Transcript Mindfulness Presentation (ppt format)

Mindfulness
Practice
What is mindfulness about?
Based on a Eastern meditation tradition but is not dependent on any
belief or ideology.
It is about being aware of what is happening in the present on a
moment-by-moment basis
It is contrasted with states of mind in which attention is focussed
elsewhere e.g. pre-occupation with memories, fantasies, plans or
worries, and behaving automatically without awareness of ones
actions.
It includes a sense of approaching all experience with openness and
kindly curiosity, rather than avoiding difficult experience or judging
them or us.
Mindfulness
“paying attention in a particular way;
On purpose, in the present moment,
and non-judgmentally”
(Jon Kabat-Zinn, 1994, pg4).
Intention
Attention
Attitude
Foundations of Practice
Kabat-Zinn (1990) Seven Core attitudes
• Non-judging
• Patience
• Beginners Mind
• Trust
• Non-Striving
• Acceptance
• Letting go/be or non-attachment
Mindfulness Meditation
Mindfulness meditation is
NOT:
- Positive thinking
- Just another relaxation technique
- Going into a trance
-Trying to blank your mind
Is It Just Distraction?
“Meditation is not an escape from
life … but preparation for really
being in life”
Thich Nhat Han
Mindfulness is essentially
experiential – we practice it
• Formal practice – meditation e.g. bodyscan,
mindful movement, sitting practice, breathing
space
• Informal Practice – awareness of body
sensations, thoughts, emotions and sensory
input during daily life. Practiced in ordinary
activities like eating, washing brushing teeth
The Essence of Mindfulness:
‘Being’ vs. ‘Doing’
Striving vs. Non-Striving
Avoidance vs. Approach
Thoughts as ‘real’ vs. Thoughts as thoughts
Living in the past and future vs. Living in the present
moment
Indirect experience vs. Direct experience
Automatic vs. Intentional
MBSR - generic
The Stress Reduction Clinic was founded in 1979 in a teaching hospital in Mass.
USA by Jon Kabat-Zinn, mainly for people with chronic pain and stress related
disorders (see www,umassmed.edu)
MBCT - specific
Developed in UK and Canada by Mark Williams, John Teasdale and
Zindel Segal, cognitive therapists working with depression
Aimed at the prevention of depressive relapse; includes information on
how depression is maintained
Participants trained when in remission
Similar 8-week group format, based on MBSR with added cognitive
therapy elements (Segal at al, 2002)
MBCT
MBCT integrates two very different traditions:
 The tradition of cognitive and clinical science,
and
 The tradition of Buddhist psychology and
mindfulness meditation
From Buddhist Teaching
(Dharma)
 Mindfulness of the breath
 Mindfulness of the body, in stillness and in
movement
 Mindfulness of thoughts
 Mindfulness of everyday experiences
 Compassion, acceptance
From CBT
 A cognitive model of vulnerability to emotional disorder
 A cognitive model of what maintains distress
 Options for working with negative thoughts
 Increasing nourishing activities
 Relapse prevention
What Keeps Us Stuck in Distress?
The Rowans Hospice
How have we been using MBSR:
 Heath Centre
 Bereavement Groups
 Staff
 In my own therapeutic practice
Reading List
Books
 Brantley, J. (2003) Calming your anxious mind. New Harbinger
Publications.
 Eckhart, T. (2002) Practicing the power of now. Hodder &
Stoughton
 Kabat-Zin, J. (2005) Wherever you go there you are. Hyperion
 Santoreli, S. (1999) Heal thyself. Bell Tower.
 Kumar, S. (2005) Grieving Mindfully. New harbinger
Web Sites
 Centre for Mindfulness Research & Practice: University of Wales
www.bangor.ac.uk/mindfulness