Mindfulness in Practice: A Program for Psychotherapists

With Barbara Heffernan and Patton Hyman

April 23 - 24, 2010

This workshop is appropriate for those new to mindfulness meditation and for experienced meditators who would like to increase their ability to bring mindfulness into their everyday lives and work. The workshop will emphasize incorporating mindfulness meditation techniques into action through contemplative exercises in three main areas: developing non-judgmental awareness of our thoughts and feelings as we discuss specific cases; widening our compassion for ourselves and our clients; and increasing our ability to bring mindfulness to our work.

Objectives:

• Understand and experience how mindfulness meditation promotes active listening, the ability to stay in the "here-and-now", and other techniques at the core of a variety of psychotherapy theories
• Experience contemplative exercises applying mindfulness to case studies and issues of counter-transference
• Review recent research on how mindfulness and meditation produce positive physical, psychological, and neurobiological changes
• Identify elements of mindfulness already present in many psychotherapy approaches, including Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, DBT, EMDR, and others
• Understand how using mindfulness meditation techniques with clients can promote the effectiveness of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and other psychotherapy approaches

Program Fee: $275 (includes meals from the Karmê Chöling kitchen), $325 after April 19, 2010

The program begins at 10 AM on Friday, and goes until 8:30 PM Friday. Begins again Friday at 9:00 AMand ends at 5 PM on Saturday.

To download a printable flyer, click here.

Credit Hours Approved: National NASW and VT Board of Mental Health Professionals.

Tuition: $275.00 Program fees include 3 meals per day served by the Karmê Chöling kitchen.

About Barbara Heffernan

Barbara Heffernan, LCSW, LADC, has a private psychotherapy practice in Norwalk, CT, which focuses on trauma, addiction, anxiety, and life transitions. Barbara utilizes Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, EMDR, meditation and visualization in her practice. Barbara has studied meditation in Buddhist, Hindu, and Shamanic traditions, and has practiced meditation for over fifteen years. She is a member of the Shambhala community at Sky Lake Lodge, Rosendale, NY. In her first career, Barbara spent sixteen years in investment banking, primarily in mergers & acquisitions for Salomon Brothers and Merrill Lynch. Barbara has a BA from Yale University, an MBA from Columbia University, and an MSW from Southern Connecticut State University. Barbara's website is www.barbaraheffernan.com.

About Patton Hyman

Patton Hyman is Development Director of Tail of the Tiger, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization. Patton has taught meditation, including teacher trainings, for more than 25 years, and served as Co-resident Director (Atlanta) of Shambhala Training, a nonsectarian meditation program, for nine years. He is the author of "The Mindful Lawyer: Mindfulness Meditation and Law Practice", available online. Patton has presented a number of bar-sponsored mindfulness meditation programs accredited for mandatory continuing legal education. He has also participated in presenting mindfulness-based programs on relationships, organizational leadership, and health care, as well as the training of meditation instructors. Before moving to Vermont, he was a member of the firm of Sutherland, Asbill & Brennan, LLP (Atlanta), where he practiced for 28 years. He is a member of the Vermont and Georgia bar associations.

Registration is closed for this program.