Description

Handouts

Outline

MASTER THE CORE SKILLS OF MINDFULNESS

Treatment Concepts

• Introduction of mindfulness to clients
• Mindfulness as self-directed neuroplasticity
• Mindfulness as a skill-based path
• Reconsolidation of neural networks through mindfulness practice

Experiential exercise: self-regulation techniques

Strengthening Therapeutic Presence

• Benefits of therapeutic presence: presence, attunement, resonance, trust
• Stabilize the mind: the foundation of focus
• Self-regulation: the foundation of settledness
• Spaciousness: the foundation of openness

Five Core Skills of Mindfulness

• Clarify, set and re-affirm intention
• Cultivate witnessing awareness: metacognition
• Stabilize attention
• Strengthen self-regulation
• Practice loving-kindness for self and others

Experiential exercise: stability of attention and awareness

Neuroscience and Mindfulness

• Effective drivers of neuroplasticity
• Interpersonal neurobiology: importance of early experiences
• Formation of mental models: core negative beliefs
• Neuroception and the operation of the brain’s survival mechanisms
• Explicit and implicit memories
• Adaptive safety strategies: negative side effects

Experiential exercise: cultivate an inner refuge

Mindfulness Practices

• Themes in beginning mindfulness practice
  • Am I focused or distracted?
  • Am I settled/grounded or tight/churning
• Mindful transitions: a practice for new clients
• Stop-breathe-reflect-choose practice
• Development of client self-talk, scripts and mantras
• Positive visualization practice
• Cultivate a new vision of self: transform core negative beliefs

TRAUMA, ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, RELATIONSHIPS, ANGER, STRESS AND SEX

Mindfulness for Trauma

• Cultivate safety and groundedness
• Retrain the dysregulated nervous system

Experiential exercise: positive visualization

Mindfulness for Anxiety

• Witness the anxious mind
• Get unstuck from anxious rumination

Experiential exercise: self-regulation practices for anxiety

Mindfulness for Depression

• Transform core negative beliefs that power depression
• Cultivate motivation and action

Experiential exercise: develop behavioral plans with the client

Mindfulness for Relationships

• Clarify intentions that work in relationships
• Transform unhealthy patterns

Experiential exercise: cultivate positive experiences/exchanges

Mindfulness for Anger

• Understand the source of anger energy
• Identify the anger storm
• Clarify the practice when anger arises

Experiential exercise: rehearsal of the Stop-Breathe-Reflect-Choose practice

Mindfulness for Stress

• Educate the client about the impact of stress
• Change the stress reaction through practice

Experiential exercise: strengthen awareness of stress response, shifting to relaxation response

Mindfulness for Sex

• Create conditions for healthy and mutually satisfying sex
• Open to the full power of sexual intimacy

Mindfulness In-Session

• Avoid compassion fatigue
• Approach each session as meditative practice
• Counsel “in the flow”

Experiential exercise: path to enjoying our work more meditation practice

Research, Limitations and the Potential Risks of Mindfulness in Treatment

• Current state of research on mindfulness
• Limits of the current research
• Mindfulness-Based treatments - potential risks and limitations
• The importance of client evaluation
• Practices beyond your training and experience

Faculty

Terry Fralich Related seminars and products: 6

Mindfulness Center of Southern Maine

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Terry Fralich, LCPC, is a co-founder of the Mindfulness Retreat Center of Maine and former Adjunct Faculty Member of the University of Southern Maine Graduate School. He has led more than 400 seminars, trainings and retreats at the Center, at Omega Institute, Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, both nationally and internationally. His expertise consists of mindfulness, neuroscience, CBT, brain change, emotional intelligence, stress reduction, meditation and the treatment of anxiety and depression. He has been teaching transformative mindfulness skills and practices for 20 years and has pursued his own practice of mindfulness and meditation for 40 years.

Terry studied extensively with His Holiness the Dalai Lama for 25 years and with some of the American pioneers of mindfulness, including Jon Kabat-Zinn and John Welwood. His first book, Cultivating Lasting Happiness: A 7-Step Guide to Mindfulness, was cited as one of “the 12 essential books on mindfulness.” His second book, The Five Core Skills of Mindfulness: A Direct Path to More Confidence, Joy and Love, presents his clear and unique approach to mindfulness practice as a powerful force for healthy change in our everyday lives. Prior to becoming a mindfulness therapist, academic and author, Terry was an attorney who practiced law in New York City, Los Angeles and Portland, Maine.

Speaker Disclosure:

Financial: Terry Fralich is in private practice. He receives a speaking honorarium from PESI, Inc.

Non-financial: Terry Fralich has no relevant non-financial relationship to disclose.