Youth, Family & Education Programs

Since many families are required to make adjustment to their daily schedule due to these unprecedented times we face, we are choosing to offer this program online for you and your child. We realize it would be a challenge to monitor and modify behaviors in an online platform; therefore, we are  inviting a parent(s) or caregiver to participate in the program with your child.  This invitation allows for you as a parent to participate and  practice the meditations and exercises at home. The program will consist of age appropriate meditations and exercises that are designed to build resilience and emotional strength to help your child navigate their fear and anxiety in these challenging times. 

This 6-week program is designed for kids ages 7-12. This skill-building program utilizes a combination of age-appropriate exercises - mindfulness, yoga/mindful movement, art, meditation practices and multimedia - to cultivate kindness, encourage insight, build skills of self-awareness and empathy, and strengthen the capacity for greater emotional regulation and stronger emotional resilience. Focused attention and sustained concentration are just a few of the benefits of mindfulness. Kids can easily experience what is commonly known as "monkey mind," a mind that jumps around, and is continually distracted by thoughts and ruminations about the past and future. Neuroscience research provides strong evidence that when practiced, mindfulness can help to calm the mind and body, alter the structure and function of the brain/pre-frontal cortex, and promote a greater sense of well-being. One of our pre-teen students stated, "I may not always understand my feelings, but I know if I name it, I can tame it. I can choose what is important to pay attention to and can focus better when I need to." By building the capacity to become more self-aware, kids develop greater resilience and emotional strength in the face of adversity. Mindfulness and self-kindness help to cultivate the skills to respond with greater kindness and generosity to the needs of others as well as their own.

Held on the premises of the UCSD Center for Mindfulness, these weekly programs are designed for Teens aged 13-19. The Mindfulness for Teens program utilize a combination of age-appropriate exercises, that include yoga, art, meditation practices and multimedia to encourage insight, self-awareness and strengthen the capacity for self-regulation. Neuroscience research provides strong evidence that these mindfulness practices can alter the structure and function of the brain to improve quality of life.

Adolescence is a time of change and growth. It is the period of life reserved for rebellion and self-discovery, but as the demands in life increase for teens, this time is often fraught with confusion, anxiety or depression. For many teens these challenges lead to disconnection and isolation. This course in Mindful Self-Compassion is designed to facilitate awareness, self-kindness and stronger connections in response to these growing challenges. Through developmentally appropriate activities and carefully crafted practices and meditations, teens have an opportunity to learn how to navigate the emotional ups and downs of life with greater ease. This course creates an opportunity for adolescents to construct a healthier and more equitable world-view and gives rise to greater compassion and empathy toward self and others. In a preliminary research study, this program demonstrated a significant decrease in depression, anxiety, perceived stress and negative mood. This curriculum was adapted from the adult model of Mindful Self-Compassion created by Kristin Neff and Christopher Germer. 

A Mindful Education curriculum designed for the classroom. These programs, offered to elementary, middle and high school students, use age-appropriate training materials and practices that inspire exploration and curiosity. The result is higher levels of concentration, organization, and the ability to attend to problems with greater patience and empathy. In some cases, it may be appropriate (and preferable) to train classroom teachers in the methods and practices of mindfulness to facilitate implementation of the curriculum.

This is a two-day core skills training, a combination of empirically-based practices from the Mindful Self-Compassion Course and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction along with developmental and attachment research. It is designed to teach parents the art of being fully present with their child with greater kindness, consideration, and compassion.

The Mindful Schools Project is designed to offer a foundation of mindfulness and self-compassion training to faculty and staff from k-12. These workshops/intensives and courses are intended to teach the value and benefits of mindfulness and self-compassion for teachers as they serve in their capacity to meet the emotional and educational needs of their students.

If interested in any of these services inquire with Renee Lewis: (858) 249-6894