MINDFULNESS

Professional Certificate in the Therapeutic Use of Mindfulness

Facilitated by Padraig O’Morain

3 Mondays: 14, 21 & 28 May 2012 (9.3am to 4pm each day)

COURSE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 

The value of mindfulness in therapy has been espoused by such figures as Dr Tony Bates, former principal clinical psychologist at St James’s Hospital and Dr John Kabat Zinn, founder and director of the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Clinic at the University of Massachusetts Medical Centre. Mindfulness is increasingly recognised as a valuable intervention in counselling internationally. In the field of medicine, more Irish doctors now recommend mindfulness to patients. Millions of people around the world practice mindfulness to enhance their experience of living.

Put simply, mindfulness involves continually returning your awareness to your present-moment stream of experience in a non-judgmental way. This very simple approach, though at odds with our normal way of thinking, can be very helpful to people suffering loss, anxiety, stress, depression and other aspects of the human condition.

This course is intended for practitioners in counselling and in mental health generally who would like to add mindfulness to the range of interventions available to them for helping clients and who would like to use mindfulness in their own lives. The course is meant to introduce participants to the practice of mindfulness; to help them to deepen their practice if they already use mindfulness; and to teach participants, through theory and role-play, to use mindfulness with clients. Participants will gain a rewarding life skill and a valuable tool for intervention.

COURSE CONTENT:

• Definitions and purpose of mindfulness
• Exploration of the use of mindfulness with clients.
• Exploration of the use of mindfulness in your own life.
• Consideration of the scope and limitations of mindfulness as a therapeutic tool.
• Opportunities to role-play in triads as therapist, client and observer using participants’ own case work.
• Opportunities to practice mindfulness during the course days and guidelines for practice at other times.
• An introduction to the basics of Buddhist psychology from which mindfulness  emerged
• Understanding how Buddhist psychology \’fits\’ with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and other Western approaches

COURSE STRUCTURE:

The core ethos of IICP is to provide a student centred, warm and supportive learning environment. The programme is highly interactive, experiential and taught through lectures, small group work, role-play and assignments. The basic text for the course will be Padraig O’Morain’s book Light Mind, mindfulness for daily living which includes a special chapter for counsellors and mental health workers. A copy of this book will be supplied to participants and the cost is included in the fee.

SCHEDULE OF DATES:

1. Monday 14 May 2012                 9.30am to 4pm (registration from 9am)
2. Monday 21 May 2012                 9.30am to 4pm
3. Monday 28 May 2012               9.30am to 4pm

INSTRUCTOR

Padraig O\’Morain, M.A. (Creative Writing), B.Sc. (Psychology), Dip. Counselling & Psychotherapy, Certificate in Buddhist Psychology, Certificate in Choice Theory. Padraig is a counsellor, broadcaster and columnist with The Irish Times, The Irish Medical News and The Evening Herald. His books include Light Mind, mindfulness for daily living (Veritas 2009), Like A Man, a guide to men\’s emotional well-being (Veritas 2007) and Health of the Nation, a history of the Irish health service 1957-2007 (Gill & Macmillan). He has used mindfulness in his own life and with clients for almost two decades. He has taught mindfulness to nurses, doctors, search and rescue crew, trade union officials and public audiences. He has been training counsellors in mindfulness for some years. He has lectured at the Institute for Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy on the Diploma in Counselling course. He publishes a monthly e-newsletter on mindfulness.

AWARD:

Professional Certificate in Therapeutic Use of Mindfulness.

Awarding body: Institute of Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy.

Attendance at all training days is necessary to qualify for the award of the Certificate

VENUE

IICP Education and Training, Killinarden Enterprise Park, Killinarden, Dublin 24

COST: €250.00

Places are limited and allocated on a first come first served basis.

Mindfulness Course May 2012