Description
MAST has helped participants learn mindfulness skills to use in their daily life and also prepare them to participate in longer, more intensive 8-10 week groups, if they so choose. Concepts from sensorimotor psychotherapy such as the window of tolerance and basics of neuroscience are taught within the program to help participants understand the importance of modulating arousal in order to stay well.
Participants in the MAST program learn the following:
- Mindfulness of body, thoughts and feelings.
- How the brain/body processes stress and emotions.
- Tools for emotion regulation.
- Developing resources for self-care.
This 2-day training emphasizes experiential learning by leading participants through the 4-week MAST curriculum followed by group discussion on the experience. There will be time for in-session practice teaching of exercises and guided meditations. Participants will learn the curriculum and facilitation skills, as well as receive curriculum materials and guided meditations necessary to carry out the MAST program in their agency setting,
The training will also provide an opportunity for clinicians to deepen their own mindfulness practice, which will serve as a foundation for providing mindfulness-based interventions with clients.
Outcomes
- Explain how mindfulness skills can help in emotion regulation
- Understand the concept of the window of tolerance and how to teach it in a practical way to clients
- Guide simple mindfulness practices with a group and understand the principles of mindful inquiry
- Carry out the MAST curriculum using handouts and guided meditations with clients in their setting
