Mindfulness for Treating Trauma

Mindfulness & Body Based Practices for Helping Clients with Trauma Join us on a journey to understand how trauma interrupts the well being of those we serve, and how we can help support healing. Through the exploration of Buddhist principles, meditation practice and therapeutic methods, we will experientially learn how the awareness cultivated through meditation can help us relate to our own experience of discomfort with more acceptance, embodying the way to healing. With the goal of a clearer understanding of the experiences of those we work with, we will learn basic principles of how trauma is stored in the body, and engage in somatic practices to facilitate trauma release. Our work together will be aimed at both helping clients navigate their own experiences, as well as cultivating compassion within ourselves. This retreat is open to helping professionals which may include those in the mental health or medical fields, mediators, educators or outreach workers, and is designed to create a deeper understanding of trauma response patterns, as well as to introduce techniques useful in guiding clients toward more self acceptance and healing. Incorporating Mindfulness & Meditation We will explore several Buddhist principles, and learn how mindfulness and awareness can be accessed through meditation practice to help us relate to our own experience of discomfort, with the goal of understanding clients’ experiences and helping guide them toward more self acceptance and healing. Our work together will be aimed at both helping clients navigate their own experience as well as cultivating compassion in our work with them. Experiential Learning Our intention is to foster a shared learning experience. With fellow practitioners, you'll participate in experiential exercises and explore what we practice through engaging group discussions. This collaborative environment will serve to promote personal growth and collective wisdom, equipping you with tools and techniques to take back with you to your professional practice. Recommended reading: Peter Levine’s Waking the Tiger Continuing Education Units This retreat has been approved by the Vermont Office of Professional Regulation for 10 continuing education units for all Vermont Allied Mental Health practitioners. Please check with your individual state office of professional regulation for CUE information outside of Vermont. CEU Pricing : Note that the pricing for the program does not include the CEU fee which is an additional $75. If you would like CEU credit for the program, you can use this link to pay the additional fee.   Program Schedule Friday 6:30 - Dinner 7:30 - Introduction to the Program, Meditation Saturday 7:00 - Meditation Practice 8:00 - Breakfast 9:30 - Workshop I - The evolutionary purposes of the anxious brain and body; trauma response patterns; neuroplasticity 12:30 - Lunch 2:00 - Free time 3:00 - Qigong 4:00 - Tea Time 5:00 - Workshop II - Intro to somatic focus work and discussion 6:30 - Dinner 7:30 - Workshop III - Somatic practices and discussion Sunday 7:00 - Meditation Practice 8:00 - Breakfast 9:30 - Workshop - IV - Discussion, group activity, practice 12:30 - Group Lunch Arrival & Departure Please plan to arrive on Friday, between 2:00pm and 6:00pm to register and settle in. Dinner is served at 6:30pm. The program will begin at 7:30pm. The program formally concludes on Sunday, with a luncheon at 12:30pm. Getting Here Visit our Directions and Transportation page to see different options for traveling to Karmê Chöling. Note: A 50% deposit is required to reserve your accommodation.