I've been doing some thinking as to why I love mindfulness as much as I do, and why I think that the MBSR course for parents and caregivers is such a helpful program. For myself, having taken 2 of these courses thus far, I have found the following benefits:

1. I feel so much more calm and peaceful, day to day.
2. Stress doesn't affect me the way it used to - I am able to walk away and implement self-care strategies when needed.
3. When I don't meditate, I feel less ... balanced and SO much more reactive.
4. I respond to my children's frustrations and "negative" behaviours in a more disciplined manner (fewer threats, less need to punish, more compassion and improved connection).
5. I communicate better with my partner - don't take this as personally (he might argue with this) and am able to BREATHE prior to responding.
6. I feel like the pace of my life is slower, relaxed and dramatically more pleasant, when I practice MBSR regularly!

As for the text books and other online resources, here are some notable benefits from other participants:

This 8 week course may change your relationship with:

1. Stress, worry and anxiety
2. Chronic pain
3. Depression and negative rumination
4. Negative coping skills
5. Frustration with Parenting
6. Poor sleep.

In learning meditation and mindfulness, you can improve your:
1. Focus
2. Sense of well-being
3. Capacity for compassion to self and others
4. Parenting and communication skills
5. Relationship with others, including your kids, partners and colleagues!

MBSR, designed by Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn in the late 70s to help his clients with chronic pain, teaches stress management techniques through meditation, mindful moving, group process and experiential exercises. While the roots of MBSR are founded upon Buddhist practices developed 2500 years ago, it is a secular practice that integrates meditation with yoga inspired movements. The course incorporates practice and theory and over the course of 8 weeks you really begin to see how mindfulness can be applied in your daily experience. It also complements many psychological and medical treatments in relationship to pain, stress, anger and illness.

Researchers have found that MBSR, when practiced regularly, provides lifelong strategies and is so much more than a band-aid solution to our suffering. Participants have reported having greatly improved coping skills, stress management, well being and physical/emotional/mental/spiritual health. ​

If any of these benefits are of interest to you or if you are curious about the MBSR program, please contact me! I'd love to chat!

MBSR: 8 week Program 

If you have extended health benefits, your counselling sessions may be eligible for coverage. To find out, you can call your insurance provider (Great West life, Sun Life, etc), and with your plan ID and # in hand, ask the following:

​1. Do you cover a Registered Social Worker?

I am a Registered Social worker - license # 813393. I am also an MBSR Teacher Trainee with UC San Diego, Centre for Mindfulness, under the supervision of Gwen Morgan, MSW RSW (Certified Teacher in MBSR & MBCT with UC San Diego and the Centre for Mindfulness Studies, Toronto).

 2. How much is covered? 
Most insurance companies will cover a percentage of counselling services offered by a Registered Social Worker. 

 3. What is the maximum amount paid per session or for the MBSR 8 week course?
I charge $120 per counselling session and $480 for the MBSR course. Some  insurance companies have a maximum rate. To ensure your complete coverage, please ask your insurance company for the maximum amount that they will pay per session. 

 4. Are there any deductibles?
Insurance companies may require you to pay a deductible (e.g., 20% of the overall cost).

 5. When does the coverage begin and end (i.e., January to December or fiscal year)?
Most insurance companies provide an allotted amount of money over the course of one year. Please check with your provider when that time frame begins and ends to ensure that you have coverage. 

 6. How is payment received and/or reimbursed? 
I will provide you with a receipt that stipulates my Registration number (from the College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) , as well as the name of my supervisor, Gwen Morgan, MSW RSW. You can then send your receipt in to your provider for reimbursement .