Susan Bögels PhD
Mindful Parenting in Challenging Times
22nd June 2021 (NB new date)
Susan Bögels is a psychotherapist, specialised in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for children and their families, and in mindfulness. She works as a professor in Family Mental Health and Mindfulness at the University of Amsterdam Her main research themes are the intergenerational transmission of psychopathology and mindfulness for parents and children. She initiated and was for 10 years the director of the academic treatment clinic for parents and children UvA minds in Amsterdam. She provides mindfulness training and teacher training at the Center for Mindfulness in Amsterdam and around the world.
Mindful Parenting in Challenging Times
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Abstract
Mindful Parenting in Challenging Times
Prof. dr. Susan Bögels, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Despite its inherent joys, the challenges of parenting can produce considerable stress. These challenges multiply- and the quality of parenting may suffer- when a parent or child has mental or chronic somatic health issues, or when parents are in conflict. Environmental circumstances such as low SES or discrimination can also add to the stress of parenting. Climate change and the Covid-19 pandemic also may add parental stress. Even under optimal circumstances, the constant changes as children develop can tax parents' inner resources, often undoing the best intentions and parenting courses.
Mindful Parenting (Bögels & Restifo, 2014; Bögels, 2020) is a structured mindfulness training program, based on MBSR and MBCT. It is designed for for face to face group use in mental health care contexts, for parents who have mental health problems that interfere with parenting, or whose children have mental health problems. The program's eight sessions focus on mindfulness-oriented skills parents, such as parenting with beginner’s mind, awareness and acceptance of strong emotions in parent and child, mindfully responding to (as opposed to reacting to) parenting stress, fostering compassion., and taking care of one’s inner child. The program is now also adapted for other settings such as prevention, and for online use.
In this workshop the rationale, and the build-up of the program, are outlined, and demonstrated with meditation, imaginary and roleplay practices that participants can experience. We will specifically investigate how mindful parenting can help parents with the challenges and chances for parenting and family life in this pandemic. First experiences with providing mindful parenting online are reviewed, the advantages, challenges and adaptations to the program. As the workshop is online, professionals can also get a taste of what its like to participate in an online mindful parenting training program.
Mindful parenting can be used while guiding parents with children with mental disorders but is also relevant as a general attitude for professionals working with clients.
Key learning objectives:
1. Insight in theories, working mechanisms and effects of mindful parenting
2. Overview of the 8-week mindful parenting program
3. Experiencing the key practices of mindful parenting
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REFERENCES
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Bögels, S. (2020). Mindful Parenting: Finding space to be-in a world of to do. Sussex: Pavilion Publishing.
Bögels, S., & Restifo, K. (2013). Mindful parenting: A guide for mental health practitioners. New York: Springer or Norton.
Bögels, S. M., Hellemans, J., van Deursen, S., Römer, M., & van der Meulen, R. (2014). Mindful parenting in mental health care: effects on parental and child psychopathology, parental stress, parenting, coparenting, and marital functioning. Mindfulness, 5(5), 536-551.
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To read a paper by Professor Bögels on Mindful Parenting click 'Read paper' below
All About Professor Susan Bögels,
Background Information
Susan Bögels is a psychotherapist, specialized in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for children and their families, and in mindfulness. She works as a professor in Family Mental Health and Mindfulness at the University of Amsterdam Her main research themes are the intergenerational transmission of psychopathology and mindfulness for parents and children. Susan initiated and was for 10 years the director of the academic treatment clinic for parents and children UvA minds in Amsterdam. She provides mindfulness training and teacher training at the Center for Mindfulness in Amsterdam and around the world.
www.centrumvoormindfulness.nl/EN
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Susan has been awared grants from NWO (Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research) and ZonMW (Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development) for Randomised Clinical Trials on prevention and treatment programs for childhood and adult psychopathology, and for implementation of these programs.
She has published over 200 scientific papers many chapters in national and international books, and 14 books. My book on Mindful Parenting (together with Kathleen Restifo) (New York: Springer, Norton), has been translated in various languages, as well as my public book Mindful parenting in a hectic life (Amsterdam: Ambo Anthos).
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Photographs by Kee and Kee
