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Cultivating the Heart-mind with Mindfulness

A 2 Day Workshop about a Buddhist Approach to Mindfulness-Based Programs for Anxiety and Depression

plus

An optional Teacher-led Silent Day of Meditation

Register for this course.

Malcolm Huxter, Clinical Psychologist and Patrick Kearney, Buddhist meditation teacher and scholar of Buddhism.

This course is endorsed for 24 PD points by the APS' Counselling and Community Colleges.

Designed as a natural progression for the clinician, program leader, or student already familiar with mindfulness and related practices, this workshop blends the traditional and contemplative with the contemporary and clinical. Combining theory, practice and clinical utility through an exploration of the psychology and philosophy taught by the Buddha we will use presentations, interactive discussion and experiential exercises. An optional day of silent meditation follows the workshop as an opportunity to deepen personal understanding of mindfulness.

Aims of the workshop

• To enhance skills and understanding, as well as provide new ideas and discussion points, for therapists/program leaders who already use mindfulness as part of their therapeutic repertoire.
• To provide clarity about the contextual basis of mindfulness and related practices by highlighting their origins and development in Buddhist psychology/philosophy.
• To provide strategies for teaching mindfulness to clientele by referring to and guiding through some of the sessions of a 12 session empirically validated mindfulness-based program for stress, anxiety and depression.
• To provide access to practical resources that can be used with clients/patients.

Content of workshop As the workshop is not introductory, the workshop will focus on mindfulness of the heart/mind and phenomena (the third and fourth foundations of mindfulness), rather than the body (the first foundation of mindfulness). The serenity practices of loving kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy and equanimity will also be introduced.

All experiential exercises will be voluntary and some will involve gentle body movements (such as Tai Chi) and postures that involve lying down on the floor.

Though mindfulness-based programs can be adapted, tailored and utilised for individual therapy, the focus of the workshop will be on using mindfulness and related practices in group-based programs.

The contents will include:

• Review of the basics found in introductory workshops. That is, an overview of the four noble truths, the eight-fold path as therapy, the four foundations of mindfulness and the distinction between serenity and insight meditation practices.
• Understanding the cycle of dependent co-arising and applying this understanding clinically (e.g. “urge surfing”).
• Contemplating the heart/mind (the third foundation of mindfulness) as a way of transforming relationships with destructive thoughts and emotions.
• Presentation, discussion and experiential exercises in contemplating phenomena (the fourth foundation of mindfulness). This will include understanding the five obstacles to being present and the seven factors of awakening and learning how to apply this understanding in clinical practice.
• Using the sublime states (loving kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy and equanimity) as therapeutic serenity meditation practices.
• Guidance through the content of some of the latter sessions of a 12 session mindfulness-based program for stress, anxiety and depression.

Note: For clinicians seeking Professional Development points there is pre reading and meditation practice (see below for files) and post workshop evaluations to be completed. Pre-reading will be sent soon after registration.

Facilitators Patrick Kearney, meditation teacher. Malcolm Huxter, clinical psychologist.

Both Patrick and Mal have lived in S.E. Asia as fully ordained Buddhist monks.

Optional silent day of meditation. The silent day of practice is optional but highly recommended. It will follow the format of a day in a silent meditation retreat. There will be general instructions in meditation, mindfulness movements such as yoga/tai chi, both guided and silent meditation sessions, and some opportunities for questions and discussion.

Please Note: The silent meditation day is offered on a non-profit basis. In accordance with Buddhist traditions on these days the meditation teachers are supported by Dana which is best understood as involving the economy of the gift.

Information Sheet
Please click here to see brief information about the Cultivating the Heart-mind course. Information about the venue and parking/transport will be emailed to you during the week leading up to the course. Please let us know if you change your email address before then.

Pre-workshop Meditation Practice
Listen to Malcolm Huxter's Body Scan meditation file here (To download, move your mouse over the link , click the right mouse button, then choose 'Save Link As' or 'Save Target As')

Listen to Malcolm Huxter's Mindfulness of Breath meditation file here (To download, move your mouse over the link , click the right mouse button, then choose 'Save Link As' or 'Save Target As')

Next Courses
Adelaide, SA.
Workshop: 26 - 27 August 2010, 9am - 4.30pm
Silent Day of Meditation: 28 August, 9am - 4.30pm

Perth, WA.
Workshop: 16 - 17 September 2010, 9am - 4.30pm
Silent Day of Meditation: 18 September, 9am - 4.30pm

Brisbane, QLD.
Workshop: 21 - 22 October 2010, 9am - 4.30pm
Silent Day of Meditation: 23 October, 9am - 4.30pm

Sydney, NSW.
Workshop: 4 - 5 November 2010, 9am - 4.30pm
Silent Day of Meditation: 6 November, 9am - 4.30pm

Melbourne, VIC.
Workshop: 11 - 12 November 2010, 9am - 4.30pm
Silent Day of Meditation: 13 November, 9am - 4.30pm

Register for this course.