Meditation and Psychotherapy: Self-Transcendence and Nonduality

Many spiritual and philosophical traditions, reaching back thousands of years, have cherished the concept that there is no formal boundary between self and other. Science has now started to demonstrate the transient, constructed nature of self, and that dysfunction in self-related processing is a transdiagnostic component of depression, anxiety, psychosis, and other mental health disorders. Clinicians who treat these conditions should understand the foundational tenets of self-transcendence and nonduality, and the role these experiences may play in helping to alleviate their patients’ experiences of suffering.

What are ways that therapists can work to loosen the grip of the idea of a separate self? How does this process unfold in cultures with less individualistic concepts of self? And how might therapists apply these perspectives in their clinical practice?

Join us for a mind- (and self-) expanding series with notable expert faculty in a new 5-week webinar format.

Who Should Attend

• Physician Assistants
• Nurses
• Nurse Practitioners
• Primary Care Physicians
• Psychologists
• Specialty Physicians
• Social Workers
• Counselors
• Others

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to:

• Define the concepts of self-transcendence and nonduality.
• Review the historical occurrence and significance of these theories in various philosophies and wisdom traditions.
• Summarize the evolving research in self-related processing and mental health disorders.
• Explain emerging research supporting the role of self-transcendence in healing and recovery.
•  Identify strategies and techniques to effectively utilize the concepts of self-transcendence and nonduality in their clinical work with clients.
• Develop exercises related to these theories that clients can practice at home.
• Apply tenets of self-transcendence and nonduality in their own lives.

ABMS/ACGME Competencies

This course is designed to meet the following American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) / Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Educational (ACGME) competencies:

• Patient Care and Procedural Skills
• Professionalism
• Interpersonal and Communication Skills
• Medical Knowledge

IOM Competencies

This course is designed to meet the following Institute of Medicine Core Competencies:

• Employ Evidence-Based Practice
• Provide Patient-Centered Care

Questions?

Please contact the Continuing Education Programs with any questions by email at ceprograms@hms.harvard.edu.

Eric Garland PhD, LCSW

Distinguished Endowed Chair in Research, Associate Dean for Research, and Professor, University of Utah College of Social Work
Director of the Center on Mindfulness and Integrative Health Intervention Development (C-MIIND), and Associate Director of Integrative Medicine in Supportive Oncology and Survivorship, Huntsman Cancer Institute

Joan Halifax

Founder and Abbot, Upaya Zen Center

Steven Hayes, PhD

Emeritus Professor of Psychology at the University of Nevada, Reno
President, The Institute for Better Health

Valerie Mason-John, (Hon. Doc.)

Author, Public Speaker and Master Trainer in the Field of Conflict Transformation, Leadership and Mindfulness

Anam Thubten

Tibetan Buddhist teacher and Founder, Dharmata Foundation

Course Directors

Harvard Medical School Continuing Education attracts the best and brightest faculty from all around the world. As a student in this course, you’ll have access to outstanding course directors and faculty.

Christopher K. Germer, PhD

Faculty and Co-Founder, Center for Mindfulness and Compassion and Supervisor
Department of Psychiatry, Cambridge Health Alliance
Lecturer on Psychiatry, part-time, Harvard Medical School
Faculty, Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy
Co-Developer, Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) Training Program Private Practice and Supervision, Arlington, MA

Ronald D. Siegel, PsyD

Faculty, Center for Mindfulness and Compassion, Cambridge Health Alliance
Assistant Professor of Psychology (part-time), Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
Faculty, Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy

Zev Schuman-Olivier, MD

Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
Center Director, Center for Mindfulness and Compassion, Cambridge Health Alliance
Director, Mindful Mental Health Service, Cambridge Health Alliance
Director of Addiction Research, Cambridge Health Alliance
Faculty Affiliate, Center for Technology and Behavioral Health, Dartmouth

Karen Kuc, MPH

Director, Continuing Education in Psychiatry, Cambridge Health Alliance​​​
Associate in Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School

In support of improving patient care, Harvard Medical School is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

Physicians

The Harvard Medical School designates this live activity for a maximum of 7.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Psychologists

The Cambridge Health Alliance, Division of Continuing Education in Psychiatry, is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Cambridge Health Alliance, Division of Continuing Education in Psychiatry, maintains responsibility for this program and its content. This course offers 7.50 continuing education credits.

Social Workers

This program has been approved for 7.50 Social Work Continuing Education hours for relicensure, in accordance with 258 CMR. NASW-MA Chapter CE Approving Program, Authorization Number D-92384.

Counselors

The Cambridge Health Alliance, Division of Continuing Education in Psychiatry, has been approved by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) as an approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 5444. This program meets the requirements for 7.5 continuing education hours. CHA is solely responsible for all aspects of the program. This offering is also applicable for Commonwealth of Massachusetts Counseling/Allied Mental Health accreditation for 7.50 credits.

Physician Assistants, Nurse Practitioners, and Registered Nurses

For the purpose of recertification, the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants, the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board and the American Nurses Credentialing Center accept AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ issued by organizations accredited by the ACCME. We would also suggest that learners check with their state licensing board to ensure they accept reciprocity with AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ for re-licensure.

Canadian Accreditation

The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada recognizes conferences and workshops held outside of Canada that are developed by a university, academy, hospital, specialty society or college as accredited group learning activities.

European Accreditation

The American Medical Association (AMA) has an agreement of mutual recognition of continuing medical education (CME) credit with the European Union of Medical Specialties (UEMS). Additional information regarding this agreement may be found here: https://www.uems.eu/areas-of-expertise/cme-cpd/eaccme.

Disclosure Policy

In accord with the disclosure policy of the Medical School as well as standards set forth by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), course planners, speakers, and content reviewers have been asked to disclose any relationships they have to companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. In addition, faculty have been asked to list any off-label uses of pharmaceuticals and/or devices for investigational or non-FDA approved purposes that they plan to discuss.

Disclaimer

CME activities accredited by Harvard Medical School are offered solely for educational purposes and do not constitute any form of certification of competency. Practitioners should always consult additional sources of information and exercise their best professional judgement before making clinical decisions of any kind.

Note: AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ is calculated based on submission of a preliminary agenda and may be subject to change.