minutes. When I teach solo or with Beth Meeker, I provide my 2 Mindful Hatha Yoga CDs, 45-minutes each. (3) Weekly homework reading materials are provided via .pdf files to avoid the need to print out the 70+ pages of material and to allow easy access to related materials via the web for those who wish to deepen their knowledge of a particular subject area. (4) Free access to all future MBSR Day-long Reunion Retreats.
It is my sincere hope that anyone interested in participating in this program can do so regardless of ability to pay. Therefore, I have established a fund for partial scholarships. If you would like to be considered for a scholarship or feel moved to contribute to this fund, please drop me a note at: john@BeMindful.org .
To see if this powerful 8 week program is a good fit for you, simply drop me an email at john@BeMindful.org or better yet, give me a call at 813-980-2700. You may also wish to attend one of an introductory workshops on: MBSR, Mindfulness Meditation, Intimate Relationships, Emotional Alchemy or related topics that are offered from time to time. Learn about upcoming programs
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Mindfulness in Psychotherapy: a 24-CEU Program for Mental Health Professionals
This program is designed to meet the interest and needs of those providing psychotherapy in any setting, private practice or within an agency, who are seeking to integrate the process of mindfulness into their work as well as in their personal lives.
This program can provide 24 Continuing Educational Credits if you are a: Licensed Psychologist, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Licensed School Psychologist, Dietitian/Nutritionist or Nutrition Counselor or Licensed Nurse Midwife. Twelve of these credits are for in class participation, twelve are for Home Study materials with tests (i.e. 6 journal articles related to the clinical research and various applications of Mindfulness to clinical settings). There is no additional fee for processing these 24 CEUs. Learn more about CEUs. Other licensures allowing the practice of psychotherapy such as M.D, are also welcome to attend but no CEU/CME can be awarded. And with approval, a graduate student in one of these fields in their final year of coursework may participate.
Cultivating ones personal practice of mindfulness allows movement into a rich spaciousness that allows one to sit with the discomforts associated with working with others who are in pain. This openness not only lessens the therapist’s discomfort, it encourages the client to open to a deeper healing space. Through deepening the practice of mindfulness, reactivity gradually falls away and is replaced by loving patience and equanimity toward ourselves and others.
This 6 week group experience will be an interactive one, limited to 15 participants and will provide:
- an intellectual understanding of the application of mindfulness to psychotherapy through exploration of the professional literature on the application and effectiveness of mindfulness with a variety of client populations. In addition to this overview, each participant will be supported in more deeply researching any particular interest area they may have such as addictions, physical illness, chronic pain, etc.
- an experiential understanding of this powerful practice through a variety of meditation practices and exercises
- the cultivation of the complimentary skills of mindfulness and concentration that are the foundation of this practice
- practical suggestions for the use this powerful process with specific client populations and treatment issues
- a safe setting for processing issues related to current and on-going cases and personal issues
The Cost of the Program
The fee for this six-week program is on a sliding scale based upon ability to pay and ranges from $250 to $500 (Visa/MC accepted). You set your own fee, no questions asked. Costs include five 45- to 60-minute training CDs (i.e. Body Scan, Guided Sitting Meditation, Mindful Hatha Yoga I and II and Guided Opening Meditation) as well as Home Study reading materials, associated tests and posting of CEUs with CEBroker.
This program is designed to provide both an experiential and intellectual introduction and overview of the practice of mindfulness as it is applied in mental health contexts. It is ideal for those providing psychotherapy in any setting, private practice or within an agency, who are seeking to understand how to integrate the process of Mindfulness into their work as well as in their personal lives. The one-day weekend format and home study component make this program an easy fit for those struggling to balance time and energy demands associated with mental health professions.
This program can provide 10 Continuing Educational Credits if you are a: Licensed Psychologist, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Licensed School Psychologist, Dietitian/Nutritionist or Nutrition Counselor or Licensed Nurse Midwife. Six of these credits are for in class participation, four are for Home Study materials which include a journal article related to the clinical applications of Mindfulness to clinical settings and an introduction to the practice itself. You will have 2 weeks following the program to complete the Home Study portion of the program and mail the answer sheet to me). Learn more about CEUs. Other licensures allowing the practice of psychotherapy such as M.D, are also welcome to attend but no CEU/CME can be awarded. Graduate students in one of these fields are welcome to participate as well.
Cultivating ones personal practice of mindfulness allows movement into a rich spaciousness that allows one to sit with the discomforts associated with working with others in pain. This openness not only lessens the therapist’s discomfort, it encourages the client to open to a deeper healing space. Through cultivating the practice of Mindfulness, reactivity gradually falls away and is replaced by loving patience and equanimity toward ourselves and others.
This one-day group experience will be an interactive one and will provide:
- an experiential understanding of Mindfulness through a variety of meditation practices and exercises
- the exposure to the practices associated with cultivation of the complimentary skills of Mindfulness and concentration that are the foundation of this practice
- an introduction to the emperical literature on the application of Mindfulness in clinical settings
- practical suggestions for the use this powerful process with a variety of client populations and treatment issues
The Cost of the Program The fee for this one-day program is on a sliding scale based upon ability to pay and ranges from $100 to $200 (Visa/MC accepted). You set your own fee, no questions asked. Costs include two 45-minute training CDs (i.e. Body Scan and Guided Sitting Meditation) as well as Home Study reading materials, associated tests and posting of the 10 CEUs with CEBroker.
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This program is designed for Mental Health and Allied Professionals who wish to share the practice of mindfulness with their clients. This full day of mindfulness practice will provide the conceptual and experiential underpinnings for instructing clients in the basics of mindfulness and offer an opportunity to deepen one’s personal meditation practice, which is the foundation for effectively sharing this practice with others.
Through a combination of seven hours of in-class interactive and experiential activities and four hours of Home Study test-validated reading assignments, this program will provide an overview of effective methods for teaching this practice to a host of clinical populations.
Participants will gain a basic understanding of:
• the key concepts and related skills of mindfulness and how they can be effectively shared with clients/patients in a variety of clinical settings
• a variety of meditation practices (e.g. sitting, walking and eating meditation as well as very basic Mindful Hatha Yoga) and specific techniques for teaching them
• resources for deepening mindfulness and integrating it more fully into one’s professional practice.
This program can provide 11 Continuing Educational Credits if you are a: Licensed Psychologist, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Licensed School Psychologist, Dietitian/Nutritionist or Nutrition Counselor or Licensed Nurse Midwife. Seven of these credits are for in class participation, four are for Home Study materials (i.e. a journal articles related to the application of mindfulness and training others in this practice). You will have 2 weeks following the program to complete the Home Study portion of the program and mail the answer sheet to me). Learn more about CEUs.
The Cost of the Program The fee for this one-day program is on a sliding scale based upon ability to pay and ranges from $100 to $200 (Visa/MC accepted). You set your own fee, no questions asked. Costs include two 45-minute training CDs (i.e. Body Scan and Guided Sitting Meditation) as well as Home Study reading materials, associated tests and posting of the 11 CEUs with CEBroker.
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Mindfulness-Based Group Therapy: Making Space for Deep Healing
The practices of Mindfulness Meditation have many helpful fruits. Perhaps the one most closely related to the process of psychological and emotional healing is the ability to open to subtle discomfort in the body/mind with compassion and gentle curiosity. This ability is a powerful resource when engaged in the process of deep recovery and/or grief work, inviting the sensitive material to rise into awareness where it can be acknowledged, processed and released. As this energy can be the fuel for reactive, compulsive processes, it's release can lead to freedom from depression, anxiety, a host of addictive behaviors as well as from general distress and discomfort in one's daily life.
As one’s mindfulness practice deepens, it becomes clear that suppressing or expressing these disturbing energies is unnecessary and unproductive. By bravely opening to them, intentionally breathing into the discomfort with an attitude of compassionate, disciplined observation; they move through the body/mind and are released. The discomfort falls away.
If you have been struggling with long-standing issues for some time, perhaps been engaged in psychotherapy for many years but do not feel you have gotten to the core of your problem and are ready to dig a little deeper, this may well be the program for you.
This program is designed to skillfully facilitate this type of release of pent up emotional and psychological energy. The power of the group format is enhanced by the safety of the structure we provide and the guidelines all participants agree to follow. The group will be limited to only 10 members to insure an intimate and safe environment.
This 6-week group therapy experience will have a foundation of structured supportive guidance, mutual trust and respect for confidentiality and personal boundaries. This will provide a safe container for you to move deeply within and to freely allow the energy to move through and out of your body/mind/spirit. As we have learned through meditation, we don't have to surpress or express these energies, we can simply open to them with an attitude of compassionate observation.
We will hold the space for this work, honoring each member's process as we sit silently and as I offer guided support in meditation for 25 to 60 minute sessions followed by process and Q/A periods. You will be encouraged to deepen your sitting practice and to journal about your experiences and share only what you feel comfortable sharing with the group.
Program Overview
This is a 6-week intensive program utilizing the stabilizing qualities of mindfulness mediation for deep healing of blocked or long-standing emotional issues (e.g. childhood abuse, other emotional and/or psychological trauma) as well as reactive patterns associated with physical pain from illness or disease.
Drawing on the power of mindfulness practices for support, we will create a safe space for investigation, acknowledgement and release of increasingly subtle discomforts within the mind/body by allowing space for the underlying energy to move through. We will be cultivating the skills of equanimity and spacious non-reactivity when experiences of anxiety, fear, sadness and depression rise into awareness, giving these energies room to fall away without the mind’s usual elaborations of clinging and aversion.
I will offer specific instructions throughout the program not only on deepening the practices of mindfulness meditation but on dealing with common obstacles such as 'the mind that wants to know,' the 'I can fix it all in my head' syndrome and 'this pain is too much to sit with' reaction. We’ll have others come up, I’m sure, and they will be addressed in turn.
While the 2 hour sessions will focus primarily on sitting meditation, we will also take short breaks with mindful Hatha yoga staying as much as possible 'in process' and 'within our direct experience' as it unfolds. Much more will be shared about this process and these issues as the program moves along.
This powerful program will be offered when there is sufficient interest. Please drop me a note if this program sounds like it would fit your needs.
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