Phase 3: Group Consultation and Implementation Support

Fridays from 12:00 - 2:00 MDT / 6:00 - 8:00 pm UTC: August 18th, August 25th, September 1st & September 8th, 2023

Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP) is an empirically supported intervention which integrates mindfulness meditation practices with cognitive behavioral relapse prevention to empower individuals to achieve and maintain recovery. MBRP aims to support clients in cultivating greater awareness of internal and external discomfort, strengthen distress tolerance through the cultivation of a non-judgmental and accepting stance to the present moment, and respond to challenging experiences with intention. With mindfulness practice at its foundation, it is vital that clinicians offering the program have their own first- person experience with and rich understanding of this tradition of meditation practice. This training program offers the opportunity for treatment providers to build and deepen one’s personal practice as a means of supporting others along their path to wellbeing.

Learning Objectives:

Phase 1:

-  Outline the primary intentions of mindfulness meditation

-  Describe the differences between relaxation techniques and mindfulness meditation

-  Develop or deepen personal mindfulness practice through periods of formal meditation

-  Integrate mindfulness-based approaches to daily life activities and challenges

Phase 2:

-  Demonstrate a theoretical and experiential understanding of the principles underlying MBRP

-  Describe the integration of cognitive behavioral and mindfulness-based approaches for addictions treatment

-  Illustrate the arc of training over the 8-week clinical protocol

-  Effectively lead mindfulness practices

-  Effectively facilitate topic-specific MBRP exercises

-  Describe the model underlying inquiry

-  Demonstrate skillful facilitation of inquiry

-  Recognize and describe common clinical issues that arise in MBRP sessions

-  Recognize and skillfully work with common barriers to daily mindfulness practice

-  Describe alternative formats to better serve diverse populations and clinical contexts

-  Discuss primary research findings from MBRP clinical trials

Phase 3:

-  Identify personal challenges and areas for growth in facilitating MBRP

-  Explore practices that target specific cognitive and behavioral client patterns

-  Maintain personal mindfulness practice

-  Strengthen integration of personal mindfulness practice with clinical delivery

The Trainers:

Elena Stein, Ph.D. is a clinical psychology postdoctoral fellow at the Center of Excellence in Substance Addiction Treatment & Education at the Puget Sound VA Healthcare System, Seattle Division. Her research and clinical interests focus on mindfulness-based approaches for addictive behaviors and co-occurring mental health conditions, as well as incorporating contextual and cultural considerations. She has facilitated several intensive training in Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention for multidisciplinary mental health clinicians. She has implemented mindfulness-based approaches in a wide range of settings including state agencies, community mental health clinics, VA hospitals, randomized clinical trials, and in both individual and group formats.

Ikela Moniz-Lewis, M.S., is a Clinical Psychology Ph.D. student at the University of New Mexico. He has experience delivering MBRP in a variety of treatment contexts, including as a state certified substance use counselor in a harm-reduction treatment program. His research primarily focuses on the processes by which mindfulness-based interventions support recovery for individuals with substance use disorders, particularly those historically marginalized and underserved backgrounds.