Holding the Heart of MBSR - Reflections & Adaptations

7/28/2019 Holding the Heart of MBSR - Reflections & Adaptations

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Holding the Heart of MBSR:

Reflection, Dialogue and Collaboration on Modification

or Adaptation of the 8-Week Program

Steven Hickman, UCSD Center for MindfulnessLynette Monteiro, Ottawa Mindfulness Clinic

Allan Goldstein, UCSD Center for Mindfulness

CFM Conference March 28, 2012


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"As I reflect on it now, from the very beginning therewas for me one primaryand compelling reason for

attempting to bring mindfulness into themainstreamof society. That was to relieve sufferingand catalyse greater compassion andwisdom inour lives and culture. In my view, it is still the

primary benefit that willaccrue to us if themomentum continues, and the investigation and

adaptation ofmindfulness writ large . . . succeeds inmaintainingits full depth, integrity, and potential."

- Jon Kabat-Zinn, 2011

Kabat-Zinn, J. Some Reflections on the Origins of MBSR, Skillful Means, and the TroubleWith Maps Contemporary Buddhism, Vol. 12, No. 1, May 2011


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OUR INTENTION

Good MBSR AdaptationDoesn't Have to be an Accident

Co-creation and collaboration with your input andparticipation

Clarifying the ways in which MBSR may be modified oradapted

Exploring a way of considering such modifications in light ofwhat we know about the power and potential of MBSR

Closing with a guide for moving forward with compassion,passion and kindness


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just the kind of dialogue necessary to

remind us all of the need for both fidelity

and imagination in furthering the work of

the dharma in the world in an ever-widening circle of settings and

circumstances . . .

- Kabat-Zinn, J. (2011)


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OUR AGENDA or not Laying out a systematic way to look at the heart of MBSR (four

chambers)

Articulating a way of considering and evaluating modifications Testing the proposed format for evaluation with a test case (reliabilitytest) and incorporate feedback into a second iteration of the format Piloting the revised format with another test case or two (derived from

examples provided by attendees)

Summarizing lessons learned and future directions which may include an ongoing discussion solicitation of additional input from other experts a possible journal article, blog or other publication


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The Heart of MBSRAccident rules every corner of the universe . . .

except perhaps the chambers of the human heart.

David Guterson - Snow Falling on Cedars


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THE FOUR CHAMBERS OF THE HEART

OF MBSR

Form 8 weeks with one all day session 2-2 hours each session In person Meditation opens each session Yoga or mindful movements Some didactic teaching Use of poetry Inquiries are reflective and appreciative


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OF MBSR

Content (Themes supported by activities) Interconnectedness & moment-to-moment

awareness (1)

Perception and creative responding (2)

Pleasant events (3) Unpleasant events and reactivity (4) Reacting & responding to stress (5) Communication skills (6) Moving out of self-destructive patterns (7) Keeping up the momentum (8)


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OF MBSR

Teacher attends with care and intentionality to how we are actually living our lives,

both personally and professionally, in terms of ethical behaviour

carries the responsibility to ensure its integrity, quality, and standards ofpractice

participates in long, teacher-led retreats which are a laboratoryrequirement: to cultivate awareness

understands it can be hugely helpful to have a strong personal grounding inthe Buddhadharma and its teachings yet only bringing the essence into theclassroom

Adapted from Jon Kabat-Zinn (2011)

Training expectations (Oasis) Formal MBSR training

Personal development Daily meditation practice and retreats Yoga or body work Graduate degree in psychology, education, medicine or field of

mind-body understanding and service work


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THE FOUR CHAMBERS OF THE HEART OF MBSR

I myself am entirely made of flaws, stitched together with good intentions

~Augusten Burroughs

Intention(Jon Kabat-Zinn, 2011) "The intention was for it to be commonsensical, relevant and accessible enough

to benefit potentially anybody who might

beoverwhelmed by suffering and sufficientlymotivated to undertake a certain degreeof hard

work in the form of a daily mindfulness practice inthe laboratories of theMBSR programme and of life

itself."


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INTENTIONS


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Motivations for Adapting Population

Clinical (Depression, Trauma, Chronic pain/illness, EatingDisorders, Chemical Dependency, Dementias)

Nonclinical (coaching, adjustment, well being) Occupational (military, paramilitary, medical, graduate students,

athletes, business professionals) Special needs & sites (speech, hearing, mobility, prison) Age & gender (women, elderly, teens)

Time Unlimited (8-week; 2-2.5 hours each; all day session) Limited (4-5 weeks, 5 days; 2.25 hrs, 4.25 hrs; no all day session)

Theme Stress

Clinical Syndrome (Depression, Anxiety, Trauma, &PTSD,Addictions)

Symptom Management (Chronic Illnesses, Burnout) Relapse Prevention (Addiction, Depression, etc.)


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The Four Chambers

IntentionTeacherFormContent


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In This Moment of Adapting

Who am I

Who is doing the adapting


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And there was also the fact of being inlove with the beauty, simplicity, and

universality of the dharma, and coming to

see it as a worthy and meaningful pathwayfor a life well lived, a life of devotion to the

potential for awakening and the alleviation

of suffering, and thus, full circle to theoriginal motivation.- Kabat-Zinn, J. (2011)


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Documents

Holding the Heart of MBSR - Reflections & Adaptations