August
Newsletter:

Mind-Body Medicine in Practice

In this issue:

Saybrook University Program in Mind-Body Medicine Fully Accredited

CMBM Trauma Healing in New Orleans

Self-Care in Medical Practice

Mind-Body Medicine at the National Naval Medical Center

What is Mind-Body Medicine?

Words of Wisdom: Reaching Out

Greetings from James S. Gordon, MD, Founder & Director

It’s rare when competence goes together with kindness—and that’s what the work of the Center engenders. Working with both skill and kindness, we help health providers re-awaken self-expression, self-care and a sense of hope in themselves, their patients and clients, and their communities. Participants in our trainings return to their families and work places with renewed inspiration and practical tools to work more effectively to help others with physical and psychological healing. We hear regularly from our graduates about remarkable ways in which they are using mind-body medicine. We provide the ingredients, and each person creates a unique recipe for their practice of institution. I hope you'll appreciate the inspiring work of our Mind-Body Medicine graduates we've profiled below. I hope too that you'll join us Sept. 12 - 16, 2009 for our next Mind-Body Medicine professional training in San Diego. Start now to care for yourself and your clients with mind-body skills, and join the thousands of Center-trained clinicians and educators around the world who are truly making a difference in people's lives with competence and compassion. We hope to see you in September!

We’re pleased to announce that the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) has fully approved Saybrook University’s new MA and PhD programs in Mind-Body Medicine. Center Founder & Director Jim Gordon is Dean of the program. Read the press release here. And visit Saybrook’s website to learn how accessible this online and in person program is to all of you around the country. It’s not too late to register for fall. Be part of the first graduating class!

On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina destroyed psychotherapist Mindy Milam's home, most of her possessions, her private practice, her community and her city— New Orleans. 16 months later, she attended the Center’s Mind-Body Medicine training, and two months ago became fully Certified in Mind-Body Mediicne. "I am so grateful to Dr. Gordon and all of the CMBM family for recognizing the level of trauma in New Orleans...and for coming here to help us out of our grief and pain, and rediscover our resiliency," she writes. A group of Louisiana health providers who met at the Center’s trainings have come together to create a new non-profit organization called the Mind-Body Center of Louisiana (MBCLA). Bravo, New Orleans! Click here to read more.

Family Physician Lenley Jackson, MD uses mind-body medicine as a part of his hospital and teaching work at the University of Illinois Medical School. He’s founded both a diabetes clinic and a clinic for obesity at his health center, and the guiding principles for both clinics are self-awareness and self-care. He first attended a Center training in 2004, and is currently in the process of becoming Certified in Mind-Body Medicine. He writes, “My journey with The Center for Mind-Body Medicine has been sacred, and years later, I have begun to realize it is a gift that continues to evolve, and one that becomes even more precious the more you give it away to others.” He highly recommends the Center’s trainings. “The concepts are easy to grasp, and the best part of the journey is in learning with other participants who come from around the country and world...Six years later I'm still in contact with many of the participants I met at my first conference.” Click here to read more.

Captains Robert Koffman and Francis Stewart are co-facilitating a mind-body skills group that meets weekly at the National Naval Medical Center. Trained in Mind-Body Medicine by the Center as part of our Healing Our Troops program, Capt. Stewart and Capt. Koffman offer the groups to assist participants in psychological and physical healing, as well as to help them cope with the ongoing stresses of military life. "The idea of mind-body medicine is empowerment... training, teaching and giving someone skills to keep them healthy," said Capt. Stewart in a recent article published in dcmilitary.com. To read the full article, click here.

When you need a comprehensive, authoritative answer to this question, click here for the Mind-Body Medicine Overview on the website of The National Center for Complementary & Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), a part of the NIH.

And if you'd like additional information for your own edification or for your institution, click here to visit our webpage of Center published research.

Up to 80% of all illnesses are related to chronic stress. Our courses are designed to give you the tools you need to help your patients and clients with stress management and preventing and treating chronic illness of all kinds.

The "17 Most Trusted Names" in integrative medicine give their advice for feeling your best in the August issue of Body + Soul magazine. Center Founder & Director Jim Gordon suggests reaching out. "Simple generosity can boost your well-being. When we're stressed, we tend to hunker down," he explains. "That may be necessary for awhile, but you'll feel better when you reach out to others. Listen to your own better angels when they prompt you to call a friend, help a homeless person, praise a coworker, or have neighbors over to dinner." To read the whole article, click here.

Click here to view all
upcoming events

2009–2010 Professional Trainings

We hope you’ll join us for one of our professional trainings coming up. Click on the name for further information on any program. Partial scholarships are available. If we haven’t seen you in awhile, we’d love to welcome you back. If we haven’t met you before, we’d like to!

Mind-Body Medicine – Space still available! Apply online for scholarships, including those for military & veteran providers
September 12 – 16, 2009, San Diego, CA

Food As Medicine – Registration opening soon!
November 19 – 22, 2009, Miami, FL – this program sells out!

Advanced Training in Mind-Body Medicine
January 30 – February 3, 2010, San Diego, CA
Registration now open & summer special in effect until Aug. 31!
Pre-requisite: Mind-Body Medicine introductory training

Partner Events

November 12 – 13, 2009
Society for Integrative Oncology (SIO) Annual Conference
New York, NY
6th International Conference – Revitalizing Health Care: Comprehensive Interdisciplinary Programs & Whole Systems Research