Registration closes midnight ET the night before the event.
Peer consultation plays an important role in the development and maintenance of competence implementing Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT). In this 90-minute workshop participants will observe a peer consultation practice that can support effectiveness with delivery of the "Three Minute Breathing Space" (3MBS) formal meditation practice with clients. Those who register for this INTERMEDIATE event are asked to have developed a personal practice of one to two week's duration using MBCT-adherent guidance shared with registrants in the month before this meeting; to have recorded the self guiding at least one client in an individual psychotherapy session (or record self practicing); and subsequently to have engaged in self-reflective rating of that recording using the Mindfulness-Based Interventions - Teaching Assessment Criteria (MBI-TAC: See suggested readings below and further instructions sent to registrants in week before event).
Participants will observe the Relational Mindfulness Practice (RMP) of Mindful Case Consultation (MCC) developed to support MBP teachers in developing and maintaining competence. The MCC is used with peers for case consultation challenges and celebrations as well. Dr. Molnar will be joined in demonstrating the MCC by a graduate of the 5-day professional Mindfulness-Based Teacher Training retreat at Omega Institute that is part of the MBCT teacher training sequence. In MCC an aspiring (or experienced) teacher can 1) guide a formal practice; 2) contemplate a challenge guiding a client (in a very structured and intentional way) or 3) reflect on a self-care concern. The MCC is structured and intentional and not like typical supervision and/ or consultation. It can be implemented in dyads or larger groups where all agree to follow the guidelines captured by the acronym PRO-TLCs which involve meditating intra- and inter-personally and speaking one's personal embodied experience compassionately in relationship with peers. Through MCC participants will observe how to offer feedback to Dr. Yamasaki who will guide the Responsive Three-Step Practice (3SP) followed by inquiry. All participants will be guided and invited to participate in some elements of the MCC practice of offering feedback grounded very specifically in one's direct experience in a way that is intentional. The MCC practice guideline to refrain from giving advice and to focus on the guiding teacher's intentions creates conditions for learning to guide skillfully .
Participants who attended the 8/21/24 event are asked to engage in dialogue about challenges and good outcomes associated with teaching the MBCT three-step breathing space practice in sessions. Those who missed it are welcome to join as well if they follow the minimum of one-week practice plan of a daily "three step breathing space practice "further described for registrants. There will be time for feedback from the presenters about how to continue practicing skills and applying reflective intra- and interpersonal mindfulness practice to enhance competence.
Suggested reading
The Mindful Way Workbook: An 8-Week Program to Free Yourself from Depression and Emotional Distress.
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression, Second Edition 2nd Edition
Mindfulness-Based Interventions - Teaching Assessment Criteria (MBI-TAC)
Baer, R., Crane, C., Miller, E., & Kuyken, W. (2019). Doing no harm in mindfulness-based programs: conceptual issues and empirical findings. Clinical psychology review, 71, 101-114.
Molnar, C. (June, 2014). Peer groups as a reflecting pool for enhancing wisdom. The Pennsylvania Psychologist Quarterly, pages 9-10.
CE Learning Objectives
Following this presentation, participants will be able to:
1. Observe the Relational Mindfulness Practice called Mindful Case Consultation (MCC), developed to support MBI Teacher Training, demonstrated (unscripted) between the two presenters using the Responsive Three-Step Practice for coping with difficult emotion.
2. Observe an MBCT teacher trainer who meets criteria for inclusion on the international registry [www.accessmbct.com], as both therapist and trainer, offering MBCT Teacher Training feedback about the six domains of the MBI-TAC.
3. Identify ways for developing and refining a practice plan for developing competence delivering the 3SP in individual psychotherapy sessions.
About Presenters
Chris Molnar, Ph.D., a licensed psychologist and clinical investigator, founded Mindful Exposure Therapy for Anxiety and Psychological Wellness Center (META Center) in 2007. She completed doctoral training at the Pennsylvania State University and post-doctoral fellowship training in traumatic stress, neuroscience, and psycho-physiology at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). She is an expert in the assessment and treatment of anxiety, OCD, PTSD, emotional, and stress-related conditions using evidence-based practices. Through a co-sponsorship between META Center & PBTA she leads one of the handful of professional MBCT Teacher Training Organizations in the USA offering both in person and virtual Continuing Education (CE) for Professional Development. This includes the in-person week-long professional CE retreat workshop for professionals seeking foundational training to develop competence teaching MBCT. She also teaches both Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) in individual and group psychotherapy formats. She has also developed adaptations for highly distressed clients, using Relational Mindfulness Practices (RBPs), to meet the needs of clients who have difficulty initially with the traditional 8-week MBSR & MBCT programs and elements. At META Center, she offers integrative interventions grounded in findings about the brain, emotion, and learning to facilitate mental and behavioral habit change, even in the face of severe distress. Before founding META Center, she served as a clinical investigator and therapist supported by grants from the National Institute of Health and other agencies. She is also on the editorial board of Behavior Therapy and serves the public in many ways, through professional presentations, workshops, publications, and affiliations.
Alissa S. Yamasaki, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist and the founder of Ayama Psychotherapy, located in Lemont, PA. Her practice has gained a positive local reputation for its mindful and collaborative business practices, psychotherapists who are especially effective in the area of health and mind-body conditions, and wellness events for health and wellness providers.
Dr. Yamasaki's clinical expertise focuses on the treatment of chronic and complex anxiety, as well as insomnia. Her earliest study of the mind-body connection was as an undergraduate in an exercise psychophysiology lab investigating the effects of physical activity on how people feel and think. Dr. Yamasaki earned her Ph.D. from Penn State University in 2006 and completed her internship at Albany Medical Consortium. Her current practices reflect her belief in the importance of being fully present while drawing from empirically-driven interventions. She utilizes a blend of CBT and relational approaches, including mindfulness-based interventions. Dr. Yamasaki attended the 5-day Mindfulness-Based teacher training retreat with Chris Molnar, Ph.D., in 2022, which sparked both the deepening of her mindfulness practices and greater effectiveness in the therapy room.
Target Audience
This presentation is intended for licensed mental health professionals and advanced graduate student trainees seeking licensure. The instructional level of this presentation is INTERMEDIATE.
Continuing Education
- Philadelphia Behavior Therapy Association is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Philadelphia Behavior Therapy Association maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
- Philadelphia Behavior Therapy Association is also approved by the NY State Education Department to offer psychology continuing education
- This program provides one-and-a half (1.5) CE credits
- PBTA is also an authorized provider of CE credits for Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Clinical Social Workers licensed in the state of Pennsylvania. Non-Psychologist Licensees outside of PA & practitioners outside of the USA please confirm eligibility with your specific licensing board.
- Full attendance with video display is required to obtain CE credit for this program. APA guidelines do not permit PBTA to issue partial CE credits. No refunds are provided for CE programs. No exceptions allowed.
- All events are Eastern Time Zone
- Contact PBTAcontinuingeducation@philabta.org if you need any learning accommodations no later than one week before event.
