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Mindfulness All day long, our mind receives information. The mind’s job is
to sort through all this, including the stresses and surprises that come from
the outside, and all the emotions, thoughts, and physical sensations that
arise from inside us. Mindfulness is a way of attending to all of this
without being overwhelmed by it. It is defined as “the basic human capacity
to pay attention on purpose, with intention, in the present moment, in a
friendly and non-judging way.” Click
here for a guided audio of mindfulness
practice guide (to listen, left-click the link; to download, right
click it and select “Save Target As”). The
Benefits of Mindfulness Many people, including many therapists, use mindfulness for
every-day relaxation and stress reduction. Research has also found that
mindfulness can both treat and prevent depression, anxiety and related problems
like overeating and insomnia. It also has benefits for physical conditions
including chronic pain, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, psoriasis
(skin eruptions), high blood pressure and the immune system. Mindfulness
in Psychotherapy Mindfulness is a key ingredient in many effective therapies.
What makes these therapies unique is that they are designed to teach you a
skill that you can take with you after completing the sessions. The therapist
helps you practice and trouble-shoot the new skill, just as a coach would
help you learn a new game. At the Mood Treatment Center, we offer
mindfulness-training in both individual and group formats. An
8-week Course on Mindfulness We offer several courses in Mindfulness throughout the year; call
(336) 722-7266 to reserve a place. The courses take place once a week for 2 hours each; they
include a free all-day Saturday session. If you are not a current client of the Mood Treatment Center,
please complete the New Patient
Group form and bring a copy to us. What
Actually Happens in the Course At each session, the instructor will present a new aspect of
mindfulness to the group and help you problem-solve- ways to apply these
methods in your daily life. The instructor will also lead the group through
an active practice of mindfulness. This guided practice will be given to you
as an audio CD for you to use between sessions. There will also be time for
members to learn from each other’s experience. Sharing will be optional, not
required, during the course. Costs
and Insurance Coverage Most insurance plans will cover this treatment; we can file
with your insurance and reimburse you for the covered portion (copays, deductibles and annual visit-caps will still
apply). We also offer financial assistance if you have financial difficulties
do not have insurance coverage (we will need your most recent tax forms to
determine eligibility). ‑-Updated 1/15/13 by Chris Aiken, M.D. |
Woman Holding a
Balance,
Johannes Vermeer, National Gallery of Art Training in Mindfulness The
Mood Treatment Center offers individual and group training in mindfulness;
see at right for details. Books on Mindfulness Where Ever
You Go, There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn (also
available as audio CD,
DVD
and VHS
guides). Free MP3 download: mindfulness guide
(to listen, left-click the link; to download, right click it and select “Save
Target As”) by Dr. Jason Luoma. Scientific References Teasdale,
JD. Metacognitive awareness and prevention of
relapse in depression: Empirical evidence. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 2002 Apr; 70:
275-87. Carlson,
LE. Mindfulness-based stress reduction in… breast and prostate cancer
outpatients. Psychoneuroendocrinology.
2004 May;29(4):448-74. Astin, JA. The efficacy of mindfulness
meditation plus Qigong movement therapy in the treatment of fibromyalgia: a
randomized controlled trial. Journal of
Rheumatology. 2003 Oct;30(10):2257-62. Davidson,
RJ. Alterations in brain and immune function produced by mindfulness
meditation. Psychosomatic Medicine.
2003 Jul-Aug;65(4):564-70. Kabat-Zinn, J. Effectiveness of a meditation-based
stress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders. |
