A formal mindful meditation practice is essential to increasing our awareness of the thoughts, feelings, and body sensations that drive us to eat mindlessly. In this two-part webinar series, we will discuss and explore different formal meditation practices that can re-wire the brain to become more attentive in our daily lives. In part one of the series, we provide an introduction to mindfulness that will provide participants with a better understanding of what mindfulness is, its history and benefits as a practice. The session will include two core mindfulness practices: the body scan practice and sitting meditation. Meditation practices will be offered as a home practice that you will do throughout the following week. Then, in the second part of the series, participants will have the opportunity to share what they learned from their practice and to explore the neurobiology of mindfulness.
Cinzia Pezzolesi, Ph.D., is a Clinical Psychologist and Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapist. Cinzia is also a senior lecturer on mental health and wellbeing. Cinzia qualified as mindfulness teacher at the University of Bangor (North Wales, UK), and trained as Mindful Eating trainer in Boston (USA).
Cinzia has a PhD in Human Factors in Health Care and obtained her Clinical Psychologist degree from the University of Urbino (IT) where she is originally from. She currently lives in the UK, and over the years she has developed a strong research interest around wellbeing and mindfulness in various health care settings. Her areas of expertise include eating disorders, substance of misuse, anxiety and depression.
Cinzia enjoys spending time with her family and has a strong passion for sport. She played volleyball professionally in Italy for over 15 years and she is now a supporter of the UK team ‘Polonia Volleyball’.
Sharon Theroux, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist and board certified neuropsychologist, working in private practice with her husband in South Florida since 1995. As a therapist, she specializes in the treatment of individuals with depression, anxiety, chronic pain, eating disorders and addictive behaviors. As a neuropsychologist, she assesses individuals with brain-related disorders (e.g. head injury, stroke, dementia, ADHD, learning disabilities, and autistic spectrum disorders) to help determine their strengths and weaknesses for treatment planning.
In 2013, after discovering, first hand, the benefits of mindfulness, Dr. Theroux founded the South Florida Center for Mindfulness, with its mission of educating health care providers and the community in mindfulness-based interventions. She also co-founded International Seminars Group, an APA-approved continuing education sponsor for psychologists and therapists. Recently, she was appointed director of mindfulness and meditation programming at Sunspire Health Key Largo, an inpatient addiction treatment center.
Dr. Theroux is certified to teach Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) by the Oasis Institute at the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Healthcare, and Society at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. Certification is limited to those with extensive professional experience, previous training and experience in teaching MBSR, and a solid meditation practice.