63rd Annual Conference

Thursday, February 23

Morning Workshops

10:00 A.M.-1:15 P.M.

Workshop 9

Mind-Body Skills Groups

Chair:    

James S. Gordon, M.D., Founder and Director, Center for Mind-Body Medicine, Washington, DC

This experiential workshop presents a group model of psychological self-care and mind-body medicine (meditation, guided imagery, biofeedback, drawings, journaling and movement) that is proving powerfully effective in chronic illness, with medical school faculty and students, and for those traumatized by war and terrorism.  Participants will experience the approach and learn to integrate it in their own work.

Experiential-demonstration-sharing of work experiences-didactic

Learning Objectives:

The attendee will be able to:

1. Describe the components of a "mind-body skills group."

2. Understand the role of the leader in the mind-body skills group.

3. Evaluate the science of mind-body skills and this group model.

4. Assess the relevance of the approach to their ongoing work.

5. Begin to integrate the approach and techniques into their own life and their work with groups.

Course References:

1. Gordon, J., et al. (2004). Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Postwar Kosovo High School Students Using Mind-Body Skills Groups: A pilot study. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 17(2), 143-147.

2. Cunningham, A., Watson, K., (2004). How Psychological Therapy May Prolong Survival in Cancer Patients: New evidence and a simple theory. Integr. Cancer Ther, 3(3), 214-229.

3. Astin, J., Shapiro, S., Eisenberg, D., Forys, K. (2003). Mind-body medicine: State of the science, implications for practice. Journal American Board Family Practice, 16(2), 131-47.