It’s an exciting time for mindfulness in both psychotherapy and education! In this daylong we will introduce numerous innovative, developmentally appropriate techniques for sharing mindfulness and related practices (loving, kindness, compassion) with children pre-K to teens. We will include examples of teaching applied mindfulness to children individually, in dyads, and in groups. Similarities and differences between educational and psychotherapeutic contexts for teaching mindfulness to children will be explored.

In addition, the day will include the presentation of up-to-date research on the psychotherapeutic and educational uses of mindfulness with children, showing improved executive function, better attention, and enhanced behavioral regulation. We will present similar evidence from our own case studies.

This daylong will also be the first part of a 10-month professional certification program being offered by Marin Mindfulness and StanBHRS. If you would like more information on this program, please see this informational page.

Learning Objectives for Participating Health Care Professionals:
Based on the content of this workshop, health care professionals will be able to:
– Describe developmentally appropriate techniques for introducing mindfulness to pre-K to teens as well as techniques to use for Pre-K–teens in applying mindfulness to their own challenging daily life situations.
– Summarize the similarities and differences between teaching mindfulness in educational and clinical settings. – Discuss ways that mindfulness can help Pre-K-teens access their own authentic motivations including those to benefit others.
– Describe the current state of research on mindfulness with youth.

Workshop Presenters:
Lesley Grant, ECD, is the founder and director of Marin Mindfulness Institute, year-long professional certification program for psychotherapists and teachers in mindfulness and child development. She has spent 30 years evolving developmentally appropriate mindfulness practices for children and teens teaching mindfulness in medical clinics, & educational settings. She founded and directs Marin Mindfulness Institute’s educational program for teachers, parents, and children pre-school-teens, serving over one hundred children and teens, parents each year as well as a special needs teen group for teens with autistic spectrum disorders, ADHD and anxiety disorders.

Gary Buck, PhD, is currently a post-doc intern at The Child Therapy Institute in San Rafael, Ca., where he uses mindfulness in individual child therapy and has worked with children and families for 10 years. He has worked as a mindfulness teacher with Mindful Schools and is trained in MBSR, MBCT, and Integrative Restoration. Gary served for seven years as the Associate Director of Spirit Rock Meditation Center and is a former Head Start director and vice principal of a refugee camp K-12 school in Thailand for S.E. Asian refugees.

Whether you want CE credits or not, if you wish to attend, please register in advance by May 2, 2014 by filling out the form below. Thank you!