Interviews with Dr. Sears

Dr. Sears was recently interviewed by Stephen K. Hayes and by Natural Awakenings magazine.

For the article "Ninja Training and the Psychology Professor", click the link below:
http://www.skhquest.com/2009/12/03/ninja-training-and-the-psychology-professor/

For the Natural Awakenings Article, "Mindfulness as Clinical Practice," click on the link below, and turn to page 8:
http://www.mydigitalpublication.com/publication/?i=27066

Training for Psychologists

I recently co-presented two workshops on mindfulness with one of our advisory board members, Dr. Brian Denton, for the Dayton Area Psychological Association and for the Ohio Psychological Association. The turnout at both of these events was impressive. I am happy to see the interest in mindfulness growing in the professional community. There is so much more research and testing to be done within this area, and only through communicating the concepts and the previous research with current practitioners and researchers can we speed up this process to make more of the benefits of mindfulness available to the public.

I also found it a very interesting experience to be in a room full of psychologists in total silence.

Below is a short clip from the talk:

New Book on Mindfulness

I'm excited to announce that, along with advisory board members Robert Denton and Dennis Tirch, we have signed a book contract with Professional Resource Press. The book will be called "Mindfulness in Clinical Practice," and should be available late 2010. Our intention is to now have an answer when therapists asks us "What book would you recommend to give a good overview of mindfulness?" The book will also include an audio CD containing guided mindfulness practices.

A New Space and a New Face

The Center for Clinical Mindfulness & Meditation has a new space within Union Institute & University. The space will be used to store relevant books, and will serve a place to meet with those interested in working with the CCMM on educational and research projects.

James Jiun Foster has recently joined the CCMM as a graduate research assistant. Mr. Foster is currently a doctoral student in the PsyD Program in Clinical Psychology at Union Institute & University, and has extensive experience with mindfulness and Eastern meditative traditions.

Mindfulness groups offered in Cincinnati

Dr. Richard Sears will be offering an 8-week course in mindfulness at Union Institute & University in Cincinnati, Ohio. The classes will be offered Monday nights at 6pm, from October 5 through November 23. The content is based upon MBSR (mindfulness-based stress reduction), developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn, and MBCT (mindfulness-based cognitive therapy), developed by Zindel Segal and others. For more information, visit http://www.psych-insights.com/mindfulness.htm.

Drs. Marrie and Rando join advisory board

Two distinguished psychologists have just joined our advisory board: Dr. Stella Marrie and Dr. Robert Rando.

Stella Marrie, Psy.D., is a Professor of Liberal Studies at the Union Institute and University. She is chair of the Bachelor of Arts concentration in Psychology and Human Development and teaches interdisciplinary studies in the areas of psychology, religion and spirituality. She is a Zen Buddhist student and practitioner in the Soto Zen tradition.
Robert A. Rando, Ph.D. is the Director of Counseling and Wellness Services at Wright State University where he is also an Associate Professor in the School of Professional Psychology. He has a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and integrates mindfulness into his martial arts and clinical practice.

For more about our advisory board members, visit http://www.myunion.edu/ccmm/advisory-board.html.

Goma ceremony

I recently participated in a traditional goma, a Japanese fire ceremony, in Connecticut. It was led by my friend, Don Siclari, who has agreed to join our advisory board. Dr. Nick Karapasas, a chiropractor and practitioner from the Tendai tradition, also participated.

The fire ceremony is an ancient rite, going back at least to the ancient Vedic ceremonies in India. I recorded a ceremony that I attended at the home of JC Kapur near Delhi, India on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyV0jhOJiq0

While the ceremony is quite elaborate, I see the ultimate purpose as being the attainment of a state of clear, unaffected, pristine awareness. To reach this state, a number of symbolic actions are performed to allow the practitioners to let go of defenses and feel safe to drop their limited and fixed ideas of self.

This reminds me of a similar process in psychotherapy. Before a client can feel free enough to drop the defenses of the ego, therapist and client engage in rituals designed to build rapport, trust, and safety.

For more information about the ceremony, visit http://www.fireceremony.org/.

Dr. Ron Alexander joins advisory board

It is my pleasure to announce that Dr. Ron Alexander, a psychotherapist and teacher of mindfulness and meditation, has joined our advisory board.

My wife and I met Dr. Alexander in Marco Island, Florida last February, where he hosted a week-long workshop on using mindfulness in clinical work. (It seemed easier to practice mindfulness by the ocean!) I was very impressed with background and knowledge, and believe we are fortunate to be able to draw upon his expertise.

Dr. Alexander is based out of Santa Monica, CA, but conducts workshops across the country.

I highly recommend Dr. Alexander's new book, Wise Mind, Open Mind: Finding Purpose and Meaning in Times of Crisis, Loss & Change, available from New Harbinger Publications. For more information about Dr. Alexander, visit www.ronaldalexander.com.

Lama Surya Das joins advisory board

I am very happy to share that Lama Surya Das, bestselling author and long-time meditation teacher, has just joined our advisory board.

I met Lama Das in San Francisco in August of 2007, after he gave a lecture on "Buddhist Positive Psychology" at the annual American Psychological Association convention. I believe Lama Das has a gift for taking the essence of the timeless wisdom from the East and presenting it in a way that is fresh and applicable to finding happiness in today's world.

For more about Lama Surya Das, visit www.dzogchen.org or www.surya.org.

Michael Fitzpatrick joins advisory board

Michael Fitzpatrick with Muhammed Ali, and His Holiness the Dalai Lama

(photo by Tamara R. Fitzpatrick)

I am very pleased to announce our newest advisory board member, Michael Fitzpatrick, an outstanding musician and supporter of meditative traditions. I first heard Michael play during one of the Dalai Lama's visits to the U.S., and his music is amazing.

Fitzpatrick provided the sacred music for the Gethsemani Encounter led by His Holiness the XIVth Dalai Lama involving the world’s monastic leaders from East & West held at the Abbey of Gethsemani, home of the late Thomas Merton. His nine solo performances during the historic 6-day summit were deemed the high point of the Gethsemani Encounter, and led to the invitation to produce COMPASSION, the first East-West recording in history between the traditions of ancient Tibetan Chant and Trappist/Gregorian-Chant. He served as Music Director, featured
Soloist and Executive Producer for the unprecedented musical collaboration recorded and filmed at sacred sites including inside Mammoth Cave, the largest cave in the world, the Abbey of Gethsemani, and the Furnace Mountain Zen Temple.

To learn more about Michael, visit his website at http://web.mac.com/tuningtheplanet/Michael_Fitzpatrick/Home.html, where you can hear samples of his work.

Welcome advisory board members

Although the CCMM advisory board is still forming, I would like to introduce our founding members.

Bill Lax, Ph.D., ABPP, is the Dean of Psychology at Union Institute & University. Bill has continually integrated his theoretical and applied interests in family therapy, postmodernism, narrative therapy, and Buddhism with his practice of clinical psychology.

Dennis Tirch, Ph.D., is the Director of Clinical Services at the American Institute for Cognitive Therapy. In addition to his training in Western psychology, Dr. Tirch has had extensive experience in Eastern meditative and philosophical disciplines over the past 25 years. This training includes work in Japanese Zen and Vajrayana Buddhism, Tibetan Kagyu Buddhism, and Central Asian meditative disciplines.

Brian Denton, Psy.D., is a clinical psychologist who has studied Eastern philosophy traditions and has traveled to various monastic establishments around the world, including those within the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, the Soto Zen traditions, and the Zen tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh.

Stephen K. Hayes is the founder of To Shin Do, a comprehensive program utilizing martial arts and meditation for self-development. He is author of 20 books, and has studied meditative disciplines around the world. He has served as a personal escort for the Dalai Lama on his travels in the U.S. since 1987.

David C. Sink, R.N., B.S.N., B.S. practices nursing in Emergency, Critical Care, and Long Term Acute Care. He holds a Third Degree Black belt in To Shin Do and is a 24 year student of Japanese martial arts and Eastern mind sciences.

I am excited by the diversity and background of our advisory board. To learn more about them, see http://www.myunion.edu/ccmm/advisory-board.html.

Media Release

UNION INSTITUTE & UNIVERSITY LAUNCHES

CENTER FOR CLINICAL MINDFULNESS AND MEDITATION
New center demonstrates UI&U’s commitment to cutting-edge research and practice

CINCINNATI - Union Institute & University (UI&U) today announced the launch of the Union Institute & University Center for Clinical Mindfulness and Meditation (CCMM), a resource for mental health professionals, researchers, and the general public. Maintained by the university’s doctoral program in clinical psychology (PsyD), the CCMM will serve the needs of clinicians, scholars, and other interested individuals, and demonstrates UI&U’s leadership and commitment to cutting-edge research and practice to both the professional community and to prospective learners.

“This is a very exciting time in the field of psychology,” said Richard Sears, PsyD, MBA, ABPP, a psychologist and a core faculty member of the PsyD program, who will serve as director of the new center. “Although mindfulness and meditation are ancient practices, research on their clinical applications is a rapidly growing field within the scientific community. The new center will provide an excellent forum through which professionals and the public can share information, link resources, and provide networking opportunities.” Sears is also forming an advisory board from within UI&U, other colleges and universities, and from the professional community.

Mindfulness is a rapidly growing area of research and practice in the field of psychology and mental health. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) are cutting-edge, evidence-based psychotherapeutic treatments using mindfulness.

Basically, mindfulness involves systematically training to pay attention and work wisely with thoughts and emotions. It has a wide variety of applications, from helping business professionals to be more effective and find a happier work-life balance, to dealing with severe chronic pain, stress, anxiety, and depression. The use of mindfulness has been popularized by Jon Kabat-Zinn and others through such books as Wherever You Go, There You Are, The Mindful Way through Depression, and Mindfulness at Work.

The center will post news, articles, resources, and links on its Web site, http://www.myunion.edu/ccmm. Future plans for the center may also include sponsoring workshops and meetings, creating a book and video library, and assisting in the creation of a peer-reviewed journal.

In addition to his clinical work as a psychologist, Sears has been studying and practicing mindfulness and meditation for over 20 years. He has traveled in India and Nepal, and has studied with a variety of Eastern teachers, including the Dalai Lama. He has a fifth degree black belt, and continues to practice martial arts with To Shin Do founder Stephen K. Hayes, the first American to learn the art of ninjutsu.

To learn more about Union Institute & University’s Center for Clinical Mindfulness and Meditation visit the website at www.myunion.edu/ccmm or contact Dr. Richard Sears at richard.sears@myunion.edu.

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