Mindfulness Program
Events
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Southern Synergy is part of the team involved in hosting the second International Conference of Mindfulness (ICM) Asia Pacific in 2022 from 15-18 November. We are also planning to offer a one day retreat on Saturday 19th November.
By way of background, the very first ICM conference was held in Rome in 2013 and since 2016 has been running biennially in Europe. The 2020 conference was due to be held in Denmark in July 2020 but, due to the COVID pandemic, was rescheduled to July 2021 and delivered in a live online format. The inaugural ICM Asia Pacific conference, the first “local” version of this conference, was held in Auckland, New Zealand in February 2019 and the third ICM Asia Pacific conference will be held in Hong Kong in 2024.
The theme for ICM Asia Pacific 2022 is: “Contemplative practice for the 21st Century”.
At this stage, we have come up with five strands:
1. Spiritual, Cultural, Philosophical
2. Social, Political & Environmental
3. Intrapersonal, Interpersonal & Investigative
4. Technology, Education & Media
5. Conversation, Challenge & Reconceptualization - Weaving strands togetherWe think the theme will provide an appropriate signpost and the strands a useful vehicle for achieving our aspirations for the conference. These are: to further the understanding and practice of mindfulness in contemporary times; engage diverse perspectives and work with controversy; bring together traditional discipline silos; and consider global challenges.
To keep abreast of developments, please visit the conference website at www.icmmelbourne2022.org
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We are currently exploring the possibility of running the Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) Professional Training program in 2024.
Please fill out this form if you wish to be advised of updates.
The Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) Professional Training program has been run annually through Monash University since 2005. The program was suspended in 2011 in order to enable a comprehensive review of the program to take place. This review was completed in 2013 and we drew on UK practice guidelines in order to develop a new three level format. Details of the program along with course fees for Level 3 are provided below.
Overview
Professional training in (MBCT) is a certificate course provided through Southern Synergy. The program follows the MBCT group format developed by Segal, Williams and Teasdale (2002; 2013). The aim is to provide comprehensive training in the instruction of MBCT group therapy in order to prepare clinicians to provide this therapy in the community.
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
MBCT is a manualised group-based intervention designed to reduce rates of relapse of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and most commonly applied with people who have had multiple previous episodes of depression. This is an important area for attention because at least 60% of people who have had one episode of major depressive disorder will have another, mostly within two years of the index episode. Seventy percent of those who have had two episodes will have a third, and 90% of those with three episodes will have a fourth.
MBCT integrates aspects of cognitive therapy with components of a mindfulness-based stress reduction program. It teaches clients to become more aware of, and to relate differently to, thoughts, feelings and bodily sensations; in particular, to view thoughts and feelings as passing events in the mind rather than as necessarily reflecting reality. The program teaches skills in disengagement from habitual (automatic) dysfunctional cognitive routines, especially depression-related ruminative thought patterns as a way to reduce risk of relapse and recurrence of depression. Clinical course participants develop personal documentation detailing warning signs and related action plans, as well as considering how to maintain practices and habits they have found helpful. Its efficacy in reducing risk of recurring depression has been demonstrated in multiple randomised controlled trials and meta-analyses. It is included in the UK Government's National Institute of Clinical Excellence Guidelines for prevention of depressive recurrence for patients who have experienced three or more episodes of depression. In the Australian context it features in the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists clinical practice guidelines for mood disorders and beyondblue recommended treatment options for depression.
MBCT is a radical innovation within mental health care. MBCT is grounded in traditional spiritual practice, brining ancient meditation skills and approaches to life into psychotherapeutic practice. These practices are nevertheless collected into MBCT in a way consistent with highest standards of evidence-based practice, scientific psychological enquiry and rigorous clinical method.Course Details
Level 1: Introduction to Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) Professional Training
Description
Level 1 training involves participation in an eight-week course that is a variation of the MBCT therapy group adapted for the training situation plus attendance at a 6 hour Day of Mindful Practice. There are regular homework and diary-keeping tasks, particularly guided meditations, amounting to about 45 minutes a day, 6 days/week, for the duration of the course. It is expected that trainees will attend all 8 sessions and commit to home practice. A half-hour interview between trainees and the course instructor will occur prior to the course commencing. A period of at least two months is allowed between the end of the course and the training day to enable participants to consolidate their personal practice and associated learning from the eight sessions.
Level 2: Exploration of Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) Professional training
Description
Level 2 training is intended to provide clinicians with intensive training in the instruction of MBCT. It involves a four-day residential Instructor Development Retreat (IDR) that emphasises intensive personal practice as well as concentrated and closely supervised practice in leading small to medium group meditations and follow-up discussions. Preparatory activities include study of a provided set of lesson plans and some directed exploration of relevant Buddhist philosophy. The retreat builds on this covering intensive personal practice, the approach to initial interviews, then closely supervised practice leading small-medium group meditations, inquiry, and setting and dealing with homework tasks.
Level 3: Consolidation of Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) Professional training
Description
Level 3 training provides participants with the opportunity to consolidate their mindfulness-based instructor training, under the supervision of experienced MBCT instructors from the teaching faculty. Trainees continue developing their MBCT instructor skills through initially working alongside an experienced co-facilitator conducting an MBCT group therapy course and then later independently conducting the course while receiving supervisory coaching. Level 3 training involves 44 contact hours on the part of the trainee with 32 hours from the supervisor, including shared delivery of MBCT or supervision.
UK network good practice guidelines for mindfulness-based courses
This MBCT professional training program at Southern Synergy has been constructed in alignment with the UK network for mindfulness-based teachers good practice guidelines. As such it offers:
- Personal participation in the mindfulness-based course that trainees will be learning to teach, including an in-depth personal experience of all the core meditation practices.
- An in-depth, rigorous mindfulness-based instructor training programme over a minimum 12 month period.
- Knowledge of the relevant underlying psychological processes, associated research and evidence-base practices required of a mindfulness-based instructor.
- Regular and personalised supervision by an experienced mindfulness-based teacher throughout the three levels of the mindfulness-based training program.
The revision and construction of the course in alignment with these guidelines, which have become generally available since we established earlier versions of the course, creates a sound reference point for the updated course content and process. Participants can be assured of receiving a training program which is consistent with sound training practices.
The role of a personal mindfulness practice
You do not need to be a meditator to enter this course. However, the expectation and requirement for delivery of MBCT is that participants either come to the course with familiarity with a mindfulness practice which they are willing to further explore, or alternatively be willing through the course to develop and maintain a personal mindfulness practice. We also strongly advocate retreat time as an important way to develop and consolidate mindfulness into your life, so enhancing the skill and authenticity you can bring to working with MBCT. Along with maintenance of a regular mindfulness practice, it is probably wise to assume that taking part in one or more week long retreats will likely be necessary to be able to demonstrate the relevant skills assessed in Level 3 of this program, those being providing good evidence of proficiency for clinical practice with MBCT.
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General purpose
Commenced in 2011, the purpose of this group is to provide a reflective peer supervision support for mental health professionals who have completed training in MBCT or significant training in another established mindfulness-based intervention and are facilitating groups in the community. The focus of the group is on MBCT group practices, processes and issues and the application of mindfulness theory and philosophy.
Activities
Activities may include:
- Discussion of clinical issues arising from practice
- Review of research articles and books
- Case presentations
- Open discussion of topical issues
- Review of videotaped session material
- Discussion of practical and administrative issues in running an MBCT group in private practice
- Opportunity to practice leading meditations
- Promotion of conferences and upcoming events relevant to the practice of mindfulness and training opportunities in this area
- Feedback from workshops/seminars
Examples of topics discussed:
- For whom is MBCT best suited?
- The pre-group interview
- Promoting adherence to MBCT
- Encouraging maintenance of practice
- The role of relaxation in mindfulness and MBCT
- Mindfulness in acute settings
- Mindfulness and suicide
- Booster groups
Cost
Free of charge
Venue
Zoom: Please email: southern.synergy@monash.edu for a link to be sent.
Day/Time
First Wednesday of the month, 4:30pm – 6:00pm
Dates for 2024 MBCT Peer Supervision
- Wednesday 7 February
- Wednesday 6 March
Mindfulness at Monash Health
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Monash Health staff, patients, family and community members are warmly welcome to attend our weekly mindfulness meditation sessions. Sessions are free and involve a variety of gentle movement, mindfulness and compassion practices.
For staff, some familiarity with mindfulness meditation can be helpful in maintaining personal equilibrium and in supporting an empathic approach to clients and patients. For patients and family members, mindfulness can assist in coping with the stress and pain of illness.
Sessions are facilitated by team members from Monash Health Spiritual Care and Southern Synergy.
Day: Every Thursday
Time: 2.30-3.00pm
Venue: Dandenong Hospital Sacred Space (near the main foyer on Level 2).There is no need for registration, please feel free to come.
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2022
- March 2022 (3.4mb, pdf)
- June 2022 (55mb, pdf)
- September 2022 (4.8mb, pdf)
- December 2022 (5.7mb, pdf)
2021
- March 2021 (4.4mb, pdf)
- September 2021 (4.4mb, pdf)
- December 2021 (3.8mb, pdf)
2020
- December 2020 (1.2 mb, pdf)
- September 2020 (573 kb,pdf)
- June 2020 (2.1 mb, pdf)
- March 2020 (510 kb,pdf)
2019
- December 2019 (834 kb,pdf)
- September 2019 (515 kb,pdf)
- June 2019 (481 kb,pdf)
- March 2019 (424 kb,pdf)
2018
- December 2018 (335 kb,pdf)
- September 2018 (248 kb,pdf)
- June 2018 (222 kb,pdf)
- March, 2018 (248kb,pdf)
2017
2016
2015
Mindfulness research
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About the DARE Project
This was a large study in the form of a randomised controlled trial of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) for people recruited from community settings who had at least 3 previous major depressive episodes.
The primary aim was to examine the effectiveness of MBCT on reducing participant experience of major depressive episodes compared with people receiving a supported self-monitoring program only. MBCT was delivered by practitioners recruited and trained in a manner feasible for adoption in regular clinical services.
Publications
Kearns NP, Shawyer F, Brooker JB, Graham AL, Enticott JC, Martin PR, et al. Does rumination mediate the relationship between mindfulness and depressive relapse? The British Psychological Society. 2016;89:33-49.
Shawyer F, Enticott JC, Ozmen M, Inder B, Meadows GN. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for recurrent major depression: A ‘best buy’ for health care? Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry. 2016;50:1001-13.
Meadows GN, Shawyer F, Enticott JC, Graham AL, Judd F, Martin PR, Piterman L, Segal Z. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for recurrent depression: A translational research study with 2-year follow-up. The final definitive version of this paper has been published in the Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry. 48(8):743-755, August 2014. You can also access the accepted version of the manuscript.
Shawyer F, Meadows GN, Judd F, Martin PR, Segal Z, Piterman L. The DARE study of relapse prevention in depression: design for a phase 1/2 translational randomised controlled trial involving mindfulness-based cognitive therapy and supported self monitoring. BMC Psychiatry. 2012 Jan 19;12:3.
Project status
The study is concluded and we are no longer recruiting participants.
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Background
Work-related stress is highly prevalent and constitutes a growing challenge for employees, employers and the wider community. In addition to having a detrimental impact on staff themselves, elevated stress among human services workers (e.g., disability support staff, mental health care workers) has been found to have an adverse impact on client-staff interactions and client wellbeing. Beyond human costs, workplace stress can adversely affect organisations through absenteeism, presenteeism, staff turnover, reduced job performance, counter-productive work behaviours, and compensation claims. (Presenteeism refers to the loss of productivity that occurs when employees attend work but perform below their usual capacity because of physical or mental illness).
Mindfulness programs are now a widely researched and a well-established method of dealing with work-related stress, anxiety and depression. The core program of Occupational Mindfulness (OM) uses many components from the evidence-based programs of Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy and Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction, as well as compatible elements of positive psychology. The core program is designed to accommodate customised "add-ins" for specific workforces, including frontline and workshop floor staff as well as executive staff.
An evaluation of Occupational Mindfulness for disability services staff
In 2010, a demonstration study was undertaken to examine the feasibility and effectiveness of the Occupational Mindfulness Training program in the Victorian disability sector.
This significant collaboration on ‘Occupational Mindfulness’ began in 2009 with a project exploring the effects of mindfulness training on staff effectiveness in residential settings for people with intellectual disability. The Office of the Senior Practitioner commissioned this work with the role of this office in oversight, commissioning, and monitoring of services for people in Victoria with intellectual disabilities. Initial negotiations on this project were carried out between the Office of the Senior Practitioner and John Julian from Southern Synergy while Graham Meadows took the role of oversight of research quality and integrity in management of the work including reporting as applicable to the arising contracts. The resulting program combining as it does elements of positive psychology, occupational stress management and mindfulness was developed and initially piloted during 2009. The findings from this study are described in the two papers described below, both published in Mindfulness.
Brooker, J., Julian, J., Webber, L., Chan, J., Shawyer, F., Meadows, G. (2013). Evaluation of an Occupational Mindfulness program for staff employed in the disability sector in Australia. Mindfulness, 4 (2), 122-136. (Special Issue: Mindfulness and Acceptance in Developmental Disabilities). doi: 10.007/s12671-012-0112-7. IF: 3.024; Q1; SJR: 1.132.
Brooker, J.E., Webber, L., Julian, J., Shawyer, F., Graham, A.L., Chan, J. Meadows, G. (2014). Mindfulness-based training shows promise in assisting staff to reduce their use of restrictive interventions in residential services. Mindfulness 5(5), 743-755. doi: 10.1007/s12671-014-0306-2. IF: 3.024; Q1; SJR: 1.132.
An evaluation of Occupational Mindfulness for mental health services staff
In further exploratory work, we subsequently conducted an evaluation of Occupational Mindfulness for mental health services staff. This specific study aimed to consider the impact of Occupational Mindfulness in the mental health field in a pilot for a cluster RCT-style evaluation. In particular, it considered the specific issues and impact of attempting to introduce such a program to a mental health ward setting and secondly, the issues involved in attempting to undertake a pragmatic and low cost RCT styled evaluation of a work place training program. The OM project was the setting for work of a Bachelor of Psychological Science and Business (Honours) student during 2013, who investigated the perceived stress of mental health services employees following an Occupational Mindfulness intervention at 3 hospital wards.
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About the Mindfulness and Medication Alliance
Background of the project
This exploratory project received competitive grant funding from the Victorian Centre for Excellence in Depressive Disorders from 2003 to 2006, with supplementary funding and support from Southern Health as well as from other Southern Synergy resources. This pilot study, set within a 2x2 factorial intervention design has been conducted with the Middle-South and Dandenong Primary Mental Health Teams.
The achievements of the pilot project
To establish capacity to deliver two novel clinical interventions; to establish capacity to conduct clinical trials research with these interventions including developing a bank of research assessors and to conduct pilot research involving both of the interventions. These experiences and findings provided preliminary data that was important in the success of an application for NHMRC project grant funding. The two interventions are each approaches to psychological treatments within comprehensive treatment and long term care of depression. Medication Alliance Therapy for Depression (MAT-D) was developed by Dr Mitchell Byrne and others at the University of Wollongong in collaboration with this group. It extends work the Wollongong team have been doing for some years with clinical case managers and treatment of schizophrenia so as to be applicable for responding to the needs of people with depression particularly in collaboration with primary care. MAT is intended as an intervention for delivery by primary care nursing staff.
Key findings of the pilot study
There presently are major organisational obstacles are in place in the way of engaging these practitioners in this kind of work, that the intervention in this setting would best be tested in a cluster randomised design and that the inclusion criteria for testing the intervention are different from those of MBCT.
Reforms currently planned by the Commonwealth Government may well change the workforce picture and the strategy at present with this intervention is to monitor developments through implementation of these reforms and then at a timely point make grant submissions to facilitate further examination of the technique. It is planned to introduce a version of the MAT package into training for registrars and medical officers in Southern Mental Health.
Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy is a group instruction technique developed in North America and the United Kingdom that involves a combination of specific meditation practices and cognitive therapy techniques. Key achievements of the pilot study were the establishment of strong collaborative links with the University of Toronto team working with MBCT, the establishment of a clinical program and a training scheme of the highest quality for clinical instructors here in Victoria, and the acquisition of pilot data that contributed to the success of a NHMRC grant application.
Key Centre Staff: Amanda Favilla, Annette Graham, Catharine McNab, Professor Graham Meadows.
Key Collaborators: Victorian Centre of Excellence in Depressive Disorders, Dandenong and Middle South Primary Mental Health Teams, Professor Wendy Cross, Dandenong and Middle South Divisions of General Practice, Anthony Cichello, Professor Zindel Segal (Toronto).
Final Report 2010
Project status
This project was funded as a pilot for a complex study.
We are no longer recruiting to the project but information on the project processes is left here for interest. The project served a critically important function in advancing research agendas around mindfulness research and also alliance therapies.
Further information
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- Hickey, T., Nelson, B., Enticott, J., & G, M. (2020 (in press). A mindfulness and compassion program for youth with psychotic symptoms: A pilot study. Early Intervention in Psychiatry.
- Francis, S., Shawyer, F., Cayoun, B., Enticott, J., & Meadows, G. (2020). Correction to: Study protocol for a randomized control trial to investigate the effectiveness of an 8-week mindfulness-integrated cognitive behavior therapy (MiCBT) transdiagnostic group intervention for primary care patients. BMC Psychiatry, 20(1), 136. doi:10.1186/s12888-020-02534-y
- Frances, S., Shawyer, F., Cayoun, B., Enticott, J., & Meadows, G. (2020). Study protocol for a randomized control trial to investigate the effectiveness of an 8-week mindfulness-integrated cognitive behavior therapy (MiCBT) transdiagnostic group intervention for primary care patients. BMC Psychiatry, 20(1), 1-13. doi:10.1186/s12888-019-2411-1
- Hickey, T., Pen Name, E., Nelson, B., & Meadows, G. (2019). Mindfulness and compassion for youth with psychotic symptoms: A description of a group program and a consumer’s experience. Psychosis, 11(4), 342-349. doi:10.1080/17522439.2019.1639800
- Hickey, T., Buck, K., Lao, S.-A., Nelson, B., & Meadows, G. (2019). The use of formal criteria to assess psychological models of hallucinations: a systematic review. Psychosis, 11(3), 238-247. doi:10.1080/17522439.2019.1607892
- Shawyer, F., Farhall, J., Thomas, N., Hayes, S. C., Gallop, R., Copolov, D., & Castle, D. J. (2017). Acceptance and commitment therapy for psychosis: randomised controlled trial. British Journal of Psychiatry, 210, 140-148. doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.116.182865
- Meadows, G., & Shawyer, F. (2017). Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy delays depressive relapse across demographic subgroups. Evidence Based Mental Health, 20(1). doi:10.1136/eb-2016-102526
- Hickey, T., Nelson, B., & Meadows, G. (2017). Application of a mindfulness and compassion-based approach to the at-risk mental state. Clinical Psychologist, 21(2), 104-115. doi:10.1111/cp.12132
- Shawyer, F., Enticott, J. C., Ozmen, M., Inder, B., & Meadows, G. N. (2016). Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for recurrent major depression: A ‘best buy’ for health care? Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 50, 1001-1013. doi:10.1177/0004867416642847
- Meadows, G., & Shawyer, F. (2016). Mindfulness- and Meditation-Based Healthcare Approach Implications for Prevention, Detection, and Treatment in Cardiology. In M. E. Alvarenga & D. Byrne (Eds.), Handbook of Psychocardiology (pp. 1023-1041).
- Lao, S.-A., Kissane, D., & Meadows, G. (2016). Cognitive effects of MBSR/MBCT: A systematic review of neuropsychological outcomes. Consciousness and Cognition, 45, 109-123. doi:10.1016/j.concog.2016.08.017
- Kearns, N. P., Shawyer, F., Brooker, J. B., Graham, A. L., Enticott, J. C., Martin, P. R., & Meadows, G. N. (2016). Does rumination mediate the relationship between mindfulness and depressive relapse? The British Psychological Society, 89, 33-49. doi:10.1111/papt.12064
- Advocat, J., Enticott, J., Vandenberg, B., Hassed, C., Hester, J., & Russell, G. (2016). The effects of a mindfulness-based lifestyle program for adults with Parkinson's disease: a mixed methods, wait list controlled randomised control study. BMC Neurol, 16, 166. doi:10.1186/s12883-016-0685-1
- Shawyer, F., & Farhall, J. (2015). Acceptance-based CBT for command hallucinations: rationale, implementation, outcomes and reflections from the TORCH project. In B. A. Guadiano (Ed.), Incorporating Acceptance and Mindfulness in the Treatment of Psychosis (pp. 108-149). New York: Oxford University Press.
- Prowse, P. D., Meadows, G. N., & Enticott, J. C. (2015). An Exploratory Study into the Effectiveness of Fidelity Scales in the Delivery of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy. Mindfulness, 6(6), 1401-1410. doi:10.1007/s12671-015-0412-9
- Prowse, P.-T. D., Nagel, T., & Meadows, G. N. (2015). The Development of a MBCT Self-Assessment Scale. Journal of Depression and Anxiety, 4(4), 1-7. doi:10.4200/2167-1044.1000201
- Thomas, N., Shawyer, F., Castle, D. J., Copolov, D., Hayes, S. C., & Farhall, J. (2014). A randomised controlled trial of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) for psychosis: study protocol. BMC Psychiatry, 14, 198. doi:10.1186/1471-244x-14-198
- Meadows, G. N., Shawyer, F., Enticott, J. C., Graham, A. L., Judd, F., Martin, P. R., . . . Segal, Z. (2014). Mindfulness-Based cognitive therapy for recurrent depression: A translational research study with 2 -year follow-up. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 1-13. doi: 10.1177/0004867414525841
- Brooker, J. E., Webber, L., Julian, J., Shawyer, F., Graham, A. L., Chan, J., & Meadows, G. (2014). Mindfulness-based Training Shows Promise in Assisting Staff to Reduce Their Use of Restrictive Interventions in Residential Services. Mindfulness, 5(5), 598-603. doi:10.1007/s12671-014-0306-2
- Thomas, N., Morris, E. M. J., Shawyer, F., & Farhall, J. (2013). Acceptance and commitment therapy for voices. In E. M. J. Morris, L. C. Johns, & J. E. Oliver (Eds.), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Mindfulness for Psychosis (pp. 95-111). West Sussex: Wiley-Blackwell.
- Shawyer, F., Thomas, N., Morris, E. M. J., & Farhall, J. (2013). Theory on voices. In E. M. J. Morris, L. C. Johns, & J. E. Oliver (Eds.), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Mindfulness for Psychosis (pp. 12-32). West Sussex: Wiley-Blackwell.
- Farhall, J., Shawyer, F., Thomas, N., & Morris, E. M. J. (2013). Clinical assessment and assessment measures. In E. M. J. Morris, L. C. Johns, & J. E. Oliver (Eds.), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Mindfulness for Psychosis (pp. 47-63). West Sussex: Wiley-Blackwell.
- Shawyer, F., Meadows, G. N., Judd, F., Martin, P. R., Segal, Z., & Piterman, L. (2012). The DARE study of relapse prevention in depression: design for a phase 1/2 translational randomised controlled trial involving mindfulness-based cognitive therapy and supported self monitoring. BMC Psychiatry, 12(3), 1-10. doi:1471-244X-12-3 [pii]
- Shawyer, F., Farhall, J., Mackinnon, A., Trauer, T., Sims, E., Ratcliff, K., . . . Copolov, D. (2012). A randomised controlled trial of acceptance-based cognitive behavioural therapy for command hallucinations in psychotic disorders. Behav Res Ther, 50(2), 110-121. doi:10.1016/j.brat.2011.11.007
- Farhall, J., Harvey, C., Kazantzis, N., King, R., Meadows, G., O’Hanlon, B., . . . Young, J. (2012). Psychological Therapies. In G. Meadows, J. Farhall, E. Fossey, M. Grigg, F. McDermott, & B. Singh (Eds.), Mental Health in Australia: Collaborative Community Practice (3rd ed.). Melbourne: Oxford University Press.
- Brooker, J., Julian, J., Webber, L., Chan, J., Shawyer, F., & Meadows, G. (2012). Evaluation of an Occupational Mindfulness Program for Staff Employed in the Disability Sector in Australia. Mindfulness, 4, 122-136. doi:10.1007/s12671-012-0112-7
- Patten, S. B., & Meadows, G. N. (2009). Population-Based Service Planning for Implementation of MBCT: Linking epidemiologic data to practice. Psychiatric Services, 60(11), 1540-1542. doi:10.1176/ps.2009.60.11.1540
- Academic Mindfulness Interest Group, M., & Academic Mindfulness Interest Group, M. (2006). Mindfulness-Based Psychotherapies: A Review of Conceptual Foundations, Empirical Evidence and Practical Considerations. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 40(4), 285-294. doi:10.1080/j.1440-1614.2006.01794.x
- Meadows, G. (2003). Buddhism and psychiatry: confluence and conflict. Australiasian Psychiatry, 11(1), 16-20. doi: 10.1046/j.1440-1665.2003.00517.x
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- Professor Graham Meadows discusses the use of 'mindfulness' in practice with implementation into psychological clinical interventions and gives an overview of the challenges and controversies mindfulness-based Interventions encounter in terms of translational research into mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression:
- Meadows, G., Cichello, A., Shawyer, F., Enticott, J. Mindfulness based cognitive therapy and depression: A policy translation challenge considered in Australia. Presented by Professor Meadows at the 2nd International Conference on Mindfulness in Rome, Italy, May 2016.
- Meadows and Maura Kenny discuss "Mindfulness: finding calm in the chaos" in 2014 at RiAus (Royal Institution of Australia):
09/08/2017 - Mindfulness - Lost in Translation? From efficacy to effectiveness, economics, implementation and dissemination in the science of mindfulness based interventions.
https://obrieniph.ucalgary.ca/events/chsobrien-seminar-series
Professor Meadows and other collaborators mentioned in the introduction assert the right to the intellectual property in this presentation.
- In 2013, Southern Synergy was actively involved in hosting the Mindfulness, Science and Practice conference in Melbourne. The conference included a video-presented interview with Stephen Batchelor recorded for the conference based on questions around the conference themes followed by a live Q&A session with Stephen via video-conferencing from France. The recorded interview can be accessed below. Although the content is not of professional standard, being pre-recorded during a trip to India, the content may be of interest and value.
YouTube video (52.08 min) Prof Graham Meadows interviews Stephen Batchelor on the topic of Mindfulness -
Mindfulness and compassion for youth with early, subclinical or brief psychotic symptoms - Tara Hickey
Tara’s thesis by publication completed in 2021 centrally involved developing and evaluating a group-based mindfulness and compassion program (MAC-P) for youth with early psychotic experiences. Participants experienced reduced self-criticism, large improvements in self-compassion, acting with awareness, in positive psychotic symptoms and a reduction in distress associated with these. Tara is actively pursuing further publications from this work.
Publications
- Hickey, T., Nelson, B., Enticott, J., & G, M. (2021). The MAC-P program: A pilot study of a mindfulness and compassion program for youth with psychotic experiences. Early Intervention in Psychiatry, 15 (5), 1326-1334.
- Hickey, T., Nelson, B., Enticott, J., & Meadows, G. (2022). [Letter to the Editor] The potential role of self-criticism in distress related to attenuated symptoms and the implications for clinical trajectory. Schizophrenia Research, 243: 298-299.
- Hickey, T., Buck, K., Nelson, B. & Meadows, G. (2019). The use of formal criteria to assess psychological models of hallucinations: a systematic review. Psychosis: Psychological, Social and Integrative Approaches, 11(3), 238-247.
- Hickey, T., Pen Name, E., Nelson, B., & Meadows, G. (2019). Mindfulness and compassion for youth with psychotic symptoms: A description of a group program and a consumer’s experience. Psychosis: Psychological, Social and Integrative Approaches, 11(4), 342-349.
- Hickey, T., Nelson, B. & Meadows, G. (2017). Application of a mindfulness and compassion-based approach to the at risk mental state. Clinical Psychologist, 21(2) 104-115.
Evaluation of Mindfulness-integrated cognitive behaviour therapy (MiCBT) as a transdiagnostic group intervention for depression and anxiety in a primary care setting - Sarah Francis
MiCBT is trans-diagnostic intervention for the treatment of psychological issues which integrates cognitive behaviour therapy strategies with mindfulness techniques. It has a particular emphasis on the development of interoceptive awareness (awareness of body sensations), metacognitive awareness (awareness of thinking) and equanimity which are developed independently and simultaneously. MiCBT is a promising intervention but under-researched, particularly in the transdiagnostic context for which it was developed. The aim of Sarah’s project is to evaluate the effectiveness of MiCBT in a “real life” clinical setting of private practice for a range of psychological conditions. The secondary aim is to examine mechanisms underpinning MiCBT. Sarah is in the final stages of her PhD.
Publications
- Francis, S., Shawyer, F., Cayoun, B., Enticott, J., & Meadows, G. (2020). Erratum: Study protocol for a randomized control trial to investigate the effectiveness of an 8-week mindfulness-integrated cognitive behavior therapy (MiCBT) transdiagnostic group intervention for primary care patients BMC Psychiatry, 20(1), [136]. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-020-02534-y
- Frances, S., Shawyer, F., Cayoun, B. et al.(2020). Study protocol for a randomized control trial to investigate the effectiveness of an 8-week mindfulness-integrated cognitive behavior therapy (MiCBT) transdiagnostic group intervention for primary care patients. BMC Psychiatry 20, 7. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-019-2411-1
- Francis, S.E.B., Shawyer, F., Cayoun, B.A., Enticott, J., Meadows, G. (2022). Group mindfulness-integrated cognitive behavior therapy (MiCBT) reduces depression and anxiety and improves flourishing in a transdiagnostic primary care sample compared to a treatment-as-usual. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 13: 815170. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.815170
Under review
- Francis, S.E.B., Shawyer, F., Cayoun, B.A., Grabovac, A., Meadows, G.N. Differentiating Mindfulness-integrated Cognitive Behavior Therapy (MiCBT) and Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) clinically: the why, how, and what of evidence-based practice. Frontiers in Psychology.