Presentation by Chris Cullen at HE day – OMC 11.05.2015

THINKING
SENSING
‘Driven-Doing’ & ‘Mindful-Being’ Modes
Conceptual
v Embodied
Past & Future
v Present
Autopilot / Habitual v Intentional / Creative
Reacting
v Responding
Thoughts as facts
v Thoughts as mental events
Distinct neural modes…
Thinking / Doing mode
 This is useful…
•
•
To formulate meanings
To get things done
 But when it’s over-used…
• Preoccupation with commentary
• Planning (even when not wanted)
In anxiety disorders
& depression…
The key maintaining factor =
PERSISTENT OVER-USE OF THINKING MODE
Rumination & attempts to stop it
What is Mindfulness?
“present moment awareness /
recollection”
What is Mindfulness?
Mindfulness involves paying attention…
on purpose
in the present moment
and non-judgementally
…to things as they are
Dr Jon Kabat-Zinn
Mindfulness training increases ‘viscero-somatic’ processing and
uncouples ‘narrative-based’ processing (Farb et al, 2007)
Farb, N., Segal, Z.V., Mayberg, H., Bean, J., McKeon, D., Fatima, Z., & Anderson, A. (2007).
Attending to the present: Mindfulness meditation reveals distinct neural modes of self-reference.
Soc Cog Aff Neurosci., 2, 313-322.
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction
Dr Jon Kabat-Zinn
Stress Reduction Clinic
University of Massachusetts
Mindfulness for Depression
Oxford, Bangor & Exeter Universities
Teasdale, Williams & Segal et al.,2000
(for patients with 3 or more previous episodes - 60 weeks)
1.00
MBCT: 37%
0.5
TAU: 66%
10
20
30
40
50
60
MBCT available on the NHS
Age of Onset of Major Depression
(N=4041; Zisook, 2007, American Journal of Psychiatry)
The Oxygen Mask Principle
Mental Health Foundation
www.bemindful.co.uk
Non-Clinical Mindfulness Courses
for Oxford University Students
Professor Mark Williams
Oxford University
Mindfulness Centre
Non-Clinical Mindfulness Courses for
Oxford University Students
• ‘Frantic World’ book as course textbook
• 8 x 90 min sessions
• Introductory presentation [20 min] in first session
• Group size: 30
• Students pay £60 for course
• Courses hosted by Colleges
• Pitched to general population
• Follow-on with Oxford Student Mindfulness Society
‘Modes of Mind’ - an
inclusive paradigm
Thinking
Sensing
The ‘Frantic World’ Mindfulness Courses
1. ‘Waking up to the Autopilot’
2. ‘Keeping the Body in Mind’
3. ‘The Mouse in the Maze’ – mindfulness in daily life
4. ‘Moving Beyond the Rumour Mill’ –relating differently to
thoughts
5. ‘Turning towards Difficulties’
6. ‘Trapped in the Past..?’ – from self-criticism to selfcompassion
7. ‘When did you stop dancing?’ – activity scheduling
8. ‘Your Wild and Precious Life’
Eight week MBCT course
Induction
2 hrs
Week 1
2 hrs
Week 2
2 hrs
Week 3
2 hrs
Week 4
2 hrs
Week 5
2 hrs
Week 6
2 hrs
Practice Day
6 hrs
Week 7
2 hrs
Week 8
2 hrs
24 hrs
Home
practice
About 1 hr a day
6 days a week
40 hrs
> 60 hrs
Eight week FW course
No Induction?
Week 1
90 min
Week 2
90 min
Week 3
90 min
Week 4
90 min
Week 5
90 min
Week 6
90 min
Home
practice
About 20 min a
day
6 days a week
No Practice Day?
Week 7
90 min
Week 8
90 min
12 hrs
16 hrs
> 28 hrs
What are the crux
points in the lives
of the students that
you’re teaching?
Eating
Pain
Anger
Sleeping
Stress
Exams
Depression
Relationships
Performance
“the flourishing of
young minds”