Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) is one research-based way to improve attention, recognize reacting, and build responding abilities. Among those in high stress professions, evidence supports mindfulness instruction as a tool in flexible and adaptive responding (i.e. resilience) in high stress situations.
In part, because what we teach is used where stress occurs – everywhere. The skills learned through MindAble instruction are inexpensive, generalizable, and require no baseline level of knowledge or skill. Each individual benefits in the reduction of work stress, but also in the reduction of the unique stressors he or she brings into the workplace.
"I felt like the training and coaching you gave us helped us be a cohesive unit. I believe your tips and guidance thru the workshops you facilitated we now have the tools and knowledge we can apply naturally and purposefully to our team. Your interactive role playing gave us a sense of real everyday scenarios and showed us how to relate to new members. I learned so much and now have better tools to communicating and engaging with my team." - Helen W.
Kelly and Stephanie both rely on daily meditation and mindfulness practices to juggle life's daily happenings. At different ages and stages of life, they form a unique partnership. Kelly and Stephanie both graduated from University of Kansas, School of Social Welfare. Stephanie completed a post-masters fellowship program in Clinical Social Work at The Menninger Clinic. Kelly completed her doctoral degree in Therapeutic Science from University of Kansas Medical Center. She is the author of a number of articles. Both Kelly and Stephanie teach mindfulness-based stress reduction and other mindfulness-based interventions, co-facilitate group processing discussions after distressing events, lead group meditation, and provide family systems therapy. Both trained with University of Massachusetts instructors in lecture, practice, and teacher development settings as a requirement of teaching mindfulness-based stress reduction. Each also attends a week-long silent retreat each year.
I started out like many folks in high stress professions. The go-to caregiver in my family, I gravitated to jobs focused on learning how to understand what other people were going through, specifically people with disabilities. What I was really good at? Staying calm and teaching others to stay calm in the midst of what seemed like out-of-control behaviors and situations. Moving into healthcare, I again drew upon those same skills. What I practiced then and now is the foundation for my work at MindAble: People often do better in a community of all sorts of people like and unlike them. Community connection surprises and propels people to share how similar joys and struggles may be. People need opportunities to practice and build their own wisdom. People change decision by decision.
My high stress profession began in the home when I had 5 children in 13 years and worked full time managing a busy law office. When my last child was born, I knew I needed to find a way to "be," better, calmer, more centered, less fractured, less overwhelmed. Bringing awareness to my state of being allowed me to open up to learning the skills I depend on and use everyday. As I moved into the high stress profession of healthcare, the skills of bringing awareness to what was happening in the present moment, labeling thoughts and emotions and pausing were invaluable. These skills are the foundation of the work I do at MindAble: Practicing skills with others can support and enhance learning, while also building community. Bringing awareness to what is here right now, in the present moment, allows opportunity to make choices and decisions based on fact, not on past experiences or future worries. This is powerful and life-changing.
Seeking decreased personal and professional stress, increased work satisfaction, and improved relationships? If so, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is for you.
MBSR enhances attention and supports present moment focus. So, this class may be for you if you often hear: "Did you hear me?", "You're here but you're not here.", or "Put down the phone/ipad/laptop/remote!"
1 HR INTRODUCTORY TALK
8 WEEK MBSR
2 DAY cMBSR
4 DAY cMBSR
MULTI-DAY WORKSHOPS
30 DAYS OF MINDFULNESS PRACTICE
Half day, full day and multi-day retreats also available; as well as consulting services to integrate mindfulness into existing programs and processes.
A Simple Way to Break A Bad Habit TED Talk
History and Explanation of MBSR umassmed.edu
An Introduction to Lovingkindness Meditation Sharon Salzberg and Dan Harris YouTube video
Training the Brain to Be More Attentive: How Elite Athletes, Military Personnel, and Others Perform Better Under Stress canetalks.miami.edu
The Scientific Power of Meditation YouTube video
Online resource that they call "the place to go for insight, information, and inspiration to help us all live more mindfully". mindful.org
Great mobile and web app to help people meditate. stopbreathethink.org
Insight Timer mobile app insighttimer.com
Mindfulness is a Super Power YouTube video