Mindfulness-Based Groups
for Stress, Anxiety, and Depression
**New mindfulness group starts February 22, 2010 in Cincinnati, Monday evenings**
“Mindfulness means paying attention in a particular way:
on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally."
-Jon Kabat-Zinn
Click here for information about The Mindfulness Project
What is mindfulness training, and what can it do for me?
Mindfulness involves learning to pay attention to and wisely work with our thoughts, bodily sensations, and emotions. The practice is learned through simple meditation exercises, through which you eventually come to bring a richer awareness and presence into your daily life. This reduces ruminating thoughts, helping to prevent stress, anxiety, and relapses of depression.
The training groups are modeled after the evidence-based practices of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). The group consists of education, discussion, practice of mindfulness meditation, light stretching exercises, and homework assignments.
The specific themes addressed in the program are:
- Class 1: Automatic Pilot
- Class 2: Dealing with Barriers
- Class 3: Mindfulness of the Breath
- Class 4: Staying Present
- Class 5: Allowing and Letting Be
- Class 6: Thoughts are Not Facts
- Class 7: How Can I Best Take Care of Myself
- Class 8: Using What’s Been Learned to Deal with Future Challenges.
Over the eight weeks of the program, the practices help you:
- to become familiar with the workings of your mind.
- to notice the times when you are at risk of getting caught in old habits of mind that re-activate downward mood spirals.
- to explore ways of releasing yourself from those old habits and, if you choose, enter a different way of being.
- to put you in touch with a different way of knowing yourself and the world.
- to notice small beauties and pleasures in the world around you instead of living in your head.
- to be kind to yourself instead of wishing things were different all the time, or driving yourself to meet impossible goals.
- to find a way so you don't have to battle with yourself all the time.
- to accept yourself as you are, rather than judging yourself all the time.
from www.mbct.com
Who can participate?
Anyone with a desire to reduce stress, or to prevent relapses of depression and anxiety, is welcome to inquire. A commitment to attend all 8 sessions, and to do 45 minutes of practice per day, is required.
Health care and business professionals are also invited to learn these skills to be more effective in their daily work, and to help facilitate work-life balance. Psychologists can earn up to 12 Continuing Education hours by submitting a Single Course Review form with payment to OPA-MCE.
What is the cost?
$495. The course includes 8 weekly 90-minute sessions, handouts, a book, a guided audio practice CD, and a graduation certificate. A limited number of reduced-fee slots may be available for those with financial challenges.
Who is the facilitator?
Dr. Richard Sears is a board-certified clinical psychologist licensed in the state of Ohio. He is Director of the Center for Clinical Mindfulness and Meditation at Union Institute & University. For more information about Dr. Sears, click here.
Where are you located?
Within Union Institute & University, 440 E. McMillan St, Cincinnati, OH 45206.
What’s the first step?
Call or email to set up an in-person or phone interview to see if this group is for you.
For more information:
Send an email to richard@psych-insights.com or call 513-487-1196
Links for more information about the program content:
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) (www.mbct.com)
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) (http://www.umassmed.edu/cfm/index.aspx)
Established clients can pay by credit card by clicking here