Trainer, Sherry S. Kelly, PhD, is a Clinical Psychologist and Neuropsychologist who is an expert in CBT, as well as Positive Psychology based therapies. Dr Kelly is the Co-Chair of the Connecticut Psychological Association's Child & Family Committee and the Chair of the Parenting & Education Committee. She is recognized for her work on resilience therapies and providing crisis intervention training. 

Trainer, Gerard Meyer, PhD, is a physiologist and bio-psychologist. He is the co-developer of the MindfulChoice® positive psychology approaches in therapy and coaching. He is a cognitive ergonomist who has investigated human response patterns of decision making under stress while directing a living laboratory at Carnegie-Mellon University and with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). His research on perception, memory, reasoning, and motor response led to developing the MindfulChoice™️ clinical strategies for therapy. He has developed a person-centered, person-in-the-loop approach and investigated all aspects of cognition as a means for optimizing well-being and system performance. Dr. Meyer’s research at Carnegie-Mellon University included mental workload, decision-making, skilled performance, human-computer interface, human reliability, work stress and training.

Introduction to MindfulChoice Therapy For Resilience & Adaptation to Psychological Issues

Instructors: Sherry Kelly, PhD & Gerard Meyer, PhD

Welcome & Introductions

Introduction to MindFulChoice Therapy & Coaching Principles (25 minutes)

1. Shift from focus on remediation of problems to enhancing functionality

2. Orientation on the present, not the past

3. Positive Personal Effectiveness

4. Flight - Fight - Freeze Mammalian response vs Pre-frontal cortex decision making

5. Rationale for the development of an innovative response to a modern life and optimal functioning in a VUCAH (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, Ambiguous, and Hyperconnected world.

 Rationale for the development of an innovative response to modern life:

1.Shift from focus on remediation of problems to enhancing functionality

2.Orientation on the present, not the past

3.Cultivating Positive Personal Effectiveness

4. Increased complexity and stress in daily life

5. Need for upgrade in ways of thinking

6. Need to simplify complexity and acquire internal locus of control

7. Rapid change response by changing how one thinks

8. Real life results of MFC within war zones and trauma interventions

 Origin of the MindFulChoice® System:

* Carnegie Mellon University Driver Training and Safety Institute – Gerard Meyer, Ph.D. 

* Positive Psychology - Martin Seligman, Ph.D.

* Choice Theory – William Glasser, M.D.

* Thinking Modes – Edouard De Bono, Ph.D.

* Metacognitive Therapy – Robert Lebovits, Ph.D

MindFulChoice Theory, Philosophy, and Core Components (30 Minutes)

1. MFC Theory of executive function to manage life challenges

2. Theory - Enhanced executive function can optimally manage impulses

attention, and most life challenges.                                                                      

3. Philosophy – To be consciously aware of constantly making choices.

4. Core Components - Assess each situation and its parameters to allow 

     conscious perception of all options. Avoid automatic behavioral reflexes (impulsivity vs inattention bypasses),

     Mindless habits, hasty responses, and disruptive emotions. Choose the

     Most appropriate response focusing on the desired and optimal destination.

     When you see a choice, you have a chance. 

Questions, Discussion & Answers  (10 minutes)

The MindfulChoice® Model of Therapy  (40 minutes)

* The MFC Model In Practice

1. Holistic sequential integration of all mind and body processes.

2. A person-centered approach.

 Encompassing all human intra-actions and interactions

Describes step-by-step progression from perception to behavior

Incorporates enhancing and aggravating factors.

* The MFC Backward Design:

1. Use the model from right to left, starting with the outcome.

2. Destinations are first chosen then “map” steps to reach it.

3. MFC focuses on the Destination more than the journey.

4. The Destination determines the kind of journey.

5. Show Simon Senek brief video on destination.

 Destination, Awareness, Choice:

1. The three elements to fulfillment of the MFC System. MFC Template:

2. Destination – How I want my life to be; How I want to be

3. Not about achieving objective per se; about creating best version of self

4. Awareness encompasses perception of all factors, external & internal.

5. Everything we do is a choice. We are the sum total of our choices.

Discussion, Questions & Answers  (10 minutes) 

BREAK TIME

MindfulChoice® Core Principles In Practice

* The "What vs Why?" principle in clinical practice

* The Destination vs Journey - Bad Choice vs Good Choice

* Primary vs Secondary Thoughts

A Metacognitive Process of Thinking

1. Function of a thought

2. Perception and Awareness 

3. Parallel and Sequential thinking

4. Thinking Modes, Rational vs Intuitive (Left Brain/right Brain) 

5. Metacognition

6. Schema vs Metacognition

7. Mindful vs mindfulness

8. 3 Levels of Mental Processing

Impediments to Mindful Thinking

1. Physical and physiological condition, sleep and fatigue, diet, and need’s states

2. Mental State, Stress, Psychological condition,

3. Inattention and Inattention By-pass Solution: Focused Attention

4. Screen Time, Focus on complexity vs. simplicity

5. Mental Bias and Automatic response

6. Multi-tasking, Important vs Urgent

7. Tunnel Vision Effect (TVE)

8. Noise – Eliminating Noise Brings Clarity

9. Impulsivity and impulse control

10. External Locus of Control and Locus of Control unconscious shift (worldwide COVID PTSD)

Discussion, Questions & Answers

Emotions vs Feelings & The Power of Choice (25 minutes)

1. Emotions, Wheel of Emotions

2. Feelings

3. Emotions vs Feelings

4. Thoughts and Feelings

5. Reason vs Emotions

The Power of Choice

1. Everything – thoughts, feelings, actions – is a matter of choice.

2. Binary Choice - Sequential vs Parallel Thinking

3. The Three levels of Mental Processing.

4. Think things through and consequences

5. Internal Locus of Control.

6. MFC to identify the good Choice

Decision-Making

1. Step #1 in all problem-solving: STOP what you’re doing; it doesn’t work

2. Binary Decision tree that leads to the Destination

3. Positive Attitude

4. Delayed gratification vs. immediate & discounted gratification

5. Practicing Split Decision Making & Stress to Keep Calm and Focused

6. Red Door Green Door 

7. Focusing on the Solution for Adapting to Life by Being Pro-active and Resilient, Instead of Resistant and {submerged} Reactive

The MFC 4 Steps Approach (20 Minutes)

1. Recognition; Awareness; Choice; Self-evaluation

2. Awareness

3. Choice

4. Self-Evaluation

The MFC Toolbox in Therapy

1. EVOKE P.S.I.: Iconic communication Avoiding miscommunication - Importance of semantics and semiotics

2. Interpersonal Skills Building: Meta-competences

3. MFC Tools eBooks, eLearning, videos, animations, exercises, journaling

4. Practical techniques (interpretations eg "Or not")

Summary: MindFulChoice™ is an attitude for a better way of living in the 21st Century

1. MFC Is a Transformative Process for International/Diverse Populations

2. Lifelong learning to keep-up with science and innovation

3. Personal Effectiveness

4. A life by design and not by chance

6. MFC - training the brain to think more effectively

7. Monitoring the client's progresses toward their destination

8. Learning new applications for MFC in everyday life

9. MFC for personal Health & Wellness

10. Awareness of your own limitations as a clinician

11. MFC Professional development as a clinician.

Questions & Answers/Close of Session