The first time I heard the song, Sisters of Mercy, written by Leonard Cohen and performed in this instance by Serena Ryder (studio version), I was riveted. At the song’s conclusion, I took a deep breath and uttered, “Wow”. Needless to say, I really like this song. Read more ›
In light of Amy Cuddy’s research in the previous post on the effect in her studies of posture on certain outcome variables such as hormone levels, what do you think might be the hormone levels (and other variables) for this little guy? Read more ›
Compassion-focused therapy aims to help us cultivate certain skills, qualities, feeling states, and motivations (e.g., skills and qualities compassion, feelings of safeness, the motivation to show care and to alleviate suffering). These we can then use to help work with particular difficulties or situations such as shame, self-criticism, or difficult emotions. Compassion-focused therapy also aims to help address and alleviate the fears and blocks we may have to experiencing compassion Read more ›
in Articles,Compassion,External Resources,Mindfulness,Working with Emotion
Just as there exists in writing a literal truth and a poetic truth, there also exists in a human being a literal anatomy and a poetic anatomy. One, you can see; one, you cannot. One is made of bones and teeth and flesh; the other is made of energy and memory and faith. But they are both equally true.
—Elizabeth Gilbert, quoting her friend, Bob, in “Eat, Pray, Love,” p. 144
Avenstone is a residential property located not far from Kingston, just north of Camden East, owned and cared for by Jane and Peter Good. Read more ›
I pledge to spend the rest of my life focused on developing and promoting ways to increase compassion among millions of people worldwide.
—Dr. Yotam Heineberg (May 2013)
Here is a recording of a short presentaiton given by Dr. Yotam Heineberg, “The Future of Psychology: Compassion-Focused Outcomes” (May 2013). I watched it this morning and thought to myself, “What an awesome way to start the day”. Read more ›
Free the Mind is a documentary film exploring the influence of aspects of mindfulness, meditation, and yoga on children (one child in particular is featured) and veterans. I watched it recently at the Screening Room in Kingston and see that it will be back for encore shows there next week on Wednesday and Sunday. Read more ›
in Announcements and Reminders,Articles,External Resources,Mindfulness
Early March greetings to you!
Here you can view and download the handout, Understanding Self-Injury-Five Key Concepts (pdf). Please feel free to share it with anyone who you think might find it useful.
If you are a helping professional looking for in-depth information to assist you in your work with individuals who self-injure, check out the resource, Working With People who Self-Injure: A Resource Guide for Helping Professionals. Read more ›
Go to nearly any self-help or psychology section in a bookstore these days and you’ll probably find books with mindfulness in the title. Below is a link for a handout I’ve written that provides a brief introduction to mindfulness. It contains information you might find useful if you are learning how to experience mindfulness in your life, including if you are beginning to practice guided meditations such as a body scan meditation.
Read more ›
in Articles,Counselling Reflections & Skills,External Resources,Self-Compassion
This week, I would like to share a video I came across in the spring that I found interesting and inspiring. It’s a documentary of a pilot program that was run through Veterans Affairs in Seattle teaching to veterans mindfulness meditation, loving kindness meditation, and concepts related to compassion for oneself and for others.
The veterans in the group were all suffering in various ways, which you learn snippets of over the course of the video. The group members also experience positive changes over the program, Read more ›
in Articles,Compassion,External Resources,Mindfulness,Self-Compassion