The major workshop event for 2008 will be two day workshops with:
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Richard Gevirtz, Ph.D. BCIAC Distinguished professor of psychology CSPP at Alliant International University Richard N. Gevirtz, Ph.D. is a Distinguished Professor of Psychology at the California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University in San Diego, USA. His research and practice in recent years has focused on psychophysiological mechanisms and treatment of disorders affected by the autonomic nervous system, such as IBS, Non-Cardiac Chest Pain, Fibromyalgia, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, TMD, Headache, and other muscle pain syndromes. He is the author of numerous articles and chapters. Richard is a leading light in this area of research and practice and we are indeed fortunate to have him in New Zealand for these two special workshops. |
Auckland:
Venue: Auckland Medical Centre, Ernest & Marion Davis Medical Library
Date: 14 & 15 June (Saturday & Sunday) 2008
Location map attached can be downloaded here (PDF)
Christchurch:
Venue: Scenic Circle Cotswold Hotel
Date: 21 & 22 June ((Saturday & Sunday) 2008
"Treating Mind/Body Disorders: A workshop based on the current scientific mechanisms”
The disorders are: Chronic Muscle Pain, Fibromyalgia, IBS, Headache, Anxiety.
Bio-behavioural interventions for “mind/body” disorders: Learning to use the latest neuroscience discoveries in the treatment of chronic muscle pain disorders, migraine and tension headache, irritable bowel syndrome/recurrent abdominal pain, and fibromyalgia/chronic fatigue syndrome.
In the last several years, scientific evidence has finally begun to elucidate the complex mechanisms that translate psychological / emotional phenomena into physical symptoms. This workshop will:
- cover in detail the physiological and psychophysiological mechanisms likely to be mediators of symptoms such as head pain, muscle pain, gastrointestinal disturbance, fatigue and allodynia
- lay out multidisciplinary treatment and protocols for each disorder, and
- introduce participants to the powerful techniques stemming from our new knowledge of heart rate variability (HRV) and HRV biofeedback.
Each participant should be able to:
- Deliver an explanation to clients that changes their attribution of etiology from either psychological or biological to psychophysiological.
- Develop a series of bio-behavioural tools using available resources to effectively treat patients with mind/body disorders/
- Develop maintenance strategies to help patients self-manage their symptoms
Programme
Saturday
| 8.30 – 9.00 am | Introductions |
| 9.00 – 10.30 am | Physiology of mind body mediators: respiration, autonomic nervous system, HPA axis |
| 10.30 – 11.00 am | Break and informal discussion |
| 11.00 – 12.30 pm | Heart Rate Variability (HRV): basic concepts and measurement issues |
| 12.30 – 2.00 pm | Lunch |
| 2.00 – 3.30 pm | HRV biofeedback. Guided respiration training using a variety of tools |
| 3.30 – 4.00 pm | Break |
| 4.00 – 5.30 pm | Mediational model: general application principles |
Sunday
| 8.30 – 10.30 am | The mind muscle connection: chronic muscle pain disorders |
| 10.30 – 11.00 am | Break and informal discussion |
| 11.00 – 12.30 pm | Gastrointestinal disorders: Unravelling the mind/gut connection |
| 12.30 – 2.00 pm | Lunch |
| 2.00 – 3.30 pm | Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Disorders: the brain fighting off a phantom invader |
| 3.30 – 4.00 pm | Break |
| 4.00 – 5.30 pm | Wrap up and short discussion of: anxiety, depression, other disorders? |