Course Title: Mindfulness, 'Metta' and Self-Compassion Training: Getting Yourself Out of the Self-Esteem Trap. Course Syllabus

Transcription

1 Instructor: Jeffrey Hutter, PhD Instructor Biography: Course Title: Mindfulness, 'Metta' and Self-Compassion Training: Getting Yourself Out of the Self-Esteem Trap Non-credit Course: PSYCH REG#: Course Syllabus Department of Humanities, Sciences, Social Sciences and Health Sciences Behavioral Sciences - (310) Quarter: Fall 2014 Jeffrey Hutter, Ph.D., is a Clinical Psychologist in private practice in Santa Monica, California. Dr. Hutter specializes in mindfulness-based psychotherapy for individuals and couples, and mindfulness training classes and groups. He also coaches and consults to executives and organizations on reducing stress and cultivating creativity and emotional intelligence. He has pursued advanced studies in Gestalt Therapy, awareness training and meditation. A long-time Extension Instructor at UCLA, Dr. Hutter has been teaching a series of courses integrating Buddhist and Western approaches to personal change and development, including meditation and mind-body healing. Dr. Hutter has been a guest on television and talk radio shows, including ABC-TV and KABC radio, as well as having been interviewed by national and local media on psychological aspects of social issues, cultural trends and current news stories, including the Los Angeles Times, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Men s Health, and Newsweek. Dr. Hutter is a former President and Teaching Faculty member of the Gestalt Therapy Institute of Los Angeles, and Assistant Clinical Professor at the UCLA School of Medicine, where he supervised psychology interns in Gestalt Therapy and Gestalt Self Psychology. He is a clinical consultant to the Mindfulness and Psychotherapy training program for clinicians at the Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy (Cambridge MA). Date: Saturday, November 15, 2014 Time: 9:00 AM 4:30 PM Location: 170 Dodd Hall, Westwood Campus 1

2 Course Description: I have found that the greatest degree of inner tranquility comes from the development of love and compassion. Cultivating a close, warmhearted feeling for [oneself and] others automatically puts the mind at ease. It is the ultimate source of success in life. HH The Dalai Lama This course integrates Eastern and Western insights and awareness-training techniques with new research on self-compassion, offering a method to get out of the self-esteem trap and strengthen key skills for self-support and intimacy with others. The remedy for chronic self-criticism or low self-esteem is not trying to boost your self-esteem. The 'self-esteem movement' has led to unrealistic self-entitlement and fear of failure and intimacy. New research shows that high self-esteem can be connected with increased vulnerability to frustration, disappointment and change, leading to mood swings and depression. Learning why and how to give yourself the same caring support you would give a best friend is the better strategy. Pioneering research into the science of self-compassion reveals the measurable benefits of learning self-compassion skills rather than focusing on building selfesteem. Self-compassion training develops empathy and kindness for oneself and others. This is supported by the classic Buddhist practice of Metta, which fosters an attitude of 'friendliness' and warm, caring support to your own experience whatever it might be as well as gratitude, compassion, and loving kindness toward oneself and others. Target Audience: This program is particularly applicable to persons wanting to learn skills and strategies associated with generating greater self-compassion and empathy, personal happiness and positive emotions and reducing painful negative emotions and self-concepts. ******************** 2

3 Course Program Mindfulness, 'Metta' and Self-Compassion Training: Getting Yourself Out of the Self-Esteem Trap Introduction experiencing mindfulness awareness training, positive psychology, and the new contemplative neuroscience I. Self-Esteem perfectionism, the comparison game, criticism and self-criticism, why it doesn t work, what s the point? II. Self-Compassion & Self-Worth cognitive elements of self-compassion unconditional love, resilience from distress and suffering healing self-alienation and fractured self-experience III. Compassionate Mind Training Developing Mindful Self-Compassion metta, friendship, well-wishing and compassion Course Syllabus Subject to Revision by the Instructor Please silence all cell phones during the program. No form of Audio or Video recording of this program is permitted, except with instructor s written permission. 3

4 08:00 09:00 am Check-in 09:00 11:00 am Lecture 11:00 11:10 am Break 11:10 12:30 pm Lecture 12:30 01:30 pm Lunch Break 01:30 02:40 pm Lecture 02:40 02:50 pm Break 02:50 04:20 pm Lecture Schedule for this Program: 04:20 04:30 pm Course Evaluation/Feedback 6 contact hours Goals & Learning Objectives: To learn about mindfulness, meditation and self-compassion training as a way of dealing with difficult emotions, negative self-evaluation and feelings of imperfection. Specific Learning Objectives: Upon completion of this workshop, participants will be able to: 1. Define and describe Mindfulness. 2. Describe several reasons for developing self-compassion instead of self-esteem to reduce negative self-judgment and low self-confidence. 3. Describe several techniques for observing and training the mind, including Metta. 4. Describe differences between self-esteem and self-worth. 5. Give several reasons self-compassionate people do better in life. 4

5 Suggested Readings: Supplementary reading material and post-class reading list provided at the program. Academic References Recent Research on Self-Compassion and Mindfulness: Baer, Ruth A., Emily L. B. Lykins, and Jessica R. Peters. "Mindfulness and Self-Compassion as Predictors of Psychological Wellbeing in Long-Term Meditators and Matched Nonmeditators." The Journal of Positive Psychology 7.3 (2012): Barnard, Laura K., and John F. Curry. "Self-Compassion: Conceptualizations, Correlates, & Interventions." Review of General Psychology 15.4 (2011): Beaumont, Elaine, Adam Galpin, and Peter Jenkins. " Being Kinder to Myself': A Prospective Comparative Study, Exploring Post-Trauma Therapy Outcome Measures, for Two Groups of Clients, Receiving either Cognitive Behaviour Therapy or Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and Compassionate Mind Training." Counselling Psychology Review 27.1 (2012): Benn, Rita, et al. "Mindfulness Training Effects for Parents and Educators of Children with Special Needs." Developmental Psychology (2012) Gard, Tim, et al. "Effects of a Yoga-Based Intervention for Young Adults on Quality of Life and Perceived Stress: The Potential Mediating Roles of Mindfulness and Self-Compassion." The Journal of Positive Psychology 7.3 (2012): Kelly, Allison Catherine. "Training in Self-Compassion: Reducing Distress and Facilitating Behaviour Change." ProQuest Information & Learning, Sbarra, David A., Hillary L. Smith, and Matthias R. Mehl. "When Leaving Your Ex, Love Yourself: Observational Ratings of Self-Compassion Predict the Course of Emotional Recovery Following Marital Separation." Psychological Science 23.3 (2012): Vettese, Lisa C., et al. "Does Self-Compassion Mitigate the Association between Childhood Maltreatment and Later Emotion Regulation Difficulties? A Preliminary Investigation." International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction 9.5 (2011): Vonk, Roos, and Hilde Smit. "Optimal self-esteem is Contingent: Intrinsic Versus Extrinsic and Upward Versus Downward Contingencies." European Journal of Personality 26.3 (2012):

6 UCLA Extension Contact for this Course: Nancy Ghov, or For More Information: For questions about the course, call instructor at or Student Records: Students can access and update student records online by visiting: and clicking on My.Extension on the left navigation bar, selecting Student's Course Essentials and following the directions to log in. Student's Course Essentials lets you view your grades, request an official transcript, change credit status on a current course, obtain enrollment verification, update your personal information, and much more. Accommodations: If you need any accommodations for a disability, please contact the UCLA Extension Disabled Student Services at: (310) or via access@uclaextension.edu Grading: not applicable. Disclosure Statement: UCLA Extension strives to ensure balance, independence, objectivity, and scientific rigor in all sponsored educational programs. All speakers/instructors participating in these programs have completed a disclosure statement indicating any real or apparent conflict(s) of interest that may have a direct bearing on the subject matter of this continuing education program. The disclosure pertains to relationships with commercial entities including but not limited to corporations whose products or services are related to the subject matter of the presentation topic. The instructor for this course disclosed having no conflicts of interest. 6