Mark L. Beischel – Calming the Brain through Mindfulness: Rewire Emotions with the Power of Neuroplasticity

Outline

THE NEUROBIOLOGY OF MINDFULNESSTHE NEUROBIOLOGY OF MINDFULNESS

• Our brains are social by natureOur brains are social by nature
• The foundation is set during the first year of lifeThe foundation is set during the first year of life
• “Relational trauma” according to Schore“Relational trauma” according to Schore
• The limbic systemThe limbic system
• Frontal lobe developmentFrontal lobe development
• The “Executive” control centerThe “Executive” control center
• NeurotransmittersNeurotransmitters
• DNA telomeres​DNA telomeres​

INVESTIGATING THE SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL BENEFITS OF MINDFULNESSINVESTIGATING THE SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL BENEFITS OF MINDFULNESS

• Evolution of the cortex and survivalEvolution of the cortex and survival
• Fear and anxiety resolved through relationships including spiritualFear and anxiety resolved through relationships including spiritual
• Intimacy and the mirror neuronsIntimacy and the mirror neurons
• The development of attunementThe development of attunement
• Intimacy skills: Intimacy skills:
  • Self-awarenessSelf-awareness
  • EmpathyEmpathy
  • Communication of emotionsCommunication of emotions
  • Conflict resolutionConflict resolution
  • Sustaining commitmentSustaining commitment
• The neurobiology of mindfulness meditationThe neurobiology of mindfulness meditation
• Emotional benefits of mindfulnessEmotional benefits of mindfulness

MINDFULNESS AND EMOTIONAL REGULATIONMINDFULNESS AND EMOTIONAL REGULATION

• The evolutionary function of fear and anxietyThe evolutionary function of fear and anxiety
• Fast and slow circuitsFast and slow circuits
• Fears and anxietiesFears and anxieties
• Stress and hippocampal damageStress and hippocampal damage
• Regulating fearRegulating fear

ELICITING THE RELAXATION RESPONSE: RESEARCH OF HERBERT ELICITING THE RELAXATION RESPONSE: RESEARCH OF HERBERT BENSONBENSON

• Eastern meditation and visualizationEastern meditation and visualization
• Gains through Benson’s methodGains through Benson’s method
• Genes expressed differently Genes expressed differently
  • Anxiety and depressionAnxiety and depression
  • CancerCancer
  • Heart diseaseHeart disease
  • The relaxation response also elicited by: The relaxation response also elicited by:
    • Physical exercisePhysical exercise
    • MusicMusic
    • Repetitive prayersRepetitive prayers
• Benson’s eight-step program for eliciting the relaxation responseBenson’s eight-step program for eliciting the relaxation response

MINDFULNESS IN MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENTMINDFULNESS IN MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT

• Mechanisms of action Mechanisms of action
  • Focusing on the presentFocusing on the present
  • Definition of Shapiro and Kubat-Zinn –self-regulation and self-managementDefinition of Shapiro and Kubat-Zinn –self-regulation and self-management
  • Re-perceiving non-judgmentallyRe-perceiving non-judgmentally
• Eight themes of Teasdale, Williams, and SegalEight themes of Teasdale, Williams, and Segal
• Rogers’ mindfulness exerciseRogers’ mindfulness exercise
• Mindfulness, spirituality, and cultural competenceMindfulness, spirituality, and cultural competence
• The therapist’s mindfulness attitudes: The therapist’s mindfulness attitudes:
  • Self-compassion and attunementSelf-compassion and attunement
  • Empathy and attunement with othersEmpathy and attunement with others
  • Emotional regulationEmotional regulation

EASTERN AND WESTERN MEDITATIONEASTERN AND WESTERN MEDITATION

• History of Eastern and Western meditationHistory of Eastern and Western meditation
• The “Desert Fathers”The “Desert Fathers”
• Evolution of meditation and contemplationEvolution of meditation and contemplation
• Neuroscience of meditation and contemplationNeuroscience of meditation and contemplation
• Maslow’s self-actualizing characteristics and meditationMaslow’s self-actualizing characteristics and meditation
• Attachment theory, meditation and self-actualizationAttachment theory, meditation and self-actualization
• Newberg’s research on the “Centering Prayer” of KeatingNewberg’s research on the “Centering Prayer” of Keating

MINDFULNESS TRAINING AND INTERVENTIONS FORMINDFULNESS TRAINING AND INTERVENTIONS FOR

• Children and adolescentsChildren and adolescents
• Emotional regulation disordersEmotional regulation disorders
• Chronic depressionChronic depression
• Anxiety disordersAnxiety disorders
• Addiction treatmentAddiction treatment

CASE STUDYCASE STUDY

• Mindfulness practices help penitentiary inmate form an intimate relationship and develop responsible parenting skillsMindfulness practices help penitentiary inmate form an intimate relationship and develop responsible parenting skills