Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Workshop for Parents of Children with Special Needs, 6 Weeks Every Thursday, 7-8 pm in Cazenovia, Starts July 23rd

By Dr. Regina Conti  and Dr. Sheila M. Clonan 
July 12, 2015 at 10:26 

Parenting can be stressful. And, as parents of children with special needs, we face unique challenges and stressors that can take their toll on our physical and mental health.  But it doesn’t have to be so hard! Engaging in relatively simple mindfulness techniques has been shown to reduce stress, anxiety and depression in parents of children with disabilities.  

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What is Mindfulness?

So often we go through our days on autopilot, rushing from one appointment or crisis to another. We worry about our child’s future or whether we are doing everything we can for them in the present, but are we really present? When we are mindful, we are present in the here and now. We notice that our feelings are constantly changing, like the weather, and that we don’t have to react all of the time.  Over time, our awareness strengthens and we can focus on the here and now, reducing the constant stress of worrying about the future or replaying the past. These skills, in turn, allow you to be a happier, healthier and more engaged parent.

We invite you to join together with us for a six-week journey toward improving our emotional health using mindfulness-based techniques specifically developed by and for parents of children with disabilities.  Each 1-hour class will teach and engage you in different mindfulness activities that research has shown to be effective. This research has been featured in media outlets including the New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/29/health/when-the-caregivers-need-healing.html.

The workshop will take place in Cazenovia beginning on Thursday July 23rd for 6 weeks, ending on Thursday August 27th from 7-8 pm (location tbd soon). Please contact us to for more information: Sheila Clonan at (315) 345-9686 or sheilaclonan@gmail.com or Regina Conti at (315) 750-0164 or rconti@colgate.edu or for an Interest Application to let us know who you are as a parent and to share your goals for the program. This information will be useful as we plan.  We are requesting $60 from each participant to cover the cost of the manual, the CD with mindfulness exercises and other expenses, although the fee can waived in cases of financial hardship.