News - The MiCBT Institute: Mindfulness-ntegrated Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Treatment Training Research

MiCBT Institute Newsletter: Vol 2. August 2010

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -1000

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

I hope you will find this newsletter and the related peer-reviewed article informative and interesting (see below to download).
I use this opportunity to welcome warmly all the new Institute members!

Kind regards
Bruno Cayoun
Director

MTRIG Meeting 4 August 2010

Interest group meetings in Southern Tasmania are held at the MiCBT Institute building and start with a short mindfulness meditation practice.

For full details of meeting, click here

Date: Wednesday 04/08/10
Time: 6:00 to 7:30pm
Place: MiCBT Institute Building (Top floor) 277 Macquarie St, Hobart, TAS, Australia

Article for Discussion: (Thanks to Alice Shires for providing this reference):
"Training Teachers to Deliver Mindfulness-Based Interventions: Learning from the UK Experience" (click to download) By Rebecca S. Crane^,Willem Kuyken^,Richard P. Hastings, Neil Rothwell & J. Mark G. Williams
Published in April 2010 in peer reviewed journal: Mindfulness, 1, 74-86.

Comment by B. A. Cayoun

In this article, the authors set out criteria for mindfulness teacher competence and training steps, as well as some of the challenges and future directions that can be anticipated in ensuring that evidence based mindfulness approaches are available in health care and other settings. The authors put forward four important skills and attributes that reflect efficient mindfulness teachers. Interestingly, these reflect the main principles and processes that form the basis for the new nationally accredited Vocational Graduate Diploma course in MiCBT, which will soon be offered by the MiCBT Institute.
This article is very interesting because it shows that whether one is a training provider in the UK working with MBCT or in Australia working with MiCBT, the observations are similar and the same principles that guide mindfulness-based therapy professional courses can be universally applied despite their difference of content. A must read for all mindfulness-based therapy professionals.

Next Meeting 6 October 2010

NEWS

Vocational Graduate Diploma in MiCBT

With the specialised experience of Psychologist Sally Francis in setting and assessing professional education programs, and in consultation with Psychologists Alice Shires and Bruno Cayoun, the MiCBT Institute will soon be able to offer the Vocational Graduate Diploma in MiCBT! The course duration may vary between one and two years, depending of applicants' initial experience and competencies. We are planning to offer e-learning opportunities for some of the course requirements in the hope to facilitate long-distance learning.

MiCBT Courses in Brisbane and Hobart

The 8-week applied MiCBT course has just commenced in Brisbane. All participants are mental health professionals dedicated to learn and apply MiCBT in their work.

The Hobart course will begin in September and all places have been filled for several weeks. We are unfortunately unable to provide applied training in Tasmania until next at the earliest. However, the Graduate Diploma course will be an option which clinicians will be able to consider undertaking sooner.

Reminder: MiCBT Research Needing your Participation

Marise Fallon's Master Thesis, at the University of Tasmania, will investigate 3 important aspects of mindfulness training; mindfulness of breath (MOB), body scanning (BS) and informal practice (IP) of mindfulness in daily actions. An important and yet unanswered question is the differential benefits that each of these techniques produce. The study promises to help clarify what best mechanisms of action should be emphasised during training. Marise will need all the mindfulness meditation-naive participants she can get and your help in attending or referring someone will be greatly valued. The study will involve free attendance to an 8-week mindfulness course, as delivered in the standard MiCBT program, but excluding the CBT techniques usually integrated with Mindfulness-integrated Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. Contact: mlfallon@postoffice.utas.edu.au

Reminder: MiCBT Users Groups

Following the completion of the 8-week MiCBT course in Melbourne, Dr Andrew Kinsella started a Yahoo MiCBT Users Group -http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/MiCBTusers/
All MiCBT-trained practitioners can join in for discussions and exchange information and documents. You are encouraged to use it as much as you need.
Please email the moderator and he will reply with an invitation to join in: andrewk1901@gmail.com

MiCBT Groups for Clients

If you are interested in having a client group conducted in your service, either as a pilot trial or as part of your clinical program and/or professional training program, please contact: admin@mindfulness.net.au.

It may be possible for a MiCBT-accredited clinician in your area to conduct such a group.

Enough! A buddhist approach to finding relief from addictive patterns

This book by Chönyi Taylor is a hands on guide to help put an end to the patterns that sabotage the potential for a true and satisfying happiness. All of us are caught up in addictions-big or small. Enough! presents a practical path that releases us from the grip of negative habits and addictions that block a full and meaningful life. With the right techniques we can disarm these habits and learn more effective ways for dealing with the pain that so often underlies our problem-causing behaviors. Chönyi Taylor fuses the teachings of Buddhism with Western psychology in an effective series of practical exercises that were developed in her workshops. Enough! is intended for anyone who is looking for a powerful and effective way out of addiction, regardless of religious or secular background, and is suitable for self-study or as part of a guided program.

Chönyi Taylor [Dr. Diana Taylor], BSc, MEd, PhD, MAPS, was ordained as a Buddhist nun by the Dalai Lama in 1995. Active in the worlds of both Buddhism and Western psychology, she teaches Buddhism from simple to advanced levels, participates in interfaith conferences and workshops for psychologists and health professionals, and has an ongoing column in Mandala magazine.

"Chönyi Taylor has given us a thorough, detailed, and systematic approach to dealing with addictions and the negative emotions that fuel them. Enough! is a significant contribution to the integration of Buddhism into Western psychology and psychotherapy." -Ron Leifer, M.D.

"The Buddha's eight-step enlightenment program has a lot to say about freeing us from overwhelming attachments and other habitual patterns, and Chönyi Taylor has the experience and know-how to communicate this well. Her accessible and savvy hands-on guide is profound in applying spiritual principles of awareness cultivation for reconditioning the heart and mind through a skillful combination of practical psycho-spiritual exercises and insightful introspection. I heartily recommend this to all those struggling to become healthier and happier, more balanced, sane and liberated." -Lama Surya Das, author of Letting Go of the Person

Click here for more information

Free Mindfulness Meditation Group

A weekly practice group is taking place every on Thursday in Hobart, Tasmania (Australia), at the Newdegate Street Health Centre, from 6:15 to 7:00pm (last room, top floor). The address is: 107 Newdegate Street, but we use the Mellifont Street (side) entrance. Attendees arrive from 6:00pm. It is free (courtesy of Dr Janeil Hall) and all are welcome to attend. Although brief practice instructions are given at the start of practice, note that this is not a therapy group or teaching group and everyone attending is assumed to have had some prior training or exposure to mindfulness meditation. Therapists who implement a mindfulness-based therapy are particularly encouraged to attend these weekly practice groups to keep in touch with their own practice skills and feel supported.

Snapshot - Lyn Roubos

Lyn Roubos,Consultant Psychologist, Private Practice & Sexual Health, Cairns, North QLD

When Bruno asked me to write something for this edition, in January this year, I agreed willingly, as it seemed months away. When he reminded me by e-mail this past week that he needed my snapshot by this weekend, I find myself challenged by what to write...READ MORE>>

Hobart: Applied MiCBT Course for Professionals

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -1000

Commencing September 18 2010
The main aim of this comprehensive 8-week course is to provide clinicians and support staff with a sound understanding of MiCBT principles and the necessary skills to implement them confidently in their clinical work. During each session, participants will also receive professional supervision to assist with their application of MiCBT skills with their specific client population, addressing issues of particular interest....READ MORE>>

Canberra: Introduction to MiCBT for Crisis Intervention and Relapse Prevention

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -1000

Saturday 23 October 2010
The aim of this 1-day workshop is to introduce a way of integrating mindfulness training with core principles of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy to improve our way of addressing crisis and prevent relapse in a wide range of psychological disorders. It will describe the neurobehavioural theoretical framework underlying MiCBT and help participants feel confident to use mindfulness training with their clients.

The workshop will provide opportunities to practise mindfulness skills under the guidance of an experienced teacher, so that theory and personal experience are made consistent.
This introductory workshop is open to all clinicians, students and researchers involved in mental health...READ MORE>>

ACPA-NZCCP Joint Conference 23-24 October 2010

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -1000

October 23rd-24th, 2010:
The Australian Clinical Psychology Association and New Zealand College of Clinical Psychologists will be hosting a joint conference to be held at the University of Sydney: ‘Working at depth: Navigating below the symptoms'. A day of presentations with the inaugural ACPA AGM followed by a day's selection of Workshops, including an Introduction to MiCBT.

Click here for official conference program

New Zealand: Introduction to MiCBT for Professionals

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -1000

Mindfulness-Integrated Cognitive Behaviour Therapy: An Introduction for Professionals' workshop

‘Mindfulness-Integrated Cognitive Behaviour Therapy: An Introduction for Professionals' is a three day workshop presented by Dr Bruno A. Cayoun, on 5 - 7 November 2010, and hosted by the NZCCP Canterbury branch in Christchurch. Please go to the link above to download a flier and registration form for this workshop.

FOLLOW THIS LINK TO REGISTER FOR THIS WORKSHOP ONLINE

MTRIG Meeting August 2010

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -1000

1. Research Article for Discussion

"Training Teachers to Deliver Mindfulness-Based Interventions: Learning from the UK Experience"

By Rebecca S. Crane¹, Willem Kuyken² Richard P. Hastings¹, Neil Rothwell ³ & J. Mark G. Williams⁴

¹Centre for Mindfulness Research and Practice, School of Psychology, Bangor University, Gwynedd LL57 1UT, UK

²Mood Disorders Centre, School of Psychology, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QG, UK

³Adult Psychology Service, NHS Forth Valley, Falkirk & District Royal Infirmary, Falkirk FK1 5QE, UK

⁴Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, Oxford University, Oxford OX3 7JX, UK

Published in April 2010 in peer reviewed journal: Mindfulness, 1, 74-86.

Comment by B. A. Cayoun

In this article, the authors set out criteria for mindfulness teacher competence and training steps, as well as some of the challenges and future directions that can be anticipated in ensuring that evidence based mindfulness approaches are available in health care and other settings. The authors put forward four important skills and attributes that reflect efficient mindfulness teachers. Interestingly, these reflect the main principles and processes that form the basis for the new nationally accredited Vocational Graduate Diploma course in MiCBT, which will soon be offered by the MiCBT Institute. This article is very interesting because it shows that whether one is a training provider in the UK working with MBCT or in Australia working with MiCBT, the observations are similar and the same principles that guide mindfulness-based therapy professional courses can be universally applied despite their difference of content. A must read for all mindfulness-based therapy professionals.

2. Peer Review / Case Discussion

Cases may be evoked by attendee as part of the proposed discussion topic (below).

3. Proposed Discussion Topic

Judy Maplestone will present on her experience at the recent Faith & Positive Psychology Conference at Geelong Grammar School, where both mindfulness and Christian meditation topics were discussed.

APS PD Points and Meetings
Psychologists who attend these meetings can claim 1.5 specialist or generalist PD points (now called "CPD hours"), depending on the nature of content.
You may also wish to be a contact person to create your own meetings in your area

Snapshot: Lyn Roubos

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -1000

My first exposure to MiCBT was in 2008 after a weekend seminar in Atherton, Far North Queensland with Bruno, which then led to an 8 week MiCBT training course the following year. I have been practicing as a psychologist since 1998; however my experience as a therapist began some years earlier in 1989. My attraction to MiCBT operates at several levels. As a therapist, I strive to be congruent in my life and work, and mindfulness meditation, as a personal practice, provides a very real and tangible way to maintain my connection to this strong value. In addition, the Eastern philosophies of acceptance and change, inherent in the model, feed a personal font of optimism around how I engage with my internal and external world and with the worlds of my clients. Nevertheless, one of the most exciting rewards for me is my own journey with this therapy has been the results that are achieved by clients that engage with MiCBT, and this on its own would be enough to keep me immersed in the model.

I live with my partner Colin and our 2 cats in Cairns, Far North Queensland, and work 2 days a week as a Psychologist in Sexual Health and 1 day in private practice, with the remaining time given over to my studies. In these working roles, I am inspired by the clinically significant behavioural and immunological changes in clients with significant health co-morbidities including HIV, Hepatitis C, Diabetes, and Cardiac Disease when they engage with MiCBT. I see so many opportunities to further expand our collective knowledge about the application of mindfulness to these problems. All in all, it is a very exciting time to be engaged in this work.

I have spent the last 6 months completely immersed in the practice of MiCBT. From January to March this year, I undertook a 3 month practicum at the MiCBT Institute in Hobart as part of my ongoing studies in a Masters of Clinical Psychology. During this period, Bruno and I delivered a MiCBT group program for people in the community with mixed difficulties, with Bruno delivering the weekly group sessions and I meeting with participants individually for 10 weeks. I received ongoing supervision from Bruno throughout this period and administrative and organisational support from Karen in the Practice. For me, it was a unique opportunity to work within a single model framework and develop a depth of expertise, rarely accessible in ‘usual' practicum options.

Currently, I am working towards the completion of a thesis, which seeks to explore the differences between group and individual delivery of MiCBT utilising outcome measures including the Symptoms Checklist-90 (Revised Edition), the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale, the Short Progress Assessment, the Mindfulness-based Self Efficacy Scale and the Satisfaction with Life Scale. Some of the hypotheses generated through this comparison relate to the effects of group dynamics on motivation to engage in formal practice, and whether the severity of symptoms influences outcomes in either delivery format. My hope is to complete this research this year and to this end, I have just completed my latest round of data collection in Hobart.

I would welcome opportunities to participate further in this dialogue with like minded colleagues and look forward to sharing anything useful that derives from my current research. I can be contacted on Lyn.Roubos@gmail.com . I also thank Bruno for this opportunity and his ongoing sensitive and elegant mentoring.

N.B. I have closed my books for the remainder of 2010 but would be delighted to receive new referrals from the beginning of 2011.

MiCBT Course for Pain, Anxiety, Stress and Depresion - Burnie TAS

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -1000

Mindfulness-integrated Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Chronic Pain, Anxiety, Stress and Depression.

When: Wednesday 14th July 2010 -1st September 2010. Workshops will be held from 2pm-4pm Wednesdays

Where: Oakleigh House, 24 View Road, Burnie

Mindfulness-integrated Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (MiCBT) is a sophisticated integration of mindfulness core principles and traditional CBT. Since its inception in Western approaches in the late 70s, mindfulness training has become mainstream. It is researched and implemented in most leading clinics and universities in America and the UK. Mindfulness involves paying attention to what is experienced in the present moment with a non-judgemental and non-reactive attitude. MiCBT is used to treat a wide range of issues. This workshop will focus on, chronic pain, anxiety, stress,and depression.

Participants will be required to practice daily tasks in order to advance to the following week.

Facilitator: Trevor Reeve

Enquires: Ph: 0364319124

Cost: $32.00 for essential materials. (payment arrangements may be possible)

Melbourne MiCBT Client Program for Depression Anxiety & Stress

Wed, 02 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -1000

MiCBT program for clients with Depression Anxiety and Stress - Melbourne

Program Dates for 2010:
30 June -18 August
6 October -24 November
All sessions: Wednesdays,6.00-8.00pm
Location: 123 Albion St, Brunswick

For more information contact:
Sarah - 0409 669 688 or
Suzanne - 0488 992 721
Glenn - 0488 992 728

or click here

Snapshot: Clare Voss

Mon, 31 May 2010 00:00:00 -1000

I have worked for Carers Tasmania for the past three and a half years and I am now manager of the counselling program. We provide statewide support for carers. Carers are people who provide unpaid care and support to family members and friends who have a disability, mental illness, chronic condition, terminal illness or who are aged and frail.

Meeting carers in my new professional role and undertaking MiCBT training with Bruno three years ago was an interesting and synchronous experience. It led to the introduction of MiCBT to our clients at Carers Tasmania shortly thereafter and I am pleased to say this program has become an integral part of our work. Two of our counselling staff are currently facilitating an MiCBT group and we are now in the process of planning our seventh group training program. The assessment process begins next week. In addition, we provide individual training for some of our clients. I have particularly enjoyed co-facilitating the group program. The generosity of spirit that is apparent in each group is truly inspiring.

Our particular client group has responded well to the MiCBT training. This is substantiated by the evidence we have collected following the training, during the review process. Our client group, Carers, often present with high levels of stress, anxiety and depression. In many cases their caring roles are ongoing. It is heartening to see not only their quality of life improve, but those of their families and the person they care for and to know that they have the skills to manage the vicissitudes of life .

I have worked in a variety of counselling roles over the past seventeen years since completing my education and training in Melbourne. In my first position, I was fortunate to be employed in an accredited agency which trained people in relationship counselling. Reflective practice was emphasized within that learning environment and I continue to feel grateful for the foundation that it provided in those early stages of my development. There were a number of aspects that enhanced this model of learning. These included fortnightly Professional Development, guest speakers to provide fresh air and stimulation, case presentation and discussion, intra-agency seminars which were conducive to building collaborative relationships. In addition, counsellors were supervised in-house as well as externally, depending on their learning needs at the time. Some of my colleagues sought personal analysis, a course which I also chose to follow.

My intention is not to paint a utopian picture. It was far from that but I want to draw attention to the prevailing sense of openness that I experienced within that learning environment. I believe this to be fundamental to healthy practice for all concerned. In a number of other roles, I have experienced reticence towards talking about the work that is conducted in the very private setting of the counselling room, or worse, not even considered necessary.

This leads me back to MiCBT. For me, it is the experiential nature of the model that makes it shine. My personal experience of MiCBT, as well as ongoing supervision and continued practice, have prepared me to undertake the journey with my clients, with confidence and compassion.

I moved to Tasmania from Melbourne eight years ago to live a quieter life. My partner, John, and I had been in a caring role and we were looking for a change. Some time later, other family members joined us, including two adorable grandchildren, only three months old at that time. The quieter life looks vastly different to the one that I imagined... but feels very rich to live.

Clare Voss, Manager-Counselling, Carers Tasmania clare@carerstas.org

News - The MiCBT Institute: Mindfulness-ntegrated Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Treatment Training Research

MiCBT Institute Newsletter: Vol 2. August 2010

MTRIG Meeting 4 August 2010

Next Meeting 6 October 2010

NEWS

Vocational Graduate Diploma in MiCBT

MiCBT Courses in Brisbane and Hobart

Reminder: MiCBT Research Needing your Participation

Reminder: MiCBT Users Groups

MiCBT Groups for Clients

Enough! A buddhist approach to finding relief from addictive patterns

Free Mindfulness Meditation Group

Snapshot - Lyn Roubos

Lyn Roubos,Consultant Psychologist, Private Practice & Sexual Health, Cairns, North QLD

Hobart: Applied MiCBT Course for Professionals

Canberra: Introduction to MiCBT for Crisis Intervention and Relapse Prevention

ACPA-NZCCP Joint Conference 23-24 October 2010

New Zealand: Introduction to MiCBT for Professionals

MTRIG Meeting August 2010

1. Research Article for Discussion

2. Peer Review / Case Discussion

3. Proposed Discussion Topic

APS PD Points and Meetings Psychologists who attend these meetings can claim 1.5 specialist or generalist PD points (now called "CPD hours"), depending on the nature of content. You may also wish to be a contact person to create your own meetings in your area

Snapshot: Lyn Roubos

MiCBT Course for Pain, Anxiety, Stress and Depresion - Burnie TAS

Mindfulness-integrated Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Chronic Pain, Anxiety, Stress and Depression.

Melbourne MiCBT Client Program for Depression Anxiety & Stress

Snapshot: Clare Voss

APS PD Points and Meetings
Psychologists who attend these meetings can claim 1.5 specialist or generalist PD points (now called "CPD hours"), depending on the nature of content.
You may also wish to be a contact person to create your own meetings in your area