Dr. Jutta Lenz - Well-Being Coaching

Andrew Bryant and Ana Lucia Kazan (2012) define self-leadership as “having developed a sense of who you are, what you can do, and where you are going, coupled with the ability to influence your communication, emotions, and behaviours on the way to get there”. This broad definition serves as a fitting backdrop to the themes covered during this two-day workshop, led by Dr Jutta Lenz.

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The Psychology of Personal Development

In this workshop, participants explore the psychological background of personal development and the factors that contribute significantly to its progress. We delve into the different qualities that make up our personalities and explore how our individual hierarchy of values forms the basis for our interaction with the world around us.

 

Finding Balance

During the workshops, Jutta addresses the importance of implementing balance across the four areas of our lives (Body / Cognitive | Work Performance / Contacts / Mind | Soul) and our coping mechanisms and their effects on our lives and physical being. The workshop also touches on the psychological dimensions of change, our subconscious mind, and the effects that subconscious thought patterns have on our lives. The most important aspect of self-leadership is self-reflection. This workshop, therefore, investigates different methods of self-reflection and explores why it is important to reflect in the first place. Finally, it addresses the benefits of meditation for our personal development.

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What you will learn…

The workshops will reveal how we can use self-leadership methods to successfully find balance in our lives. Upon completing the workshop, participants will have gained insight into their own values, an understanding of how our beliefs can make (or break) us, and a clear sense of what they need to work on to be able to continue their personal development. This course will help participants to find their inner-strength and understanding of what makes us flourish. Participants will also learn how to reflect on their values, the different dimensions of change, and the different ways we have of dealing with it without getting frustrated or confused. Ultimately, attendants will gain a powerful understanding of the importance of having direction in their lives.

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Key topics that will be addressed:

• What self-leadership is and how it can benefit our lives today;

• The 4 phases of life and how we can find a balance in them;

• Why our beliefs can make or break us;

• What makes us grow;

• How we can find our inner strength;

• The importance of our values;

• The dimensions of change and how to deal with it;

• The importance of having a direction in life and the power of having a vision.

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Who should attend?

This workshop is not targeted at a certain group of individuals. Instead, it is intended to serve the needs of anybody that craves a greater sense of direction in their lives. The workshops places major emphasis on personal growth and the ability to conquer obstacles in a practical way. Previously this workshop was reserved for executives and industry leaders but, given the fundamental importance of living with direction, today everyone is encouraged to attend.

 

Overview of activities:

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• Many exercises for self-reflection in pairs in small groups, as well as individual work

• Walking and guided meditations;

• Breathing, easy Yoga and Qigong.

• Exercises from movement/ dancing

• Work on your vision by using collage technique

• Painting, writing etc.

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People often equate meditation with a sense of blissfulness and peace. However, mindfulness is about becoming present to ourselves. Often when we are quiet, we become aware of our distress, grief, fear, and pain. Mindfulness is about compassionately engaging with whatever we find, not running away from it. It takes commitment and perseverance, intentionally putting aside time to be present with ourselves.

 

Research on the impact of mindfulness meditation on a variety of symptoms including anxiety disorder, chronic pain, and psoriasis has been conducted over the past 20 years by mindfulness master Dr Kabat-Zinn.

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What is MBSR?

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MBSR (Mindfulness-Based Stress-Reduction), is currently most extensively researched fields in neuroscience and psychology. In the meantime there is a highly effective and researched eight week program that helps people to overcome stress, depression, pain, and worry. It assists the individual to have a non-judgemental approval of their present experience.

MBSR programs are now offered by various facilities, hospitals, yoga centres and others. The focus of the program is for its participants to experience more joy in life and to help them access an inner strength for healing and getting clarity about their life.

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Scientific and medical researchers have strongly recommended that MBSR be used as an adjudicative therapy for patients with unipolar depression. MBSR is also effective in treating anxiety and has been used in stress management in healthy individuals. It has also been tested and proven effective in treating mood disorders, ADHD, anxiety disorders, insomnia, and chronic pain, in both young, and old alike.

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What is MBCT?

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MBCT (Mindfulness-Based Cognitive-Therapy) is a psychotherapeutic technique which utilizes cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) methods, with the help of meditative processes. MBCT was originally designed to help treat patients with major depressive disorder and it has since grown in popularity. Research has shown that MBCT and mindfulness-based stress reduction can help to improve mental health and wellbeing.

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MBCT was designed to avoid and reduce the risk of future episodes of depression in people that have suffered previous mental breakdowns. The therapy helps the patient or/and individual to stop criticising themselves to dissociate from negative thoughts and bad moods, and, to learn to embrace themselves, no matter what.

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In addition, MBCT has also been medically proven to help cravings, addictions, and people suffering from substance abuse. A study on using the therapy on smokers over a two-week period showed that the level of smoking decreased by about 60% and the subjects gradually lost their craving for smoking.

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The MBCT program lasts about eight weeks, with a weekly course, which runs for about two and a half hours. The initiative behind the program is based on learning how to focus, pay attention and concentrate fully in each moment.​

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What is the difference between MBSR and MBCT?

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"Both MBSR and MBCT programs last for 8-weeks and include formal meditation, psycho-education, home practices, and discussions.

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In its first incarnation, MBCT was designed as a pure stress reduction technique for patients that had life-threatening diseases and chronic pain.

John Teasdale, Zindel Segal and Mark Williams, hypothesized that the technique could be adapted to also treat patients with depression. The thought that if standard CT (cognitive therapy) techniques would be combined with the insights gained by MBSR, their depressive patients could benefit greatly.

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They contacted Kabat Zinn and adapted his eight week course to suit their needs. The major difference they introduced is that in MBCT, there is a focus on using low mood and bad thoughts to teach early on in the program, so that the participants will know, from experience, what these symptoms are and how to reacts/ respond to them.

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MBSR, on the other hand, teaches its participants how to recognise habitual, unsupportive reactions and to incorporate accepting themselves, without judgment and criticism. MBCT replaces some of the teachings of MBSR and mainly focuses on patterns of negative thinking and help its participants to overcome it."

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Source: mindfulnessbasedhappiness.com 

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 The MBSR & MBCT eight-week mindfulness courses are suitable for people who:

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• Are suffering from work or non-work-related stress, or those living with acute or chronic diseases and suffering from chronic pain;

• Are burdened by psychosomatic complaints and or afflicted by anxiety or depression;

• Are suffering from sleep disorders;

• Are affected by internal unrest and/or bad mood swings;

• Are motivated to make a positive change in their situation and restore their health;

• Are looking for a proactive way to support their medical or psycho-therapeutic treatments;

• Are curious about learning a powerful new method of self-inquiry.

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Basic mindfulness exercises*

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• Mindful body awareness (body scan);

• Mindful bodywork (Hatha yoga);

• Meditation while sitting and walking;

• Different mindfulness exercises in everyday life (breathing techniques);

• Easy Qi’gong exercises.

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* These exercises are very simple and flexible, regardless of age and weight.

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What to wear / bring:

• Comfortable clothes, loose at the waist that allows for unconstructed breathing and ease of movement during exercises and meditations.

• Bring along a yoga mat and a light blanket to cover yourself if you get cold quickly.

 

About your health:

• Eat lightly before classes, food in the class room should preferably be avoided

• If you have any health issues that may course difficulties, make your own decision as to which of these exercises (especially yoga) to do, taking good care of your body. You can make a mindfulness practice out of any movements you do, by bringing full attention to them.

 

OUR MBSR and MBCT COURSE TIMETABLES WILL BE ADVISED.

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