ESALEN INSTITUTE CONTINUING EDUCATION MFT/LEP/LPCC/LCSW

Leader Name: Ron Alexander

Workshop Title: Mind, Mood and Happiness: Transforming the Self Workshop Description: Studies in the fields of health psychology, neuroscience, and learned optimism confirm that people can learn to change their thinking and behavior in ways that enhance happiness and resiliency. For 2,500 years, the wisdom teachings of the East have utilized what their texts refer to as “skillful methods” for the study and transformation of the mind/body. These meditation and visualization practices help cultivate self-regulation through awareness, concentration, mindfulness, and other attention skills. This leads to clarity of mind, spaciousness of self, and greater compassion. Using techniques from modern positive psychology, mindfulness practices, neuroscience, creative thinking and non-dual teachings, participants will be taught skills to calm the mind, develop a mindful brain, regulate mind/body states, develop trust with the unconscious, and explore inner resources for activating creativity, vitality, and well-being. Methods include: • Meditating and practicing psychological skills to promote insight as well as create new neural pathways for healthy and creative brain development • Exploring natural mind/body healing rhythms (yogic exercises and somatic breathing methods) • Exploring Mindfulness & yogic practice and somatic expressive methods for amplification, containment, and release of painful feeling states • Discovering practices that promote loving-kindness and self-compassion (metta) These skills are especially applicable for both self-healing practices and for health care professionals in their work with patients. Recommended reading: Alexander, Wise Mind Open Mind: Finding Purpose and Meaning in Times of Crisis, Loss and Change; Fryba, The Art of Happiness: Teachings of Buddhist Psychology; Hanson, Hardwiring Happiness: The New Brain Science of Contentment.

Schedule: Session-by-Session CEU Syllabus

Total: Four Sessions / 10 CEU Class Hrs I) Friday Session, 8:30pm - 10:00pm (1.5 Class Hours) – Getting to know one another, Introductions, Centering Meditation, Introduction to western and eastern systems of mind, mood and happiness.

Saturday Morning, 8:30am. - 9:30am.- *BREAKFAST

II) Saturday Morning Session, 9:30am to 1:00pm (3.5 Class Hours) - Teachings of Mind from western and eastern systems. The psychobiology of mood, affect and how to direct positive energy flows. The exploration on how to tap into one’s unconscious inner resources to activate their creativity and vitality. Meal –1:00-2:00pm. - *LUNCH

III) Saturday Afternoon Session, 3:45pm -6:45pm (3 Class Hours)– Yoga and Somatic breathing exercises to explore natural mind/body healing rhythms. The theory of mindfulness based meditation for self care and patient care to reduce stress, cultivate positive emotions and promote a sense of well being.

Meal –Saturday Evening, 7:00pm – DINNER

IV) Sunday Morning Session, 9:30am – 11:30am (2 Class Hours) - Practice of breathe methods and healing meditations and visualizations for insight, wisdom and inner healing. Closing Circle: Promoting loving-kindness and self-compassion. COURSE OBJECTIVES

1. Apply more creative and resourceful skills in the treatment of trauma, pain and mood and somatic disorders.

2. Utilize mindfulness meditation and positive psychological skills to promote insight and create new neural pathways for healthy and creative brain development.

3. Observe demonstrations in mindfulness and breathing techniques that access the unconscious and its healing inner resources.

4. Practice Mindfulness, Somatic Practices, and Mind- Body Therapy exercises to access one’s core creativity, its function and purpose in integrating the body-mind.

This course meets the qualifications for 10 hours of continuing education credit for: LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and/or LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. Esalen is an approved provider of continuing education by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, CA BRN, APA, NCBTMB, and the California Board of Acupuncture. Esalen Institute maintains responsibility for this program and its content. You may contact us at CE@esalen.org. We encourage you to be in touch with our office with any grievances in a timely manner.