About the Program
INTRODUCTION TO MEDITATION AND MINDFULNESS
Saturday October 5th, 2019
9:00 am - 12:00 pm (Registration begins at 8:30 am)
3 CE credits for Mental Health Professionals
3 PDPs for Educators (if attended other workshops totaling at least 10 hours combined*)
This workshop will provide introductory information about optimizing mental performance and cultivating beneficial states of mind. Participants will learn about how meditation/mindfulness, brain health, physical activity and relationships change the brain and improve our mental well-being. Participants will leave with an introduction to effective ways of cultivating their mental state and overall well-being in a way that can be integrated into their busy lives. Practices include sitting and walking meditation, mindful movement, awareness of breath, and body scan.
The introductory meditation techniques presented are designed to foster stable attention, quiet the mind and foster non-judgmental present moment awareness. These exercises provide the necessary mental control and states of mind necessary for developing more advanced meditative practices and cultivating higher states of mind including calm abiding (shamatha) characterized by stable attention, powerful mindfulness, joy, tranquility, equanimity and insight (or vipassana).
The objectives are for participants to be able to: describe optimal mental performance and beneficial states of mind; explain fundamentals of meditation and practice formal and informal mindfulness; discuss current research about how meditation and mindfulness practices change the brain and improve mental well-being; and recognize the direct benefits of meditation and mindfulness to clinical work by improving clinicians’ mindful communication skills, increased focus and engagement with patients, reducing clinicians’ stress and anxiety, and teaching introductory meditation/mindfulness skills to patients.
Saturday October 5th, 2019
9:00 am - 12:00 pm (Registration begins at 8:30 am)
3 CE credits for Mental Health Professionals
3 PDPs for Educators (if attended other workshops totaling at least 10 hours combined*)
This workshop will provide introductory information about optimizing mental performance and cultivating beneficial states of mind. Participants will learn about how meditation/mindfulness, brain health, physical activity and relationships change the brain and improve our mental well-being. Participants will leave with an introduction to effective ways of cultivating their mental state and overall well-being in a way that can be integrated into their busy lives. Practices include sitting and walking meditation, mindful movement, awareness of breath, and body scan.
The introductory meditation techniques presented are designed to foster stable attention, quiet the mind and foster non-judgmental present moment awareness. These exercises provide the necessary mental control and states of mind necessary for developing more advanced meditative practices and cultivating higher states of mind including calm abiding (shamatha) characterized by stable attention, powerful mindfulness, joy, tranquility, equanimity and insight (or vipassana).
The objectives are for participants to be able to: describe optimal mental performance and beneficial states of mind; explain fundamentals of meditation and practice formal and informal mindfulness; discuss current research about how meditation and mindfulness practices change the brain and improve mental well-being; and recognize the direct benefits of meditation and mindfulness to clinical work by improving clinicians’ mindful communication skills, increased focus and engagement with patients, reducing clinicians’ stress and anxiety, and teaching introductory meditation/mindfulness skills to patients.
About the Facilitators
Dr. Michael Cirillo is a board-certified clinical neuropsychologist who also has an active meditation and mindfulness practice and regularly utilizes mindfulness practices in his clinical work. He is a founding partner of Cornerstone Behavioral Health, a full service mental health and assessment clinic located in Worcester, MA.
Robert Lenhardt, LICSW, trained in the MBSR practicum at the UMass Center for Mindfulness in 2005, and regularly coaches his psychotherapy clients on mindfulness practices to alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Dr. Bertha Elena Rojas is a clinical neuropsychologist and educator. She is the founder and CEO of Humanity Advanced, LLC, which provides consulting services and trainings to schools and organizations in the areas of Education Equity, Bilingual Education, Social-Emotional Learning, Parent Engagement and Cultural Competency.
Zayda Vallejo, M.Litt, is a Certified Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) instructor and has been teaching mindfulness interventions for professionals and for the general public in English and Spanish for more than 18 years.
CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS
The HeartWell Institute is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists, and by the MA Department of Education to award professional development credits for educators* (*some restrictions apply). Continuing education credits for Licensed Social Workers and for Licensed Mental Health Counselors have been applied for.
*Professional Development Credits (PDPs) for Educators:
Massachusetts educators are eligible to receive PDPs by attending more than one workshop where the total of hours adds up to at least 10 hours. For more information or questions, please email ctmspkr@gmail.com.
The HeartWell Institute maintains responsibility for this workshop and its content. There is no known commercial support for this program or conflict of interest with the speakers.
*Professional Development Credits (PDPs) for Educators:
Massachusetts educators are eligible to receive PDPs by attending more than one workshop where the total of hours adds up to at least 10 hours. For more information or questions, please email ctmspkr@gmail.com.
The HeartWell Institute maintains responsibility for this workshop and its content. There is no known commercial support for this program or conflict of interest with the speakers.
EVENT INFORMATION
Registration: To register, click on the "Add to Cart" button above and follow the prompts.
Refund Policy: Full refunds minus a $15.00 administrative fee are available up to the day before of the event. To cancel registration and request a refund, please email ctmspkr@gmail.com.
Event Location: All events are held at the HeartWell Institute unless otherwise specified. The HeartWell Institute is located at 1015 Pleasant Street, Worcester, MA 01602. The HeartWell Institute's parking is accessible via Moreland Street off Pleasant Street. Once on Moreland Street take a left into Biltmore Road. The HeartWell Institute and parking are located at the end of the street. You may input 10 Biltmore Road, Worcester, MA 01602 into your GPS to access the parking behind the building.
Refund Policy: Full refunds minus a $15.00 administrative fee are available up to the day before of the event. To cancel registration and request a refund, please email ctmspkr@gmail.com.
Event Location: All events are held at the HeartWell Institute unless otherwise specified. The HeartWell Institute is located at 1015 Pleasant Street, Worcester, MA 01602. The HeartWell Institute's parking is accessible via Moreland Street off Pleasant Street. Once on Moreland Street take a left into Biltmore Road. The HeartWell Institute and parking are located at the end of the street. You may input 10 Biltmore Road, Worcester, MA 01602 into your GPS to access the parking behind the building.