Building Brain Fitness Through Mindfulness Training Holly-Ann Boyle, CTRS Medical University of South Carolina Hospital, Institute of Psychiatry 2 North Child and Adolescent Unit

Learning Objective 1 Identify three benefits of performing evidence-based RT practice Learning Objective 2 Identify one evidence based mindfulness intervention to implement within recreation therapy Learning Objective 3 Identify and cite three evidence based articles on mindfulness pertinent to recreation therapy. Session Objectives

 Mindfulness is a state of mind characterized by focusing on the present situation, and by increasing awareness of the physical sensations and emotions in the here-and-now with acceptance, lack of judgment, and without assigning them meanings or interpreting them (Kabat-Zinn et al., 1992). What Mindfulness is

What Mindfulness is not

Types of Mindfulness Based Therapies  Mindfulness based stress reduction (MBSR)  Acceptance and Commitment therapy (ACT)  Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCBT)  Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction  8 Weeks  2.5 hours of training per week  Mindful Meditation  Mindful Walking  Yoga

 Improved function in regulating emotional responding.  Improved SX management in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Depression, Eating Disorders, Substance Abuse, Anxiety Disorders, Chronic Pain  Increased Gray matter Density in the Fontal Lobe  Increase in empathic responses  Improving Quality of Life!! Benefits of Mindfulness

 PCC- (Posterior Cingulate Cortex)  TPJ -(Temporo-parietal Junction)  Hippocampus  Amygdala  Cerebellum All of the structures identified focus on attention and sense of self including remembering the past, thinking about the future and considering the viewpoints of others that allow for us to consider alternative perspectives. This is your Brain on Mindfulness

Posterior Cingulate Cortex  Introspective observation  Multi-Tasking  Attention  Memory  Social Functioning

Temporo-parietal Junction  Responsible for level of consciousness or sense of self  Attention and social interactions  Feelings of compassion  Desires and goals

Hippocampus  located within the brain's medial temporal lobe and forms an important part of the limbic system.  Contributes to the regulation of emotion.  Plays an important role in meditation

Amygdala  an almond shaped mass of cells located deep within the temporal lobe of the brain.  Part of the limbic system that is involved in many of our emotions and motivations.  Responsible for perceived stress.

Cerebellum  Responsible for sensory perception, coordination, motor control, regulation of motor control and cognition.

Mindful Meditation  Meditation helps alleviate stress and can benefit many different bodily processes, such as reducing blood pressure to more normal levels.

HEADSPACE

Mindful Walking  walking meditation the focus on the sensation of walking. You focus on your movement as opposed to your breath. In walking meditation, you’re not trying to get anywhere.

Yoga  Pranayama, Yoga  Utilizes movement with focus on the breath to stabilize the mind.

Mindful Eating

Psychoeducation and results measurement  The Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire  The five facets are observing; (1)Observing (2)Describing (3)Acting with awareness (4)Non-judging of inner experience (5)Non-reactivity to inner experience.

Psychological Benefits  Decreased rumination and other depressive symptoms  Decrease in emotional reactivity  Improved focus  Improved relationships  Enhanced working memory  Reduction in Symptoms of anxiety  Stress Reduction  Increased Intuitiveness  Improved ability to handle challenges effectively  Increased Self Awareness

Physical Benefits  Stronger immune System  Better Sleep  Improved digestion  Decrease in Chronic Pain  Lower Blood Pressure

Additional Training

Research Articles  Baer, R. A., Smith, G. T., Hopkins, J., Krietemeyer, J., & Toney, L. (2006). Using self-report assessment methods to explore facets of mindfulness. Assessment, 13,  Center for Mindfulness in Medicine Healthcare and Society. (2014). Retrieved April 11, 2016, from reduction/ reduction/  Holzel, B. K., Carmody, J., Vangel, M., Congleton, C., Yerramestti, S. M., Gard, T., & Lazar, S. W. (january 30th, 2011). Mindfulness Practice Leads to Increases in regional brain gray matter density. PUB MED, Retrieved April 11, 2016, from 9/  Sanger, K. L., & Dorjee, D. (2015). Mindfulness training for adolescents: A neurodevelopmental perspective on investigating modifications in attention and emotion regulation using event- related brain potentials. Cogn Affect Behavioral Neuroscience, doi: /s  Segal Z, Teasdale J, Williams M (2002). Mindfulness- based cognitive therapy for depression: a new approach to preventing relapse. New York: The Guilford Press.  Pagnoni G, Cecic M, Guo Y (2008). “Thinking about non-thinking”: neural correlates of conceptual processing during Zen meditation. PloS ONE 3(9) e3083 doi: /journal.pone nal.pone

Research Continued  Baer RA (2003) Mindfulness-Based Treatment Approaches: Clinician's Guide To Evidence And Applications, Academic Press: San Diego  Grossman P, Niemann L, Schmidt S et al. (2004). Mindfulness-based stress reduction and health benefits: a meta-analysis. Journal of Psychosomatic Research ─ 43.  Jha AP, Krompinger J, Baime MJ (2007). Mindfulness training modifies subsystems of attention. Cognitive, Affective & Behavioral Neuroscience 7 109–119.  American Psychological Association. (2012). The Impact of Stress. Retrieved from: /impact.aspx?item=2 /impact.aspx?item=2  Goldin, P. & Gross, J. (2010). Effects of mindfulness- based stress reduction (MBSR) on emotion regulation in social anxiety disorder. Emotion. 10,  The Mental Health Foundation. (2010). The Mindfulness Report. Retrieved from: ulness_Report.pdf ulness_Report.pdf  Hofmann, S. G., Sawyer, A. T., Witt, A. A., & Oh, D. (2010). The effect of mindfulness-based therapy on anxiety and depression: A meta-analytic review. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. 78,

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