Author Archives: dharmadancer

May 17 Mindfulness in Child Psychotherapy and Education with Lesley Grant, ECD, and Gary Buck, PhD

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Join us for a daylong on Mindfulness in Child Psychotherapy and Education sponsored by Stanislaus County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services on

Saturday, May 17, 2014
9:30 am to 10:00 am Registration
10:00 am to 5:00 pm Workshop

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Stanislaus County
2172 Kiernan Ave.
Modesto, CA 95356

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.

Continuing Education (CE) Hours/Credits are available for this workshop.

Meets the qualifications for Six (6) Continuing Education (CE) Hours/Credits for California Board of Registered Nursing, BRN (Provider #04585), MFT’s and LCSW’s, BBS (Provider #PCE 2739), CAADAC (Provider #3N-05-525-0915) and CAARR (Provider #5050-06-14). There is no charge to BHRS staff. There is a $25 fee for CE hours/credits for non-BHRS staff. Make your check payable to BHRS. Payment may be made when you arrive.

Psychologists – Six (6) California Psychological Association (CPA) continuing education credits (PAS Provider #STA041). Stanislaus County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services is approved by CPA to offer mandatory continuing education for psychologists and maintains sole responsibility for this program. There is no fee for BHRS Psychologists. There is a $65 fee for non-BHRS Psychologists. Make your check payable to BHRS. Payment may be made when you arrive.

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!

 

April 5th Mindfulness Fundamentals Daylong with Lori Wong

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Please join us on Saturday, April 5th for a silent day of mindfulness fundamentals with Lori Wong from 9am to 4pm at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Stanislaus County, 2172 Kiernan Ave., Modesto, CA. Depending on the number of registrants, the daylong may be held in the main sanctuary or in the Sarana Kuti.

This day is freely offered to all.  Donations are gratefully accepted to support the teacher and future offerings.  Please bring a bag lunch (this will not be a pot luck).  For the sake of those who may have sensitivities or allergies, please do not wear scented or perfumed products.  Chairs will be available.  There are also a limited number of zabutons and cushions for use. This daylong is suitable for all-levels of practitioners.

Instruction of mindfulness fundamentals (body scan, sitting with different objects of attention, walking) will be offered with opportunities for questions about each practice. Lunch will include mindful eating and will be held in silence.

Sarana Kuti is the small stand-alone building on the UUFSC property at the rear of the east parking lot (the building with red and gold trim). It is behind the Johnson Building.

For additional information, please contact Lori Wong at 209-343-2748.

If you plan to come, please let us know (it helps to know if we need a larger space) by filling out the form below. Thank you!

 

6-Week Book Study Group in Modesto starting January 6, 2014

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New 6-Week Book Study Group in Modesto starting January 6, 2014. Jeff Gianelli will be leading a group on Monday evenings from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. based on the book Finding the Missing Peace; A Primer of Buddhist Meditation, by Ajahn Amaro. 

  • This would be a good introduction to mindfulness meditation, no experience necessary. This is also relevant for people who already practice meditation. We will learn a set of meditation tools that anyone can use to make their life better.
  • Each week will provide methods and principles that anyone can apply, no matter what faith or belief system one follows.
  • Books will be provided.
  • We ask that you please commit to attending the entire series starting January 6 and ending February 10.
  • Advance registration is required – use the form below.
  • An electronic version of the book can be found at http://www.abhayagiri.org/books/finding-the-missing-peace.

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February 22, 2014: Working with Anger: Developing Skill in the Midst of Intense Feeling – a daylong with Matthew Brensilver

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Please join us on Saturday, February 22nd for a daylong on Working with Anger: Developing Skill in the Midst of Intense Feeling with Matthew Brensilver from 10am to 4:00pm at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Stanislaus County in the Sarana Kuti, 2172 Kiernan Ave., Modesto, CA.

The Buddha said that anger has a honeyed tip and poisoned root.  From minor irritation to intense rage, anger has important effects on our lives, our families and our society.  If we are to be deeply happy and nourish the happiness of others, we must include anger as part of our spiritual path.  While we acknowledge the suffering caused by anger, dharma teachings are not moralistic about what arises in our minds nor are we asked to disown any experience.  Anger is not a moral issue but a question of suffering and the release from suffering. Thus, we seek ways of meeting the experience of anger with wisdom and compassion and creating conditions for kindness to grow.

Although anger sometimes contains a seed of wisdom, it invariably contains a seed of delusion.  In other words, anger is never the last word – there’s always something more to be seen.  During this retreat, we’ll consider the role anger plays in our lives and the ways in which mindfulness can be helpful. We will learn meditative strategies to untangle the complex experience of anger into its component parts, namely, emotional feeling, mental images and thoughts. Teachings will also aim to remind us of the dimension of ourselves that urgently seeks a life of non-harming.  Lastly, the retreat will describe how Buddhist perspectives on self-cherishing are relevant for working with anger.  When we vigilantly stand guard at the gates of ‘Me’, we are certain to encounter challenges that mobilize our anger.  As habits of self-cherishing are weakened, the causes for anger to arise are weakened too.

All are welcome. This day is freely offered to all.  Donations are gratefully accepted to support Matthew and future IMCV offerings.  Please bring a vegetarian potluck dish to share for lunch, if you would like.  Chairs and some cushions will be available.

Sarana Kuti is the small stand-alone building on the UUFSC property at the rear of the east parking lot (the building with red and gold trim). It is behind the Johnson Building. For additional information, please contact Lori Wong at 209-343-2748. It is helpful for us to know how many will attend. Please register below.

Matthew Brensilver, PhD, served as a Buddhist chaplain at USC for four years and teaches about the intersection of mindfulness and psychotherapy at UCLA’s Mindful Awareness Research Center. Matthew was trained by Noah Levine, with whom he teaches at Against the Stream Buddhist Meditation Society and is currently in the Spirit Rock/IMS teacher training program.  He conducts research on addiction treatment at the UCLA Center for Behavioral and Addiction Medicine.

 

Dec. 7th Practice Daylong with Lori Wong

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Please join us on Saturday, Dec. 7th for a silent day of practice with Lori Wong from 9am to 4pm at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Stanislaus County in the Sarana Kuti, 2172 Kiernan Ave., Modesto, CA.

This day is freely offered to all.  Donations are gratefully accepted to support the teacher and future offerings.  Please bring a vegetarian potluck dish to share for lunch, if you would like.  For the sake of those who may have sensitivities or allergies, please do not wear scented or perfumed products.  Chairs will be available.  There are also a limited number of zabutons and cushions for use. This daylong is suitable for all-levels of practitioners.

Basic instruction will be offered in the morning for sitting and walking. There will be a dharma talk at the end of the day. Lunch will be held in silence. There may be some chanting and opportunities for practice discussions with Lori.

Sarana Kuti is the small stand-alone building on the UUFSC property at the rear of the east parking lot (the building with red and gold trim). It is behind the Johnson Building.

For additional information, please contact Lori Wong at 209-343-2748.

If you plan to come, please let us know (it helps to know if we need a larger space) by filling out the form below. Thank you!

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Daylong on Nov. 2, 2013 on Right Communication with Rev. Joe Cherry and Lori Wong

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Please join us on Saturday, November 2, 2013

in the Sarana Kuti
9:00am to 4:00pm
at the
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Stanislaus County
2172 Kiernan Ave., Modesto, CA

In this daylong workshop, we invite our two communities: UUFSC and IMCV, to meet one another and to explore Right Communication – how we can use mindfulness practice to guide us in how we can skillfully communicate in all of our relationships. If you’re not a member of UUFSC or IMCV, you don’t need to worry – we are open communities that are welcoming to anyone who is interested in the teachings we offer.

Please come with a story from the book, Buddhist Boot Camp, by Timber Hawkeye or a story from a Buddhist book that significantly changed or in some way altered your perspective of life in a meaningful way.

We’ll explore practicing Right Communication using periods of silent meditation which can strengthen our ability to stay present and non-reactive in listening and speaking.

This day is freely offered to all.  Donations are gratefully accepted to support the UUFSC and IMCV.  Please bring a vegetarian potluck dish to share for lunch, if you would like.  Chairs and some cushions will be available.

Sarana Kuti is the small stand-alone building on the UUFSC property at the rear of the east parking lot (the building with red and gold trim). For additional information, please contact Lori Wong at 209-343-2748 or Rev. Joe Cherry at 209-545-1837. It is helpful for us to know how many will attend. Please register using the form below.

Rev. Joe Cherry is a native of Detroit and spent his formative adult years in Chicago. He has served Unitarian Universalist congregations in Chicago, Dukinfield (UK), Vancouver (BC) and Modesto, California. Rev. Joe is the Interim Minister at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Stanislaus County, which he has served since January 2012.

Lori Wong is a Community Dharma Leader trained by Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Woodacre, CA and Gil Fronsdal of Insight Meditation Center in Redwood City.  She is a board member of the Sati Center for Buddhist Studies.  She is the founding teacher of Insight Meditation Central Valley and has been leading Insight Meditation sitting groups in Modesto, CA since 2009.

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Mindfulness in Spanish “Casa De Curación” Daylong on Oct. 19, 2013 with Andrea Castillo

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En nombre de los Servicios Mentales y Recuperación, Caridades Católicas, y Meditación Introspectiva del Valle Central, nos gustaría invitarte a un día dedicado a cultivar bienestar y paz.

Casa De Curación

En este día aprenderemos sobre la atención plena y la meditación. Estas prácticas ofrecen múltiples beneficios físicos y mentales y forman la base de un estilo de vida que es de gran ayuda para todos, pero especialmente para persons que padecen de ansiedad, depresión, o dolor físico.

Día: Sábado, 19 de Octubre de 9 a.m. hasta las 3:30 p.m.

Lugar: Learning Institute, County Center III, Modesto, CA 95355

Costo: El curso se ofrece a base de donaciones.

Por favor traiga un plato vegetariano para compartir en el almuerzo.

Instrutoras: Andrea Castillo, Ph.D. y Lori Wong

Para registrarse favor de hablar a Theresa Zamora (209) 541-2416 o enviar a electronico correo a tzamora@stanbhrs.org

Teaching Mindfulness to Youth Daylong with Kate Janke on Nov. 16, 2013

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Join us on Saturday, November 16th from 10:30-4:30pm at the Sarana Kuti at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Stanislaus County, 2172 Kiernan Ave., Modesto, CA for a daylong with Kate Janke on

Teaching Mindfulness to Youth

In this daylong workshop we will explore how to teach 
mindfulness to children
and young teens in the classroom, private practice, or at home. Learn simple and fun age appropriate mindfulness techniques and lessons through experiential demonstrations and small group breakouts.

We’ll also spend time cultivating our own mindfulness practice, strengthening our ability to stay present and teach through example.
Prerequisite: personal mindfulness practice.

KJ3-cropKate Janke has been teaching mindfulness in education for over five years. In 2012 she founded The Heart-Mind Education Project, a mindfulness based consulting business lending support and resources to students and the adults in their lives. Before her current venture, Kate was the Director of Training at Mindful Schools, developing and implementing mindfulness education curriculum and trainings. She has taught mindfulness to approximately 1500 students in the San Francisco Bay Area and has trained over 2000 Educators, therapists, and parents nationally and internationally in mindful awareness curriculum and techniques.

Kate has been practicing meditation in the Theravada lineage since 2004. She is a teacher in training at Spirit Rock and IMS and leads a weekly meditation group in Alameda, CA. See her website at http://www.heart-mind-education.com/.

This day is freely offered to all.  Donations are gratefully accepted to support Kate and future offerings.  Please bring a vegetarian potluck dish to share for lunch, if you would like.  Chairs and some cushions will be available.

Sarana Kuti is the small stand-alone building on the UUFSC property at the rear of the east parking lot (the building with red and gold trim). For additional information, please contact Lori Wong at 209-343-2748.

Here is a printable flyer.

Please register for this event below as this helps with our planning. Thank you.

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Special Sunday Afternoon Visit with Beth Goldring on Oct. 6, 2013

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On Oct. 6, 2013, we will have a special Sunday afternoon program, “Living in the Present,” with Beth Goldring from 12:30 p.m. -2:30 p.m.

“In Buddhist practice and in Zen especially we talk a lot about living in the present moment. But what does that mean, actually, in our lives? When we are joyous, we want the present moment to continue and/or when we are in painful conditions we want them to be different.  These forms of clinging and aversion are completely spontaneous and so deeply rooted as to seem utterly natural. The Buddha teaches that this seeming naturalness is the foundation of delusion and suffering.  I would like to explore a little what the effort to be fully present for our experience means and why it is so deeply valuable to us, under any and all conditions.”

Beth Kanji Goldring, an American Zen nun in the Japanese Rinzei tradition, founded Brahmavihara/Cambodia AIDS Project in 2000. She is a former ballet dancer, university humanities teacher, and human rights worker. She began as a student of Maurine Stuart Roshi and currently studies with Gil Fronsdal. She was ordained in 1995. She is also a Reiki master through Glynn DeBrocky. Beth has received a number of awards for Brahmavihara’s work.

Location: Sarana Kuti, UUFSC, 2172 Kiernan Avenue, Modesto, CA 95356

Special Live Webcast of Spirit Rock benefit daylong with Jack Kornfield – Saturday, Sept. 7th, 2013

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IMCV in collaboration with Stanislaus County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services will be hosting a special live webcast of a Spirit Rock daylong with Jack Kornfield on Sept. 7th from 9:30am to 5:00pm at the [please note the location change] Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Education Building at 2172 Kiernan Avenue, Modesto.  Please see details below about how to register for this daylong and how to receive CEU credit. You must register in advance.

One Day Training in Buddhist Psychology: The Essence, for Meditators and Psychologists

Learn from the transformative teachings and practices at the heart of Buddhist Psychology. Discover inner capacities for wakefulness, joy, dignity and compassion, your Buddha-nature. Join us for this day of mindful meditations and teachings on love, consciousness, healing and the nature of mind. Our training will study the fundamental principles of Buddhist psychology combining practical examples, teaching stories, visionary wisdom and case studies. We will explore applications of these revolutionary perspectives in our healing work, our meditation and our life.

Teachings are appropriate for individuals as well as health care professionals. Continuing Education (CE) credit available for in-person attendance.

This workshop is designed to help participants:

    • Practice and employ five different forms of mindfulness training including the basic four foundations of mindfulness of body, feelings, thoughts and relationship;
    • Integrate Buddhist psychology’s core principles of mental health and well-being into traditional western approaches;
    • Employ three Buddhist psychological practices for transforming difficult emotions;
  • Utilize and incorporate compassion and forgiveness training in their professional work and personal life;

How to register:

Due to the nature of this daylong being offered as a benefit for Spirit Rock’s capital campaign, we cannot offer this daylong as dana (free). However, if there is interest in attending and you do not have financial means, please contact us and we will see if there might be a donor to offset the cost.

Step 1: You must register for this event via Spirit Rock’s website – use this link. The registration has a sliding scale from $60 to $108. Once registered, you will receive an email confirmation of your registration. You must bring that confirmation with you! That will be your ticket for us to verify that you have registered.

Step 2: Once you’ve registered on the Spirit Rock website, please register on our website using the form below. We have limited facility space and your registration will help us determine how many people will be attending and whether we might need to change the venue.

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Step 3: If you wish CEU credit, please bring a check or cash in the amount of $30, payable to Spirit Rock Meditation Center (or SRMC). You must also bring your professional license number for registration – please do not forget this or we won’t be able to issue you a certificate for the day.

Step 4: Please, please arrive at least 30 min. early so we can get you registered and checked in! Everyone will benefit from your arriving early. Please bring your own lunch for the day. Chairs will be provided. If you wish to sit on the floor, bring your own mat and cushion. We will provide hot water and tea.

There will be a donation basket if you would like to support future IMCV offerings and activities.

If you have any questions, please contact Lori via email at insightmeditationcentralvalley@gmail.com or phone 209-343-2748.