Preparations are in full swing for the 2013 Bridging the Hearts and Minds of Youth conference and the lineup of offerings is quite impressive. The core focus of the conference is to connect people across disciplines, creating connections between the classroom, the research lab, the therapy room, and the living room, to support and foster the growth, study and dissemination of mindfulness for the good of the next generation. This conference is a wonderful opportunity to connect with the people doing the work of teaching mindfulness to our youngsters, to develop skills and competencies to do this work in your particular setting, and to learn what science has to say about this important work. An added attraction is the location at the Catamaran Hotel in San Diego, adjacent to gorgeous Mission Bay and a block away from the Pacific Ocean.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE CONFERENCE AGENDA:

Two Research Symposia: One focused on studies of mindfulness in schools and the other on clinical applications of mindfulness, with a total of eight presentations. These symposia will be augmented by a Research Poster session sharing other important work being done in the field.

Margaret Cullen	Tish Jennings	Linda Lantieri	Jon and Myla Kabat-Zinn

Keynote Presentations: Offered at plenary sessions on each day of the conference, these thought-provoking talks will be shared by notable figures in the world of mindfulness and youth.

• Mindful Awareness and Education in the 21st Century - Tish Jennings, Director, Initiative on Contemplation & Education - Garrison Institute
• Whack-A-Mole vs. Inner Peace: Turning Toward the Difficult as a Hallmark of Mindfulness-Based Interventions - Margaret Cullen, Creator, Stress Management and Relaxation Training (SMART)
• Cultivating the Inner Lives of Students and Teachers - Linda Lantieri, Director, The Inner Resilience Program - Tides Center

Special Saturday Workshop: Jon and Myla Kabat-Zinn, co-authors of the book Everyday Blessings: The Inner Work of Mindful Parenting will be co-presenting this 3-hour workshop entitled: Mindful Parenting: Nurturing our Children, Growing Ourselves. This very special workshop will only be open to conference attendees.

10 Breakout Sessions: Fascinating presentations by people doing this work in a variety of settings and in a variety of formats. A great opportunity to learn more and explore how mindfulness is being taught and learned with youth, literally around the world and in our own backyard.

Pre- & Post-Conference Optional Workshops

• Ways and Means of Teaching Mindfulness in Schools: Lessons Learned From the .b Program - Katherine Weare
• The Expressive Mind: An Introduction to Mindfulness Based Art Therapy - Margaret Jones Callahan, MA RCC BCATR
• The Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Teens (MBSR-T) Program: Foundation, Inquiry and Practice - Gina Biegel, MFT
• Yoga Calm: Healing Heart, Mind and Body - Lynea Gillen, MS, RYT and Jim Gillen
• Child's Mind: Integrating Mindfulness into Clinical Work with Young People - Christopher Willard, PhD
• Still Quiet Place: sharing Mindfulness with Young People - Amy Saltzman, MD

We look forward to having you with us at the Catamaran Hotel in San Diego in February 2013!

Sincerely,
Steven D. Hickman, PsyD

Conference Organizer

Director, UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness

Target Audience

Internists, neurosurgeons, neurologists, oncologists, primary care physicians, pathologists, radiologists, neuropsychologists and allied health professionals.

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this activity, participants should be able to:

• Describe a variety of mindfulness-based programs for children and adolescents through experiential techniques and dissemination of information for participants to use in their work with youth.
• Interpret current information regarding mindfulness and brain science through research and practice.
• Engage in mindfulness practice and translate how it applies to both professional and personal practice.
• Develop skills to utilize a variety of adapted mindfulness-based interventions for youth.
• Review current research as it is related to societal trends regarding the state of our youth today and explore how mindfulness can play a crucial role in positively impacting these trends.

2012 Conference Photos and Video

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