Calm the Mind/Open the Heart
A Two-Session Mindfulness and Heartfulness Class
Offered in a live internet classroom on eMindful.com!
Fridays, November 6 and 13
12:00pmET - 2:30pmET
(11:00amCT/10:00amMT/9:00amPT)
Course Fee: $59.00 USD
To enroll please visit the eMindful.com web site
Is your mind continually busy worrying about the future or obsessing about the past? Do you find anxiety or negativity keep you from relaxing into your life, opening yourself to new opportunities or relationships? This is the class for you. You will learn formal and informal mindfulness and heartfulness practices that decrease over-activity in the mind and lessen destructive negative emotions such as, self-loathing, self-judgment, and self-doubt. Develop peace of mind and open yourself to greater acceptance and kindness.
*This class is appropriate for both beginning or experienced mindfulness meditation practitioners.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Buddhist Meditation Practices and Relapse Prevention Skills
You may attend a sangha when you can and do some meditation practice. But you also struggle with a substance use problem or maintaining a sober lifestyle. You might be dependent upon pain medication to dull chronic pain, or maybe you rely upon alcohol or marijuana to de-stress at the end of the day, or upon drugs/alcohol, food, gambling, or sex to ease negative emotions. You may have tried unsuccessfully to moderate or quit using your substance of choice. You may have thought that meditation alone would end your reliance upon drugs, alcohol, food or sex. Sound familiar? You are not alone. Substance use is still common among Buddhists in the West. There are even some Buddhist sects that include the use of substances in their rituals.
Like so many people that come to Buddhist practices seeking relief for suffering, you too may be ready to liberate yourself from substance abuse or dependence. I recommend Buddhist practitioners who struggle with sobriety take advantage of the increasing use of mindfulness meditation in clinical interventions for substance use disorders.
The primary mindfulness intervention for relapse prevention is Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP) an eight-week psycho-educational class designed to help prevent future relapse. MBRP was created at the Addictive Behaviors Research Center at the University of Washington. It uses empirically supported interventions from Relapse Prevention Therapy (RPT), Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT).
The MBRP program employs the same Buddhist/mindfulness meditation practices you learn at your sangha or practice on retreat. However, we add proven relapse prevention tools to help support a sober lifestyle when one is off the cushion. All MBRP participants are asked to do 30-40 minutes of mindfulness meditation practice 6-7 days each week of the eight-week course. I have yet to see anyone who has taken this class that has not benefited tremendously from the mindfulness meditation practices, which help one perceive the inner-workings of the addictive mind and experience some measure of liberation from its dictates.
I always recommend that people come to MBRP with an open mind, an open heart, and a willingness to know their own true nature from the inside out. MBRP does not require one to either hold or not hold the 12-step philosophy, though my experience is many of my participants are very involved in AA/NA groups and they so appreciate the skills they learn in MBRP as a necessary adjunct to the support they get in their 12-step groups.
The clinical research on MBRP shows it is more effective than treatment as usual (TAU) for reduced relapse, reduced days should relapse occur, and reduced craving. (Marlatt, 2005, Bowen et al., 2006, Bowen & Marlatt, 2008). MBRP is relatively new and the first professional clinical training takes place in September, so there should be more facilities offering this intervention in 2010.
I am currently offering the MBRP program in a live Internet classroom on eMindful.com. The next class begins on September 28, 2009. This is an incredible way to do the MBRP class; it is just like being there with me in the same room. I am astounded at the depth of experiences and radical shift that participants have doing the MBRP program online. You can get more information about this class on eMindful.com.
I’d like to end with a wonderful passage from the Dhammapada, where the Buddha beautifully describes the skills we teach in the MBRP program that truly make a difference in helping people create a joyful, sober life worth living.
“Master your senses
What you taste and smell,
What you see; what you hear.
In all things be a master
Of what you do and say and think.
Be free.
Are you quiet?
Quiet your body
Quiet your mind.
By your own efforts
Waken yourself; watch yourself,
And live joyfully.
Follow the truth of the way.
Reflect upon it.
Make it your own.
Live it.
It will always sustain you.”
Like so many people that come to Buddhist practices seeking relief for suffering, you too may be ready to liberate yourself from substance abuse or dependence. I recommend Buddhist practitioners who struggle with sobriety take advantage of the increasing use of mindfulness meditation in clinical interventions for substance use disorders.
The primary mindfulness intervention for relapse prevention is Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP) an eight-week psycho-educational class designed to help prevent future relapse. MBRP was created at the Addictive Behaviors Research Center at the University of Washington. It uses empirically supported interventions from Relapse Prevention Therapy (RPT), Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT).
The MBRP program employs the same Buddhist/mindfulness meditation practices you learn at your sangha or practice on retreat. However, we add proven relapse prevention tools to help support a sober lifestyle when one is off the cushion. All MBRP participants are asked to do 30-40 minutes of mindfulness meditation practice 6-7 days each week of the eight-week course. I have yet to see anyone who has taken this class that has not benefited tremendously from the mindfulness meditation practices, which help one perceive the inner-workings of the addictive mind and experience some measure of liberation from its dictates.
I always recommend that people come to MBRP with an open mind, an open heart, and a willingness to know their own true nature from the inside out. MBRP does not require one to either hold or not hold the 12-step philosophy, though my experience is many of my participants are very involved in AA/NA groups and they so appreciate the skills they learn in MBRP as a necessary adjunct to the support they get in their 12-step groups.
The clinical research on MBRP shows it is more effective than treatment as usual (TAU) for reduced relapse, reduced days should relapse occur, and reduced craving. (Marlatt, 2005, Bowen et al., 2006, Bowen & Marlatt, 2008). MBRP is relatively new and the first professional clinical training takes place in September, so there should be more facilities offering this intervention in 2010.
I am currently offering the MBRP program in a live Internet classroom on eMindful.com. The next class begins on September 28, 2009. This is an incredible way to do the MBRP class; it is just like being there with me in the same room. I am astounded at the depth of experiences and radical shift that participants have doing the MBRP program online. You can get more information about this class on eMindful.com.
I’d like to end with a wonderful passage from the Dhammapada, where the Buddha beautifully describes the skills we teach in the MBRP program that truly make a difference in helping people create a joyful, sober life worth living.
“Master your senses
What you taste and smell,
What you see; what you hear.
In all things be a master
Of what you do and say and think.
Be free.
Are you quiet?
Quiet your body
Quiet your mind.
By your own efforts
Waken yourself; watch yourself,
And live joyfully.
Follow the truth of the way.
Reflect upon it.
Make it your own.
Live it.
It will always sustain you.”
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Next Calm the Mind/Open the Heart in November
Calm the Mind/Open the Heart
A Two-Session Mindfulness and Heartfulness Class
Offered in a live internet classroom on eMindful.com!
Fridays, November 6 and 13
12:00pmET - 2:30pmET
(11:00amCT/10:00amMT/9:00amPT)
Course Fee: $59.00 USD
To enroll please visit the eMindful.com web site
Is your mind continually busy worrying about the future or obsessing about the past? Do you find anxiety or negativity keep you from relaxing into your life, opening yourself to new opportunities or relationships? This is the class for you. You will learn formal and informal mindfulness and heartfulness practices that decrease over-activity in the mind and lessen destructive negative emotions such as, self-loathing, self-judgment, and self-doubt. Develop peace of mind and open yourself to greater acceptance and kindness.
*This class is appropriate for both beginning or experienced mindfulness meditation practitioners.
A Two-Session Mindfulness and Heartfulness Class
Offered in a live internet classroom on eMindful.com!
Fridays, November 6 and 13
12:00pmET - 2:30pmET
(11:00amCT/10:00amMT/9:00amPT)
Course Fee: $59.00 USD
To enroll please visit the eMindful.com web site
Is your mind continually busy worrying about the future or obsessing about the past? Do you find anxiety or negativity keep you from relaxing into your life, opening yourself to new opportunities or relationships? This is the class for you. You will learn formal and informal mindfulness and heartfulness practices that decrease over-activity in the mind and lessen destructive negative emotions such as, self-loathing, self-judgment, and self-doubt. Develop peace of mind and open yourself to greater acceptance and kindness.
*This class is appropriate for both beginning or experienced mindfulness meditation practitioners.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Watch Lisa's interview about teaching online MBRP
Kelley, McCabe, the founder of eMindful.com interviewed a few weeks ago on my experience teaching MBRP in the eMindful.com live video classroom. Here are links to the edited version of this interview.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIOMNIoZbio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxAfECYmcDU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etPcHP00IxM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-zbZyHJeuo
We also talked about telemedicine and healthcare reform, though this part of the interview has not yet been released. I spoke about the important role of mindfulness-based interventions for delivering wellness and preventive care. The eMindful classroom is an effective method to make this happen for people all over the country who have no access to MBSR, MBCT, or MBRP groups.
Enjoy! Hope to see some of you who are local at my talk on Friday for SCV-CAMFT. The details are listed in the previous post.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIOMNIoZbio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxAfECYmcDU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etPcHP00IxM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-zbZyHJeuo
We also talked about telemedicine and healthcare reform, though this part of the interview has not yet been released. I spoke about the important role of mindfulness-based interventions for delivering wellness and preventive care. The eMindful classroom is an effective method to make this happen for people all over the country who have no access to MBSR, MBCT, or MBRP groups.
Enjoy! Hope to see some of you who are local at my talk on Friday for SCV-CAMFT. The details are listed in the previous post.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Harmlessness
The Summer Solstice represents fullness. Today, in the Northern Hemisphere, the sun rises to its highest point in the sky and stays visible for the most hours of any day of the year. So too, should we contemplate rising to the highest form of awareness and conduct and showing up today, and every day, as best we can, abiding the principles of wisdom and compassion.
To inspire you on the Summer Solstice here is a teaching from the Buddha:
Harmlessness
"All beings tremble before violence.
All fear death.
All love life.
See yourself in other.
Then whom can you hurt?
What harm can you do?
He who seeks happiness
By hurting those who seek happintess
Will never find happiness.
For your brothers and sisters are like you.
They want to be happy.
Never harm them.
And when you leave this life
You too will find happiness.
The Buddha from the Dhammapada
To inspire you on the Summer Solstice here is a teaching from the Buddha:
Harmlessness
"All beings tremble before violence.
All fear death.
All love life.
See yourself in other.
Then whom can you hurt?
What harm can you do?
He who seeks happiness
By hurting those who seek happintess
Will never find happiness.
For your brothers and sisters are like you.
They want to be happy.
Never harm them.
And when you leave this life
You too will find happiness.
The Buddha from the Dhammapada
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Forgive my inattention to posting!
It was a very busy Spring. A lot of presenting, writing and teaching. I am busy creating my schedule of classes for the Fall and will post it by next week.
Preview of my emindful.com offerings will include:
8-week MBRP
4-week Mindfulness/Heartfulness skills class
Preview of my emindful.com offerings will include:
8-week MBRP
4-week Mindfulness/Heartfulness skills class
Monday, April 13, 2009
Register for the online MBRP group starting on April 20
The next online MBRP group is filling up and it starts in one week on April 20!
STAY SOBER MINDFULLY!
Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP)
Offered in a live online classroom on eMindful.com
VISIT THE EMINDFUL.COM WEB SITE
Use this link to register
Course fee: $425.00
includes CDs and MBRP handouts
Eight Mondays
April 20, 27, May 4, 11, 18, June 1, 8, 15,
6:00pmET-8:00pmET
(5:00pmCT/4:00pmMT/3:00pmPT)
Saturday Retreat, May 30
12:00pmET-5:00pmET
(11:00amCT/10:00amMT/9:00amPT)
Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP) is an 8-week psycho-educational class specifically created for clients in recovery from substance use disorders and is designed to help prevent future relapse. MBRP uses empirically supported interventions from Relapse Prevention Therapy (RPT), Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT).
The MBRP curriculum integrates mindfulness meditation practices, mindful yoga or chi gong, with CBT relapse prevention strategies. The program teaches effective skills to reduce stress, manage urges and cravings, and cultivate compassion and acceptance. Participants will be expected to do home practice. All participants must have at least 30 days of active sobriety.
TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT MBRP VISIT LISA'S WEB SITE
STAY SOBER MINDFULLY!
Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP)
Offered in a live online classroom on eMindful.com
VISIT THE EMINDFUL.COM WEB SITE
Use this link to register
Course fee: $425.00
includes CDs and MBRP handouts
Eight Mondays
April 20, 27, May 4, 11, 18, June 1, 8, 15,
6:00pmET-8:00pmET
(5:00pmCT/4:00pmMT/3:00pmPT)
Saturday Retreat, May 30
12:00pmET-5:00pmET
(11:00amCT/10:00amMT/9:00amPT)
Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP) is an 8-week psycho-educational class specifically created for clients in recovery from substance use disorders and is designed to help prevent future relapse. MBRP uses empirically supported interventions from Relapse Prevention Therapy (RPT), Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT).
The MBRP curriculum integrates mindfulness meditation practices, mindful yoga or chi gong, with CBT relapse prevention strategies. The program teaches effective skills to reduce stress, manage urges and cravings, and cultivate compassion and acceptance. Participants will be expected to do home practice. All participants must have at least 30 days of active sobriety.
TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT MBRP VISIT LISA'S WEB SITE
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