An 8 week programme (24 contact hours)
designed to make a positive contribution to your own life as well as improve the quality of your patient care

The ICGP’s Health in Practice Programme endorses this Mindfulness course and will post details of the course on the website at www.icgp.ie/hip.

• A proactive and preventative training programme specifically tailored to the occupational health needs of GP’s in Irish contexts
• The programme comprises four integrated components: Contemplative and Reflective practices, Discursive exercises with peers and relevant Didactic input to support effective responses to recognised stressors such as burnout

Occupational stress is a recognised hazard for many workers including medical professionals. When demands significantly outweigh resources over any extended period, chronic stress, anxiety, depression and burnout can occur.  The key to managing these hazards is prevention and early recognition. This can be particularly difficult for GP’s, their patients and their families but can be readily addressed. Mindfulness Based Approaches (MBA’s) are achieving international recognition as prolific studies in diverse populations are consistently showing positive results across a wide range of health concerns such as stress, chronic illness, pain management, and depression.

“Mindfulness is a secular contemplative practice focusing on cultivating an individual’s attention and awareness skills” in a synthesis between Western sciences and Eastern philosophies.

This 8 week training programme is based on the seminal work of Dr. Jon Kabat Zinn (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction) and of Dr. Michael Krasner (Mindful Communication with Burnout, Empathy, and Attitudes among Primary Care Physicians) with specific adaptations for doctors in general practice here in Ireland.

There are two key projected outcomes for doctors who participate in the full programme:

(1) Enhanced Occupational Health:

This prophylactic programme is designed to provide doctors with an opportunity for structured self reflection. It can also help to mitigate the development of occupational hazards such as stress and burnout.

(2) Enhanced Patient Care:

Participation in a mindfulness based programme is associated with reduced stress, increased patient empathy and reduced burnout with sustained improvements in patient care (Krasner et al 2009). Reduction in burnout has a direct correlation on the improved quality of the doctor/patient relationship.

Facilitators:

Debbie Correll (MIACP/MIAHIP/MEAP) is a psychotherapist, clinical supervisor/trainer and a member of the ICGP HiP Network of Practitioners.  She also has an established reputation as an expert in the field of psychological trauma management with a special interest in the occupational health of practitioners.

Rita Doyle is a general practitioner. She has specific interest in psychological issues. She is a trainer and former CME tutor with the ICGP. She has also completed the two year programme in CBT and has a keen interest in Self care and the development of this within the profession.

COURSE STRUCTURE:

• One 2 hour class per week for eight consecutive weeks
• Plus one full day workshop (Nov 26th, 2011)
• 45 minutes of home practice on every non-class day for duration of course (meditation CDs and worksheets are provided)

Places are limited to 15 participants – early booking is advisable

DATES:

• February 8th to March 28th, 2012 (Wednesdays 6.45-9.15pm)
• Full day workshop March 3rd, 2011

COST:

€350.00 (includes 8 weekly classes, full day workshop and CD’s/course workbook for home practice)

ENROLMENT:

As a first step toward enrolment in this Mindfulness programme, we conduct an Orientation Session before the start of classes. This Orientation Session is free of charge and required of all participants before beginning the programme. During this session you will have the opportunity to:

• Learn about the programme and explore whether it is right for you at this time
• Discuss any queries you may have
• Confirm your place in the class and enrol in the programme

Orientation Sessions are conducted by telephone and last approximately 30 minutes.

VENUE:

Catherine McAuley Centre, 23 Herbert street (off Lwr Baggot street, Dublin 2

CONTACT:

Debbie Correll at debbie.correll@mindfulness.ie for booking or further information