There are many challenges in teaching mindfulness to individuals who are seeking out best practice treatment for their anxiety and depression. For a year, the Practical Clinic at Halton Health Care in Oakville has been offering Mindfulness groups (previously developed at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre) as one possible option for treating the common combination of depressive and anxiety-related symptoms with effective results. Steve and Kirstin will share a practice and some of the insights into offering Mindfulness in a mainstream mental health clinic.
Steven Selchen, MD, MSt, FRCPC, Steven is a leading expert in the integration of mindfulness with cognitive-behavioural training. He holds a Masters degree from Oxford University in Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), as well as a medical degree and psychiatric specialty from the University of Toronto. He runs a clinical, educational and research program in mindfulness-based approaches at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (University of Toronto), Halton Health Care and he is the Chief of Psychiatry at Joseph Brant Hospital in Burlington. He has a particular focus on wellness promotion and leads innovative educational and professional development workshops in a variety of settings.
Kirstin Bindseil, MSW, RSW, Kirstin has worked in the field of Addictions and Mental Health for 20 years. She currently provides mindfulness groups to people with depression, anxiety and high stress. She has worked as a Supervisor, Educator and Program Planner in Addictions. She has been engaged in innovative projects related to mindfulness meditation and has led mindfulness groups for chronic pain, depression, smoking and other addictions. Kirstin has formal training in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), and has extensive experience providing mindfulness training to health care professionals who plan to add Mindfulness to their clinical practice.