 Hello!
Welcome to the CMA newsletter for Spring 2017.
A lot has happened here at CMA over the past few months. We have been expanding and brainstorming and look forward to having some big things to share with you soon!
CMA is a volunteer run organisation. Over the past months, our executive committee has doubled in size with new members from around Australia. Please officially welcome Rebecca Penrose, Tara Hickey, Hayley Quinn, Amy Finlay-Jones, Melanie Zimmermann and Kobie Allison. They have already begun to share their expertise and passion, and it is our hope that with fresh faces and new ideas we can do more to build and promote a compassionate community.
Perhaps the most visible development is the new-look CMA website which Amy has kindly been wokring on - https://www.compassionatemind.org.au/ - please check it out! Amy is in the process of transferring all the content from the previous website across to this one, so if you are looking for something in particular but can't find it on the new site, simply email us at info@compassionatemind.org.au and we'll send it through. We appreciate your understanding as we upgrade.
The CMA team has also been working at co-organising some fantastic workshops for November and December, delivered by the internationally renowned speaker and therapist Paul Gilbert. Check out the details below. There will be a CMA representative at each workshop so please come and say 'Hi'!
Finally - if you haven't already, please head over to our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/CompassionateMindAus/ and like us to keep updated with new research, resources, events and news related to compassion focused approaches. We hope to see you there!
Until next time,
Tiegan Holtham
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Development and Evaluation of a Mindfulness with Compassion Program for Risk of Psychosis and Psychosis
Dr Tara Hickey
Psychological interventions based on mindfulness and compassion approaches have been found to be beneficial across a range of mental health problems. However, the application of these approaches to psychosis has received little attention. To address this gap Dr Tara Hickey, clinical psychologist, mindfulness teacher and a Southern Synergy PhD candidate, developed a mindfulness-based compassion program based on best practice guidelines for youth at risk of psychosis or have experienced a psychotic episode.
A detailed rationale for the development of the program can be found in an article published in a Special Issue on Compassion by the Clinical Psychology journal http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cp.2017.21.issue-2/issuetoc. In brief, common psychotic experiences include hallucinations, delusions coupled with depression, anxiety, insecure attachment style and difficulties with daily functioning. In particular, voice tones are often hostile or critical and paranoia is associated with a self-attacking inner dialogue. Mindfulness and compassion are emotion regulation strategies that have the potential to tone down these threatening experiences by enhancing a sense of safety and reassurance.
The feasibility and acceptability of this program is currently being evaluated as part of the pilot study with clients from Monash Health, Alfred Health Early Psychosis Programs and Headspace within the South Eastern region of Melbourne. The results of the study are expected late 2018 and if they are found to be promising, then the program will warrant further investigation to further test the feasibility of offering the program as part of standard treatment. Tara’s work is being supervised by Prof Graham Meadows at Monash University and Assoc Prof Barnaby Nelson at Melbourne University.
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*Involved in some exciting or innovative research? Contact us to be featured in the Summer newsletter!
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Morning Coffee Gratitude Practice
With the arrival of Spring, we welcome the new season and the opportunity for fresh beginnings. But it is also helpful to look back, or around, and see what is here now - what are you grateful for today?
There are many popular gratitude exercises, including writing a daily or weekly gratitude journal, but being grateful does not have to be just another chore in your day. Research suggests we benefit from even very informal gratitude practice, and it can be as simple as your morning coffee.
One of the best ways to start your day off well is to spend a few minutes thinking of the things you are grateful for. If you are worried about finding the time, tie this into your regular morning coffee (of course if you don't drink coffee, any pleasurable daily morning activity will do!)
While you're having a sip of your golden brew, sit back and take a moment to list the things in your life you are grateful for. Let the coffee be your muse - you could start with the following:
- the warmth of the mug you are holding
- the aroma of the coffee
- the beautiful morning
- the moment of peace before the day really starts
- the beginning of new possibilities
From there, cast your view over whatever makes you smile. Before you know it, your daily coffee will be giving you more of a boost than ever.
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Upcoming Events
Paul Gilbert, FBPsS, PhD, OBE is Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Derby and Consultant Clinical Psychologist at the Derbyshire Health Care Foundation Trust. He has researched evolutionary approaches to psychopathology for over 35 years with a special focus on shame and the treatment of shame based difficulties, for which compassion focused therapy (CFT) was developed. He has written and edited 20 books and established the Compassionate Mind Foundation in 2006. He was awarded an OBE in March 2011.
Paul will be offering 3 workshops in late 2017:
Introduction to Compassion Focused Therapy - Nov 15-17 (Abbotsford, VIC).
Cost: $950, early bird $890 (1st Oct).
Compassionate Mind Training: A Personal Practice Workshop - Nov 20-22 (Byron Bay, NSW)
Cost: $950, early bird $890 (1st Oct).
Compassion Focused Therapy - Advanced Clinical Skills - Nov 29-Dec 1 (Brisbane, QLD)
Cost: $950, early bird $890 (1st Oct).
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Paul will be supported by CMA members James Bennett-Levy and James Kirby in his NSW and QLD workshops respectively.
Early bird special ends soon so don't miss out!
For more information and to register, head to https://www.compassionatemind.org.au/new-events/
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