Strengthening the Habit of Mindful Speaking and Listening: An Intensive Retreat

As psychotherapists we may fancy ourselves to be good at communicating. Yet in the office and in our personal lives we have all said things we wished we hadn’t and refrained from speaking when something needed to be said. Our inner self-talk is not always friendly or uplifting. We tune out, get distracted, listen half-heartedly, concoct responses prematurely.

Buddhist psychology suggests that unskillful speaking and listening stems from impulsiveness and/or careless attention. Its karmic residue shows up in the form of regret or self-condemnation, on and off the cushion.

While bad habits abound in our conversational world, we seldom make a concerted effort to explore and enhance this important dimension of our clinical and personal lives. This will be the focus of attention during our time together.

During this week-long retreat we will participate in dyadic and small group mindfulness exercises, while also attending to the harsh and unsavory speech within our internal dialogue. We will mindfully investigate the cause and effect links between speaking and listening and the impressions they leave in our body-heart-minds.

Retreat teachings will be experience-near, focusing on the development of mindfulness practice and its relevance both personally and in our work with others, particularly in the delivery of accurate empathy and therapeutic presence. There will be daily mindfulness meditation instruction, with several hours of sitting and walking meditation each day, study modules most afternoons, dyadic or small group experiential exercises and discussions, and individual meetings with teachers. The rest of the time we will observe silence, including during meals, to facilitate a deeper contemplative experience.

This retreat is designed specifically for those who have previously worked with Bill and Susan. If you have not yet experienced their teaching and would like to attend, please email Bill at wdmorgan33@gmail.com before registering.

Continuing Education:

12 CEs are available for those attending this program at no additional fee.

Learning objectives:

At the end of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Utilize mindfulness to facilitate therapeutic presence in a clinical setting.

2. Explain the positive effect of mindfulness on unwholesome patterns of speaking.

3. Explain the positive effect of mindfulness on unwholesome patterns of listening.

4. Describe how identification with negative self-oriented narratives contributes to mental distress.

5. Utilize mindfulness techniques to loosen identification with unwholesome self-oriented narratives.

6. Utilize mindfulness to facilitate empathic attunement in a clinical setting.

Bill and Susan Morgan offer continuing education credit through their affiliation with the Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy.

Psychologists: The Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy maintains responsibility for this program and its content. This course offers 12 hours of credit.

Licensed Mental Health Counselors: The Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6048. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. The Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. This program is approved for 12 clock hours. It is also applicable for MaMHCA/MMCEP hours for re-licensure, in accordance with 262 CMR.

Social Workers: Application for social work continuing education credits has been submitted. Please contact info@billandsusan.net for the status of social work CE accreditation.

Nurses: This program carries 12 contact hours and meets the specifications of the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing (244 CMR 5.00).

Registration details coming soon!