Upcoming Courses

24th Annual Summer Seminars: Meditation and Mindfulness in Clinical Practice: Enhancing Treatment Effectiveness and Personal Wellbeing

Christopher K. Germer, MD

August 26, 2013 – August 30, 2013 | Martha's Vineyard, Edgartown, MA | Harbor View Hotel and Resort More Information

Meditation is currently one of the most widely researched treatment methods. It is a systematic method of regulating attention and emotion-beneficial skills for alleviating mental and physical disorders in patients, and for enhancing the wellbeing of clinicians and cultivating positive attitudes associated with patient care.

But what is meditation exactly? What is mindfulness? How do we integrate meditation into psychotherapy, especially in the treatment of anxiety, depression, trauma, and couples therapy? What scientific evidence supports its use and what are the contraindications? This program is an up-to-date review of the theory and practice of meditation from its ancient origins to modern brain science and psychotherapy. Participants with no meditation experience, as well as seasoned practitioners, will find this course helpful in their clinical work.

This course is designed so that participants will be able to:
  • Identify the three main forms of meditation: concentration, mindfulness, and compassion and know when to apply them in clinical settings;
  • Discuss the mechanisms of action in meditation that appear to underlie positive therapeutic change, such as attention regulation, emotion regulation, and self-compassion;
  • Explain how mindfulness and acceptance-based treatment is grounded in empirically-supported psychotherapy;
  • Describe new research findings on mind/brain training through meditation;
  • Customize meditation practices for individual patients, i.e., those with anxiety, depression, trauma, psychophysiological disorders, and for couples in conflict;
  • Apply the practices and principles of meditation to enhance the therapeutic relationship and personal wellbeing.

Additional Information

Fees

Monday – Friday: 9:00 am – 12:15 pm

Beth Israel Deaconess Department of Psychiatry Foundation, Inc./Contact Hours: 15

Accreditation:

The Harvard Medical School is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The Harvard Medical School designates this live activity for a maximum of 15 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Psychologists: The Continuing Education Program at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, a major teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School is approved by the American Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. The Continuing Education Program at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, a major teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

Counselors: The Continuing Education Program at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, a major teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School continuing education is an NBCC Approved Continuing Provider (ACEP) and may offer NBCC approved clock hours for events that meet NBCC requirements. The Week Long Summer Seminars for a maximum of 15 clock hours and the Weekend Summer Seminars for a maximum of 10 clock hours. The ACEP solely is responsible for all aspects of the program.

Social Workers: For information on the status of the application to the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, please call 617-754-1265 or email: sjruiz@bidmc.harvard.edu.

Nurses: This summer program meets the specifications of the Board of Registration in Nursing (244 CMR).

CHRISTOPHER K. GERMER, PhD is a Clinical Instructor in Psychology at Harvard Medical School and a founding member of the Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy. He has been integrating the principles and practices of meditation into psychotherapy since 1978. Dr. Germer lectures nationally and internationally on mindfulness and self-compassion. He is co-editor of Mindfulness and Psychotherapy andWisdom and Compassion in Psychotherapy: Deepening Mindfulness in Clinical Practice. Dr. Germer is also author of The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion.