Mindfulness

Self-compassion can help young people to deal with discomfort, self-criticism, self-isolation and worrying. Unfortunately, not many teens and young adults know about this powerful tool and a lot of them have serious issues.

Recently, the latest book by Christopher Germer and Kristin Neff, the developers of the Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) training, was published: "Teaching the Mindful Self-Compassion Program: a guide for professionals".

For mindful self-compassion teachers inquiry is probably one of the most interesting parts of the MSC course as it is a wonderful way supporting the participant to gain insights. At the same time, many teachers experience inquiry as challenging.

Over the past 2 decades, popular and scientific interest in mindfulness has rapidly developed. Yet, in recent years, critical voices have emerged. Scientists A. Berstein, D. Vago and T. Barnhofer invited more than 100 scholars to write 57 papers critically reflecting on the extant data. Results are now published as a special issue in the Current Opinion in Psychology.

Recently Anabel Büchner joined a Mindful Self-Compassion intensive taught by Kristin Neff and Christopher Germer. What did she personally learn from the course? Anabel shares her experiences in this article.

Blog by dr. Ronald Epstein. As a palliative care physician and a primary care physician, I am always aware of the centrality of presence. Patients value a sense of shared presence with their physician and with their care team.

From 7 to 11 May you can follow the international online summit "Mindfulness & Compassion at Work". Participation is free. Wibo Koole, director and co-founder of the Centrum voor Mindfulness, is one of the keynote speakers during this 5-day event.

We are very proud to announce that we now have a newsletter in English. Over the last five years the Centrum voor Mindfulness in Amsterdam has increasingly hosted international courses and teacher training programs.

Wednesday, February 13, Chris Ruan, Labor Member of Parliament and for many years promoter of mindfulness in society, gave a warm plea for a mindful UK after Brexit. Prime Minister May confirmed the effects of mindfulness training.

As of the start of 2019, the CvM is offering weekly meditation evenings in English to everybody who wants to boost their practice. Kim Brice is one of the teachers. In this article she describes how she feels about the importance of personal practice, and what it means to her to offer meditation at the CvM.

On Thursday January 24th Susan Bögels, professor of mindfulness at the UvA and teacher and trainer at the Centrum voor Mindfulness, will give a presentation on mindfulness and relations within the family at SPUI25 in Amsterdam.

Christopher Germer and Wibo Koole are inviting you for a 6 day program Mindful Self-Compassion at work Februari 2019 in California USA. Self-Compassion reduces stress and anxiety, giving rise to improved mental well-being, emotional resilience, physical health, and personal relationships.

Professor Mindfulness and psychotherapist at the University of Amsterdam Susan Bögels will strengthen CVM's programs for Mindfulness for Parents and Children. Together with her academic colleagues Eva Potharst and Irena Veringa, she will teach national and international (English spoken) course and teacher trainings in the areas of Mindful Parenting, Mindful Childbirth and Parenting, Mindful with Your Baby and Mindfulness for Children and Youth.

Over 100+ MSC teachers from 22 countries gathered this summer at the first MSC International Teacher Festival in the best summer weather one could imagine in the Netherlands.

Jon Kabat-Zinn, the founder of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), spoke at a conference in October 2017 in the British House of Parliament in Londen. Politicions from more than 10 countries, the Netherlands included, had gathered there to brainstorm how mindfulness can influence politics and policy. At the highest level people are convinced of the power of mindfulness.