News & Events

• Following his performance for the opening of the Dalai Lama’s teachings in Indiana, award-winning cellist Michael Fitzpatrick will be performing in Cincinnati for the inauguration of the Center for Clinical Mindfulness & Meditation, which is part of the PsyD Program at Union Institute & University.

   

  Fitzpatrick is also promoting his film about the Dalai Lama and Thomas Merton, Compassion Rising.

   

  His Holiness the Dalai Lama has said, “The emotion induced by Michael Fitzpatrick’s music is so powerful it seems almost verbalized. His music brings peace of mind - and deep feelings of peace.”

   

  The Center for Clinical Mindfulness & Meditation is dedicated to researching and promoting the clinical uses of mindfulness and meditation to foster mental wellness in individuals, schools, and organizations. Mindfulness involves learning to pay attention to and wisely work with our thoughts, bodily sensations, and emotions to prevent stress, anxiety, and depression. The Center’s website is www.myunion.edu/ccmm.

   

  The concert will take place Friday, May 21, at 7pm at the New Thought Unity Center in Walnut Hills, 1401 E. McMillan Street, Cincinnati, OH 45206. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door. Call 513-961-2527 or visit www.ntunity.org.
  
  Click on the video below for a sample from Compassion Rising which includes one of Michael's performances for the Dalai Lama:
   

   

• A new professional organization has been formed, the Society for Clinical Mindfulness & Meditation, to help promote the use and understanding of mindfulness and other forms of meditation in clinical settings.

• Dr. Sears received ordination as a Zen Bodhisattva priest on March 28, 2010, from Paul Dochong Lynch, JDPSN at the Great Cloud Zen Center in Cincinnati, Ohio.

• Dr. Sears will be a keynote speaker at a meeting for the Alzheimer's Association in Cincinnati on November 12, 2010. Details will be available at http://www.alz.org/cincinnati/

• Dr. Sears and Dr. Frank Wood will be presenting on Mindfulness and Tobacco Cessation on March 6, 2010, in Columbus, Ohio. For details, visit http://www.breathingassociation.org/general/healthcare.asp

• Dr. Sears will soon be starting a new mindfulness-based group at Union Institute & University, in Cincinnati, Ohio. The groups are based on the MBSR (Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction) and MBCT (Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy) models of Jon Kabat-Zinn, Zindel Segal, and others. The group runs for 8 sessions. For more information visit http://www.psych-insights.com/mindfulness.html, or call Dr. Sears at 513-487-1196.

• Dr. Sears has teamed up with Dr. Frank Wood of the Greater Cincinnati Psychology Associates to create The Mindfulness Project, a collaboration designed to provide training and education in mindfulness to our communities.
  

• Dr. Sears, along with advisory board members Robert Denton and Dennis Tirch, has signed a book contract with Professional Resource Press. The book will be called "Mindfulness in Clinical Practice," and should be available late 2010. Our intention is to now have an answer when a therapists asks us "What book would you recommend to give a good overview of mindfulness?" The book will also include an audio CD containing guided mindfulness practices.
  

• Richard now maintains a blog for the Cincinnati edition of Natural Awakenings: http://wisewords.nacincin.com/
  

• Dr. Sears and Dr. Brian Denton presented a workshop on "Using Mindfulness in Your Professional and Personal Life" for the Dayton Area Psychological Association, November 6, 2009.
  

• On October 16, 2009, Dr. Sears presented a brief workshop on Mindfulness and Non-Violence to Self as part of a Laughter and Peace event with Patrick Murphy Welage and Betty Finney. The program starts at 6pm at the ROC Conference Center, 969 Reading Road, Mason, Ohio.
  

• On October 22, 2009, from 10:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., Richard presented a workshop on Mindfulness in Clinical Practice at the Ohio Psychological Association annual convention in Columbus, Ohio.
  

• Richard presented a workshop on mindfulness and dealing with difficult clients in Columbus, for the Ohio Psychological Association, on Friday July 31.

• Richard presented a workshop for the Cincinnati Gestalt Institute on Mindfulness, Meditation, & Therapist Self-Care on Saturday, June 20, 2009.

• Richard has been named Director of the Center for Clinical Mindfulness and Meditation at Union Institute & University. Visit the Center at www.myunion.edu/ccmm.

• Richard presented on "Mindfulness and Therapist Self Care" on April 6, 2009 for the Cincinnati Academy of Professional Psychology.

• Brian Denton and Richard Sears co-authored a book chapter on "Clinical Uses of Mindfulness" in the recently released book Innovations in Clinical Practice.

• Richard has been elected to the board of the Cincinnati Academy of Professional Psychology.

• Mindfulness-Based Groups, based on the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program and the Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) program, are now forming. Click here for details.

• Richard presented with John Rudisill "Adding Consultation to Your Clinical Practice" for the Dayton Area Psychological Association on November 7, 2008.

• Photos of Richard's trip to India and Nepal are now available here.

• Richard received his 5th degree black belt in To Shin Do in February of 2008, while traveling with Stephen K. Hayes in the Himalayan mountains of Nepal.

photo by Leo Pimentel

• Richard attended a private luncheon with the Dalai Lama, Stephen Hayes, and John & Elaine Mellencamp in October of 2007. The Dalai Lama put forth that Western science and Eastern practitioners need to collaborate for research and dialogue.
  

• Richard presented a seminar on Psychological Obstacles on the Spiritual Path at the World Congress on Psychology and Spirituality in Delhi, India in January of 2008. He will then met up with Dr. Brian Denton, Dr. Kathy Joseph, and Stephen K. Hayes in Nepal in February.
  

• Richard is teaching martial arts classes Wednesday evenings at the Dayton Quest Center of Stephen K. Hayes.
  

• Richard co-hosted a meditation and martial arts retreat from June 21 to June 24 for the Daiun-Ji Great Cloud Temple.
  

Jisho Sears with Jiun Foster

• On February 4, 2007, Richard conducted a seminar on "Psychological Obstacles on the Spiritual Path" in Cincinnati, Ohio.