Gina M. Biegel – 3-Day Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Teens Interactive Training Course

Outline

PRINCIPLES OF MINDFULNESS-BASED STRESS REDUCTION FOR TEENS (MBSR-T)

• Program similarities and differences from adult MBSR and MBSR-T
• Theoretical foundations of MBSR-T
• Ethical and moral considerations
• The mindful clinician: impact on MBSR-T outcomes
• Cultural relevance

THE CURRICULUM—SESSION TAKE-AWAY’S

• Session 1-Examine adolescent stress and its relationship to utilizing mindfulness
• Session 2-Develop a personal mindfulness practice
• Session 3-Deepen present moment awareness through daily living
• Session 4-Cultivate self-care and awareness of positive experiences
• Session 5-Think mindfully and respond to life events
• Session 6-Learn to positively cope with difficult emotions
• Session 7-Build mindful communication in relationships
• Session 8-Integrate mindfulness into all aspects of life

EVIDENCED-BASED RESEARCH AND CLINICAL APPLICATIONS

• Effects on mental and physical conditions
• Research in clinical and educational settings
• The MAAS-A: the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale-Adolescent version
• MBSR-T adaptations in individual and family psychotherapy
• Neuroscience research – effects of MBSR and MBSR-T on the brain
• Core MBSR-T interventions
• Model of MBSR-T awareness of intention, attention and attitude
• MBSR-T mechanisms of change
• Understand and define mindfulness
• Personal goal-setting: letting-go and non-striving
• Formal and informal mindfulness practices
• Foundational formal practice – the body scan
• Develop a mindfulness practice

INTERVENTIONS FOR EARLY MINDFULNESS DEVELOPMENT

• Dropping-In practice: Body, breath and mind
• Mindfulness and the 5 senses
• Eating mindfully
• Define and explore stress from a teen’s perspective
• 4-Step mindful check-in
• Mindful qualities for daily living
• Present moment awareness of thoughts, feelings and actions
• Breath mindfully: taking ten breaths
• Body-scan practice
• Sitting practice
• Integrate mindfulness into teens daily routine
• Learn to be with positive and negative emotions

INTERVENTIONS TO IMPROVE EMOTION REGULATION AND METACOGNITION

• Mindful yoga, walking and movement
• Cultivate self-care: both client and clinician
• Heartfulness practice – deepening compassion
• Awareness of negative and positive experiences
• Pleasant and unpleasant moment’s calendar
• Decrease judgments and worries: working with anxiety
• Mindful stopping – decrease reactivity
• Taking a mindful pause—prevent impulsivity
• Railroad practice: train of thoughts
• Understand and utilize positive coping strategies
• Approach stress, pain and suffering
• Teens have control over stress: stress equals pain times blocking (S=PxB)
• Self-awareness calendar to track negative behaviors
• The harm awareness journal

BUILD SOCIAL SKILLS, COMMUNICATION AND RELATIONSHIP DEVELOPMENT

• Manage life events and associated stressors
• Mindful homework/test-taking
• 10 Tips to minimize homework and test-taking stress
• Mindful messaging in social media
• Using MI-messages and the different communication styles
• Mindful communication: listen and reflect
• Letting-go and the power of forgiveness
• Gratitude practice toward self and others
• Build trust: the trust exercise
• Bring mindfulness into home, school and community
• Build mindful relationships
• Reviewing and setting future goals
• Processing grief and loss