Frequently Asked Questions
How can I start working with you?
Contact me by phone or email to schedule a free consultation to discuss your program needs. It's as simple as that.
Why do we need mindfulness programs?
The primary purpose of mindfulness practices and programs is to enhance overall well-being (physical, mental, social and emotional).
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Today's children and adolescents, as well as adults, are regularly exposed to toxic stress. Toxic stress occurs when life's demands consistently outpace one's ability to cope with those demands.
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Mindfulness interventions have been shown to be capable of addressing the problems of people who take part, and improve their wellbeing, reduce worries, anxiety, distress, reactivity and negative behavior, improve sleep, self esteem, and self-regulation and awareness.
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Is this a religious program?
It is true that Mindfulness has Buddhist roots however, the programs I present are secular in nature. These mindfulness curriculums focus on a personal practice that allows for the individual to apply their own beliefs, if they wish, without judgement.
How does mindfulness change the brain?
Repeating mindfulness practices over a period of time has been scientifically proven to increase thickness in the cortex, an area that is important for general cognitive function like attention and sensory processing (Lazer etal.,2005). Similarly, long-term meditation is linked with denser gray matter in the brain stem, an area that is linked to cardiorespiratory control (Vestergaard-Poulsen, van Beek, Skewes, Bjarkam, Stubberup, Bertelsen, & Reopstorff, 2009). This may help explain how mindfulness produces positive outcomes in cardiovascular, as well as general health. In general mindfulness is known to impact brain systems that control emotional regulation and self-awareness (Paulus, 2016).
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Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to assess changes in the brain after an eight week mindfulness course showed that the prefrontal cortex, the hippocampus, and other areas experienced heightened activity and connectivity, while the amygdala experienced decreased functional activity an earlier deactivation after exposure to emotionally charged stimuli (Gotink, MNeijboom, Vemooki, Smits, & Hunink, 2016).