TAFE Queensland Brisbane s TAFE Services Conference 2016 Where s your head at? Connecting to the here and now to focus on what s important. Dr Rob Purssey MBBS FRANZCP Psychiatrist and ACT therapist Director, Brisbane ACT Centre 7 Marie St Milton QLD 4064 rob@brisbaneactcentre.com.au
Brisbane ACT Centre - QLD s centre of expertise in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). ACT = mindfulness-based modern CBT Ease suffering, engage strengths. Increase resilient, valued living. Positive, clinical psychology skills. Clarify what really matters & increase your sense of purpose and meaning
Where s your head at? MINDFULNESS What IS this new fad all about? MEDITATION??? For hippies and new age types, isn t it? SITUATIONAL AWARENESS Health and Safety stuff, surely?
Benefits of Mindfulness in Life + Work improve focus and concentration increase self-awareness reduce the impact of stressful thoughts and feelings build better relationships catch self-defeating behaviours, and do more effective ones be aware of self-defeating thought processes, and 'let them go' 3 KEY BENEFITS: improve performance, reduce stress, and more satisfaction in work and life.
Paying attention in a particular way on purpose in the present moment and non-judgementally Jon Kabat-Zinn (1994)
Consciously bringing simple awareness to your here-and-now experience, with openness, interest and receptiveness. (The Happiness Trap Russ Harris)
MINDFULNESS (aka meditation) IS NOT! NOT all about RELAXATION! (wha?!?) in fact, frustration, boredom, anxiety may arise and that s fine, simply notice, and refocus
MINDFULNESS (meditation) DOES NOT! Does NOT CLEAR THE MIND (hey?!?) in fact your mind s gonna go nuts! Happily wandering off into the past and the future
SO, just bring your attention back, again and again, to your breath (or whatever)
MINDFULNESS OF THE BREATH Why the breath? Well, it s nothing fancy really 1. It s available, if you re alive you re probably breathing 2. It s just the sense of touch, plus it s moving! 3. + You can close your eyes, or simply focus on a still quiet point to decrease distractions
Simply noticing the breath
GUIDED MINDFULNESS TOOLS get em where you re living on your smartphones
GUIDED MINDFULNESS TOOLS SIMPLE MINDFULNESS MEDITATION FOR THE DIGITAL GENERATION i.e. ALL OF US!
ACT Coach free Apple only app from US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
If you can make the time, great! but many of us simply don t, or can t
Let me introduce a simple model A simple, and novel POINT OF VIEW which can Help you be MORE PRESENT IN THE MOMENT And MORE ENGAGED IN DOING WHAT YOU CARE ABOUT the ACT matrix! (ta da!)
Would you like to have? MORE valued living? And LESS struggle with stress?
8 minute YouTube of this warmup! Watch the sexy Kevin Polk! Learn this simple model! and BE MORE HERE AND NOW KNOW WHAT MATTERS DO WHAT WORKS
Free e-book 77 pages, brief, easy skills training! To be emailed out, along with The Matrix warmup link Other simple, free resources
Mindfulness (be here now) + Values (know what matters) + Action (do what works) = Psychological Flexibility (living your life more freely, fully, and effectively) Being where you are and doing what s important to YOU!
Working with TAFE students and staff
Working with TAFE students and staff
Matrix home practice SIMPLY NOTICE from time to time What you are doing, in this very moment does it Feel more like a TOWARD move, or an AWAY move?
SIMPLE DAILY 5 SENSES NOTICING! During your morning routine, practice 5 senses during BREAKFAST and TEETH During your daily routine, practice 5 senses during SHOWER / FACE and TEETH During the week, practice 5 senses experiencing doing chores - WASHING UP, LAUNDRY, MOWING THE LAWN, WHILST AT WORK You re doing them anyway SO why not practice noticing?
Matrix home practice SIMPLY NOTICE from time to time What you are doing, in this very moment does it Feel more like a TOWARD move, or an AWAY move?
Dr Rob Purssey MBBS FRANZCP Psychiatrist and ACT therapist Director, Brisbane ACT Centre 7 Marie St Milton QLD 4064 rob@brisbaneactcentre.com.au
Stress LESS, live MORE at home and at work