Uncovering Happiness: Overcoming Depression with Mindfulness, Compassion and Play

A CE Webinar with Dr. Elisha Goldstein – When most of us think of the word “anti-depressant,” we think of a pill, but Elisha Goldstein, Ph.D. shows us how science is now discovering that that’s not the only natural anti-depressants we have. As we intentionally practice tapping into these natural anti-depressants, we begin to form an anti-depressant brain and uncover a more enduring sense of resiliency and well-being. This treatment model has been inspired by some of the most current research on neuroscience and depression as well as mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), created by Zindel Segal; Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), created by Jon Kabat-Zinn; Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), created by Steven Hayes; and research by Brene Brown and others.

In this Webinar, you’ll learn how to nurture the brain’s natural antidepressants, provide clients relief from symptoms of depression, improve emotional resilience and give guidance on how people can protect themselves from depression. Conference participants will gain the following skills, drawn from uncovering happiness – aka Mindful Compassion Cognitive Therapy (MCCT):

• Utilize mindfulness to lay a foundation for the antidepressant brain.
• Discuss how self-compassion can be used as an antidepressant technique.
• Apply meaning, compassion and purpose to develop a deeper understanding of resiliency and well-being.
• Recognize how making happiness a habit can reclaim play in your life and how play can be mastered to bring about natural antidepressants.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe what mindfulness is and how it helps interrupt the depressive loop
• List three practical, formal ways to integrate mindfulness-based theory and practice when working with clients
• List three current neuroscientific studies showing the relationship between mindfulness and depression
• List and practice key self-compassion practices to use for self-care and to practice with clients in creating healing and forgiveness around pain
• Describe the anti-depressant effects of compassion, play and learning