mind contemplative neuroscience training for psychotherapists and mental health professionals
Dates: Thursdays, June 28th to August 16th
Times: From 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm
Hours: 20 hours
VENUE: The Mindfulness Clinic, 10 Merrion Square, Dublin 2
COST: €295.00 includes notes, CDs, therapeutic cards, certificate. This course is offered in the spirit of dana (generosity)
FACILITATOR: Gerry Cunningham, MIAHIP
As more and more therapists and mental health professionals are learning about interpersonal neurobiology and contemplative practices, there is an increasing desire to translate theoretical and philosophical principles into practical applications for use with clients.
Mind is a new 8-week programme which will help reinvigorate your practice as a mental health professional with the latest findings from neurobiology, contemplative science, and evidence-based psychotherapy. A broad range of psychological and interpersonal issues will be addressed including Bipolar Affective Disorder, attachment, emotion, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, personality disorder and interventions that offers a uniquely holistic, compassionate and integrative approach to mental health and wellbeing. Mind draws on a range of psychotherapeutic theories, including psychodynamic, cognitive behavioural, narrative, humanistic, existential, creative and mindfulness-based approaches. Mind will focus on the work of Richard Davidson, Allan Schore, Louis Cozolino, Janina Fisher, Stephen Porges, Sara Lazar, Daniel Siegel, Daniel Stern, Pat Ogden, Babette Rothschild and Shauna Shapiro.
Topics include:- The neurobiology of feeling safe, bottom-up processing, affect regulation, trauma-sensitive mindfulness, script and narrative formation, defensive and coping mechanisms, attunement and attachment, transpersonal and contemplative practice, neural integration, the social brain, neural plasticity, and the archaeology of mind.
Interventions include the therapeutic relationship, interpersonal, creative mindfulness-based applications and nurturing self-care. We will explore cognitive humanistic approaches and the attitudinal qualities of mindful-based therapy, including aspects of cognitive therapy, embodied cognition, metacognitive awareness, neuroscience and Buddhist psychology.
This training will guide participants in developing their own regular mindfulness practice whilst integrating it with their therapeutic and clinical work. The process of a mindfulness-based approach to psychotherapy is facilitated through mindfulness practice, lectures, and skills within the context of personal, interpersonal and group enquiry. The training group learns to cultivate and deepen awareness as a primary psychotherapeutic and transformative tool. This programme will explore the theory, research and essential skills, especially mindfulness and self-compassion for deliberately cultivating wisdom and compassion in psychotherapy.
“I want to express my sincere gratitude for the excellent presentation and content provided. I have attended many, many, many workshops over the years and this was one of the best presentations I have ever attended. You were incredibly generous with your time, commitment and handouts”. Counselling Psychologist, November 2015
“I just wanted to say how much I receive from participating in the group, and from experiencing you as a facilitator. I find the experience very nourishing, I slow down, and I connect with myself; Words fail to really describe the Experience. I want to thank you again for your integrity in what you do, for your wonderful presence, and for really embodying what mindfulness means”. Psychotherapist, December 2015
“I would like to thank you again for my recent wonderful training opportunity. When I signed up for the Post Graduate Certificate in Mindfulness-Based Approaches and Third Wave CBT Interventions I did not anticipate the training would be of such high caliber. Not only were the experiential elements very powerful and healing for me personally but you present them in a way that makes the exercises so practical and easy to use with clients. The personal qualities you bring as a trainer, such as your generosity with the excellent handouts, which will continue to be a valuable resource for me, and the sincerity and sacred presence you bring to your practice of mindfulness, as well as your vast knowledge and experience, combine to make this a really worthwhile course.” Psychotherapist, June 2017
Practice Meditation, class practice (pro-social practices including meditations on gratitude, generosity, compassion, acceptance, loving kindness, equanimity, and advanced techniques in helping clients reframe, reconsolidate and integrate new learning through mindfulness and visualization.
Process Inquiry, guided discovery, journaling, interpersonal dynamics and creative process using art, clay and visual media.
Reflection Reflective supervision on personal practice, casework, discussion
Seminar Interactive, experiential, group focused and collaborative learning
Research Reading, reflection, and discussion on current research and clinical integration of mindfulness into various practice settings. Monthly research emails with the latest research in mindfulness, neuroscience and contemplative practice.
Facilitator/Trainer: Gerry Cunningham has been extensively trained in Mindfulness-Based Approaches and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. He studied for three years at the Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford (Masters in MCBT and PG Diploma in CBT). He has trained in psychotherapy (Dublin City University) and Child and Adolescent Counselling and Psychotherapy (University of Cambridge, PG Diploma, Masters in Ed). He has a Masters in Spirituality, BA in Philosophy.
The Mindfulness Clinic, 10 Merrion Square, Dublin 2
“What a wonderful experience. Theory, sharing, learning, and experiential. True learning, deep integration and rich understanding with invaluable insights into the how, why, when, who and what type of interventions to use with different clients. A superb and deeply nourishing course of reflection on prior learning and linking theories with practices which will enrich my personal and professional life. Many thanks to the facilitator for his kindness, understanding, care, interest, and gentleness. What a privilege to attend this outstanding course.” Psychotherapist June 2017
“Very thorough, well prepared, generously resourced. Containment very strong. Good balance of thinking and experiential work” Psychotherapist June 2017
“What a wonderful course. Thank you. I highly recommend this training to others. I have hugely benefitted from the facilitators’ calm presence and the experiential aspect of the course. A deeply self-caring educational experience.” Psychotherapist 2017
