The rewards of being a social worker are numerous, powerful and challenging.  Mindfulness is now recognized as a legitimate and powerful tool for practitioners for their clients and for self-care.  The practice of mindfulness can be integral to reducing stress and to increasing our coping capacity. Although mindfulness is best learned and reinforced through sustained and regular practice, many mindfulness-based strategies can be incorporated into daily life.  This workshop will explore the basic principles of mindfulness, neuroscience, and self-care. Participants will be guided through basic meditation experiences, exercises, and provided ideas for daily integration.

Learning Objectives:

• Discuss the basic principles of mindfulness, neuroscience, and mindful self-care. 
• Increase knowledge of how mindfulness can be integral to reducing stress and to increasing our coping capacity. 
• Increase knowledge of mindfulness-based strategies can be incorporated into daily life. 
• Provide basic mindfulness and meditation experiences, exercises, and ideas for daily integration.

Biography

DEBRA BORQUIST-CONLON, DSW, APSW - Debra has over twenty years of experience working with children, youth and families in community settings related to child abuse and neglect, juvenile delinquency, divorce mediation, mental health, adoption, and health care.  Debra has taught at both the undergraduate and graduate level in the field of social work for fifteen years.  She has also provided professional development presentation on such topics as ethics and boundaries, cultural competency, mindfulness, and self-care.  Debra recently completed her Doctor of Social Work (DSW) -dissertation title Mindfulness-based Interventions for Youth with Anxiety Disorders – A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.  She was the NASW South Central Wisconsin Branch Chair from 2008-2010 and served on the Wisconsin Council of Social Work Educators Executive Board from 2008-2010.  Debra is currently the Pediatric Palliative Care Social Worker at the American Family Children’s Hospital in Madison, WI.