Lectures & Trainings for Professional Audiences

Clinical Applications of Mindfulness and Neuroplasticity to Pain, Trauma and other Mind-Body Syndromes

As NDs treating the whole person and underlying causes, it is important to recognize and address aspects of post-traumatic stress disorder that may be present in patients presenting with pain and chronic disease. While we are not experts in treating post-traumatic stress, we need to recognize that symptoms of trauma may not resemble PTSD in its classic presentation but contribute causally to many chronic disease conditions. The lessons learned from mind-body medicine and psychoneuroimmunology indicate that biography can become biology.

Research in neuroplasticity indicates that just as pathways in the brain can result in chronic pain, these pathways can be re-configured to create healing. This seminar presents current research that reveals that many disparate disease states share the same neurophysiological determinants of what is called Mind-Body Syndrome (MBS) or Psychophysiological Disorder.  MBS is caused by a complex set of neurological connections between the brain and the body, rather than a disease localized in one area of the body.

Treatments options include techniques that are compatible with naturopathic philosophy such as physician as healer, mindfulness, compassion, intentional healing and healing from within. 

This course will enable you to:

• Deepen the understanding of the clinical significance of the mind-body connection and mind-body medicine perspectives and therapies.
• Experience and appreciate the healing power and therapeutic potential of mindfulness meditation, guided imagery and unconditional presence.
• Explore and discuss how to integrate mind-body perspectives and therapeutics into the practice of naturopathic medicine and naturopathic modalities.
• Appreciate that how we are with our patients may be as important as what we do, and who we are may be as important as what we know.
• Honor the power of the healing relationship. 

Dr. Epstein will explore the basic assumption that illness and symptoms may have a message and that understanding and discovering their meaning can be the “key” that opens the door to healing and recovery. The essence of mind-body medicine is to stop, look inside, and listen to the healing from within. In a discussion of the mind/body connection and the role of attitude, beliefs, stresses and emotions and through the therapeutic use of guided imagery and mindfulness meditation participants will explore the question “Where’s the Healing?” Dr. Epstein will illustrate how to integrate this approach with other therapeutic modalities as supports on the healing journey. Practical guidance will be provided to answer the question, “How can we guide our patients to be more fully involved and to participate and engage more consciously in their getting well?”

This course provides therapeutic support for people with stress-related disorders.  Learn how to move from the "Stress Response" to the "Healing Response." 

According to a study of the American Academy of Family Physicians, 80% of visits to the family doctor are for stress related complaints.

This practical and experiential workshop will focus on treating stress related disorders within naturopathic care by integrating and addressing the underlying cause ... stress. We'll discuss the basics of stress in health and disease and the sources, effects, coping strategies and evidence based mind-body skills and tools for self regulation, healing and healthy living.

While managing and reducing stress is an important therapeutic goal, we'll also explore moving beyond stress reduction alone to focus on transforming and healing the stress at its source.

We'll discuss PTSD and the effects of childhood and life trauma leading to stress and unhealthy lifestyles and stress related disorders,and the importance of mind-body psychotherapy and lifestyle counseling.

We'll review a study (ACE Adverse Childhood Experiences) showing childhood trauma is a precursor and predictor of chronic disease later in life and discuss how to integrate, "how biography becomes biology" as a component of treatment.

The workshop experience will emphasize mindfulness based practices and teachings, as well as exercises of breathing, relaxation, narrative medicine, guided imagery, yoga, journaling, perspective, cognitive restructuring and how to develop emotional resilience. Studies on mindfulness practice show its health enhancing benefits in treating people with a wide range of common stress related conditions and health concerns such as anxiety, depression, insomnia, weight, chronic pain syndromes, IBS, PTSD, high BP, immune disorders, skin disorders, fatigue, eating disorders and generalized chronic stress exacerbating all clinical conditions, illness and symptoms.

Facing, managing, reducing and healing stress is an essential component of naturopathic care.  

Healing can be regarded as an equation. On one side of the equation are the forces that may generate or contribute to an illness. On the other side are the external resources of medical science together with the body's internal healing abilities. Natural medicine has developed various modalities as to how to enhance the ‘healing from within’, be it through nutrition, acupuncture, hydrotherapy, fasting, herbs, touch or homeopathic remedies. Mind–body medicine1,2,3 is now expanding the picture of what true holistic medicine can be like: incorporating patients' emotions, images, thoughts, awareness and belief as powerful agents in the healing process.

In this mind-body integrative medicine lecture and experiential workshop presentation we will explore the deeper meanings, messages and opportunities of pain, stress and illness. We will discuss the mind-body connection and the role of attitudes, beliefs, stresses and emotions in the healing process. How biography becomes biology and the body bears the burden. Through lecture, discussion, writings, drawings, guided imagery and mindfulness meditation you will learn to listen to your symptoms and inner wisdom and live the question of how to face and be with whatever arises in a way that is wise, compassionate and healing.

How we be with and how we relate to the stress, pain and illness in our lives can be as important in the process of healing and change as what we do. In this evening workshop, we'll discuss and explore cultivating unconditional presence with ourselves and our struggles. In a spirit of inquiry, we will live the questions of what is healing and how does it happen. The focus is on cultivating healing qualities of being such as a beginner's mind, non-judgment, patience, trust and radical acceptance. Through guided mindfulness meditations and guided imagery, we will learn how to be with ourselves and how to be with and relate to our difficulties in a way that is wise, compassionate and healing.

The Healing Power of Unconditional Presence: Cultivating Healing Qualities of Being, Physicians who listen.

It has often been said, "people just need a good listening to. to simply tell their story to someone who listens and cares."

“In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, in the expert’s there are few…” – DT Suziki, Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind

Healing happens in the now, comes from within and is a CHOICE. Cultivating healing qualities of being . . . among them are a beginner's mind, patience, non-judgment, courage, commitment, non-striving and radical acceptance. Imagine opening your heart to receive and welcome your wounded parts and the burdens they carry. Let them in, open to them and embrace them with mercy and awareness.

Join us at this practical workshop on mindfulness and compassion meditation, during which we will explore developing the healer within you and enhancing your capacity to create a healing environment for your clients through the presence and awareness you bring to the therapeutic relationship.

Living the Question: How can I be with thepain and truth of others and my own, in a way that is wise, compassionate and healing? Working with pain and difficult emotions with mercy and awareness. Remembering into our natural wholeness. Who you are is as important as what you know. How you 'be' is as important as what you do. Love heals!

As we learn to face and heal our stress and pain more effectively, we can and will better support our patients to face and heal theirs. We'll discuss and share the challenges, difficulties and opportunities inherent in being present with another human being who is experiencing pain and distress, our desire and effort to be of service, and the importance of being present with ourselves and our own pain. We'll explore and practice mindfulness, cultivating healing intentions and qualities of being, unconditional presence, compassion and mindful empathy to enhance the therapeutic relationship and the healing process. We'll listen, be present, give space, reflect, and learn from each other as we share and be with ourselves and our individual and collective stress and pain. This practical and experiential session will combine lecture, discussion, group sharing, and guided meditations.