About the Program

The curriculum of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Center of New Jersey™ is modeled after the extensively researched Stress Reduction Program at the Center for Mindfulness at UMass Medical School where the program was founded over 27 years ago by Jon Kabat-Zinn. It complements traditional medical treatments and is beneficial when used in conjunction with the standard treatments for many medical conditions. The MBSR course enables patients to use their own inner resources to support their healing process and live more skillful lives. Mindfulness is a way of cultivating an alert, relaxed, moment by moment attention which enhances the awareness of the relationship and distinction between inner experiences and outer events. This often results in the development of a deep respect for the importance of creating a more balanced relationship between one’s body and mind, resulting in a greater sense of well-being. Integrating this approach into the challenges and adventures of everyday life, participants frequently report an experience of greater solidity of their sense of self, improvement in communications and relationships with other people and enhancement of their overall sense of health and vitality

This is a highly participatory eight week group educational course based on the curriculum of the Center for Mindfulness at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. The course includes guided instruction in mindfulness meditation practices, homework exercises to enhance awareness in day-to day living, gentle stretching and mindful yoga, and group exchange. Participants are required to make the commitment to practice at home and are given CDs and written materials to support their work. Potential group members are interviewed and placed in groups that are appropriate to meet their needs.

The core of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction educational program is modeled after the educational Stress Reduction Program at the Center for Mindfulness at UMass Medical School where the program has been in existence for more than twenty-seven years. This highly acclaimed eight week program, which was founded by Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn, has been completed by over seventeen thousand people, and over four thousand physicians have referred people to it. The program has been featured on the Bill Moyers PBS documentary “Healing and the Mind,” Oprah, NBC Dateline, ABC’s “Chronicle” and written about in a vast array of periodicals. It is also the subject of numerous books including Jon Kabat-Zinn’s original book, Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain and Illness (Delta, 1990) and Saki Santorelli’s book, Heal They Self: Lessons in Mindfulness in Medicine (Random House,1999).

(Although Dr. Handlin is a licensed psychologist and the first person in NJ Certified to teach MBSR and has a separate psychology practice,please note that MBSR is an educational course and not psychotherapy. In addition, information contained in this document is informationaland not to be construed as medical advice. If you suspect you have medical issues, please pursue appropriate treatment.)