Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)

For over 40 years, Jon Kabat-Zinn has been pioneering the integration of mindfulness meditation in mainstream medicine and healthcare. Though adapted from Buddhist practices, the contemporary practice of mindfulness used in the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program is not spiritually based and is therefore open to everyone no matter their religious commitments or life circumstances. This course describes the theory and research behind MBSR.
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Are you are a psychologist, social worker, counselor, or nurse who wants to become more spiritually competent?

  • Do you want to have evidence-informed and ethically-sensitive conversations with clients about how mindfulness practices could improve their recovery and treatment outcomes?

  • Do you want to be able to introduce and share mindfulness practices with clients through the use of free online resources?

  • Do you want to make appropriate recommendations and referrals for clients who want to integrate mindfulness practices into their treatments?

Meet Your Instructors

Gary Buck, PhD is a graduate of Meridian University’s Doctor of Psychology program and also holds a bachelor’s degree in Religion from Princeton University. He is a licensed psychologist and has participated in trainings led by Zindel Segal, PhD in Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, by Richard Miller, PhD in Yoga Nidra/Integrative Restoration, and completed an internship with Saki Santorelli in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction at the U. of Massachusetts Medical School.

A Buddhist meditator of nearly 50 years, he currently practices in the Vajrayana tradition where his main interests are Mahamudra and Dzogchen. He is a former Buddhist monk in the Thai Theravadan tradition. Gary is a former Managing Director and Board member of the Insight Meditation Society in Massachusetts and a former Associate Director of Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Marin County. He is currently a psychotherapist in private practice in San Rafael and Petaluma, CA, where he sees child and adult clients.

David Lukoff, PhD, is co-author of the DSM diagnostic category Religious or Spiritual Problem which increased awareness of spiritual issues in clinical practice. He has published over 80 articles on spirituality and mental health, many in peer reviewed journals such as Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, Schizophrenia Bulletin, Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine,  Journal of Humanistic Psychology Journal of Transpersonal Psychology, Psychiatric Annals, Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, Spirituality in Clinical Practice

My personal experience with meditation began with four 3-day sesshins I attended in the 1970s. In 1978 I developed and led for 2 years a holistic health program for patients with schizophrenia, which included meditation without any adverse effects and with outcomes equal to a comparable behavioral and social skills training program. (Lukoff D, Wallace CJ, Liberman RP, Burke K. A holistic program for chronic schizophrenic patients. Schizophr Bull. 1986;12(2):274-82). 

I also taught meditation at the San Francisco Veterans Medical Center in San Francisco between 1986-2000, and taught mindfulness  to graduate clinical psychology students for over 30 years. My mindfulness practice currently is more focused on forms of moving meditation including aikido, tai chi and qigong.

SCA courses provide you with the knowledge, including the evidence-base, required:

  • To have evidence-informed and ethically-sensitive conversations with clients about mindfulness and other spiritual practices

  • To make appropriate recommendations and referrals for clients who want to integrate spiritual practices into their treatments

  • To harnass clients’ religious and spiritual strengths

  • To build a stronger therapeutic alliance based on showing respect toward clients’ deeply held beliefs and values

Course Curriculum

Testimonials

“An excellent job of guiding people through the mental health resources.”

John Suler, Ph.D., Department of Psychology, Rider University Webmaster: Psychology of Cyberspace

“The information and guidance in Dr. Lukoff's courses will soon be, if not already, mandatory for all health care professionals who choose to remain current and literate in their fields. ”

Jeanne Achterberg, Ph.D., Former Professor of Psychology, Saybrook Graduate School

“Good presentation, great selection of material and organization. This was a much more valuable use of my time than virtually all of the CEU courses I have to sit through.”

“This was a GREAT course. It has helped me to be a more informed clinician.”

“This is one of the most valuable continuing ed courses I have taken. Practical, relevant and imminently usable. Thanks.”

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Pay only for CE Credit (requires passing the quiz)

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 SCA courses provide approved  CE credits through these accreditation agencies:

American Psychological Association:  The Spiritual Competency Academy is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Spiritual Competency Academy maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

California Board of Behavioral Sciences accepts CE credits for license renewal by LCSWs, MFTs, LPCCs, LMHCs for programs from CE approved sponsors of the American Psychological Association. LCSWs, MFTs, LPCCs, LMHCs from states other than California need to check with their state licensing board for approval.

California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN Provider CEP16887) for licensed nurses in California

National Board of Certified Health and Wellness Coaches. (CEP Number 100196)

Refund & Grievance Policies

For questions or additional information, contact David Lukoff, Ph.D.  Email  Phone: (707) 763-3576

Access the full Curriculum of Mindfulness Courses

For 10 CE Credits