About this Event
CCFW does not provide mental health or substance use treatment or services, nor do our mindfulness and compassion-based courses substitute for diagnosis or treatment for mental health or substance use problems such as depression, anxiety, or addiction. Find a list of mental health resources on CCFW’s resource page.
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is a scientifically supported program developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D. to reduce stress and increase well-being. It is thriving worldwide. This particular class will be offered in person, assuming the health and well-being of the community are stable. This 8-week series appears to be growing even more essential during these extremely challenging times of pandemic and social upheavals. This course combines contemplative practices based in Eastern philosophy, western psychology, and cutting-edge neuroscience. Attitudes of kindness, acceptance, and patience provide a foundation for the practices of sustained focus, self-regulation and self-exploration. A greater sense of balance, choice, and freedom is cultivated.
The MBSR class has been taught globally for over four decades to people presenting with a variety of challenges and concerns. As a result of taking the class, comments frequently indicate that there has been a noticeable reduction in:
- Reduced stress and chronic pain
- Improved mood
- Less anxiety
- Overcoming sleep problems
- Increased immunity
- Decreased inflammation
- Enhanced resilience, joy, and compassion
- Healthy aging
In this 8-week experiential course consisting of weekly classes, interactive small group and large group discussions and home practices, participants will learn exercises to:
- Increase awareness of body sensations (body scan)
- Mindful movement and stretching (gentle yoga or qi-gong)
- Awareness of pleasant and unpleasant experiences
- Awareness of thoughts and emotions
- Increase compassion for ourselves and others
- Latest research on mind-body response to stress and change
- Learn new ways of responding to stress, chronic pain, and challenges
- Apply mindfulness to daily life, living each moment to its fullest
Prior to registering for this course, please read this letter from the instructor for more details and to ensure that this class will be a good fit for you at this time in your life.
Class Schedule:
The MBSR class is an 8-week series and includes an all-day practice retreat day.
Tuesdays, March 18 – May 6, 2025, from 6:00-8:30 PM
Retreat: Saturday, April 26, 2025 from 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Getting to CCFW
By car: There are no parking lots directly adjacent to Kincaid Hall. If you are driving, please allow yourself an extra 15-20 minutes to locate parking and walk to Kincaid Hall. The University of Washington offers pay-lots and parking garages. Metered street parking is also available but very limited. Parking fees around campus range from $1.00 to $4.00 an hour. Learn more about parking options here.
By bus or light rail: More than 60 bus routes serve the University District and a Link Light Rail Station is located 1/2 mile away.
By bike: Kincaid Hall is located directly off the Burke Gilman Trail between 15th Ave NE and the NE Pacific Street overpass. Bike racks are conveniently located at Kincaid and throughout campus.
Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
Register for a Certificate of Completion and get CEUs. Our CEUs are available for licensed psychologists, marriage and family therapists, mental health counselors, and social workers in Washington State. We cannot guarantee that these CEUs will be accepted in other states.
Scholarships Available
CCFW aims to promote well-being by making evidence-based mindfulness practices available and accessible to community members, particularly professionals working with children and families. We believe that mindfulness has positive implications for professionals as well as the children and families they interact with. Therefore, we wish to encourage mindfulness training by removing possible financial barriers for professionals working with these specific populations. If these fees are cost-prohibitive for you, we invite you to apply for a scholarship.
About the Presenter
Carol A Jakus, MA, MSW, LICSW
For nearly 40 years, Carol has been a passionate and committed meditation and yoga practitioner. Her spiritual practices have been intentionally woven into her professional life, completing the teacher training with Jon Kabat-Zinn in the late 1990’s at The Center for Mindfulness, formerly with the University of Massachusetts School of Medicine. Since then, she has taught the series in medical, academic and community settings, most recently, on contract with the Seattle based Veteran’s Administration.
Carol holds Masters degrees both in Developmental Psychology and Clinical Social Work, the latter from the University of Washington. In her Psychotherapy practice, she weaves together mindfulness and somatic awareness along with traditional clinical approaches. For nearly 20 years, Carol worked as both a Clinical Faculty and Systems Consultant in the Masters of Counseling program through the Leadership Institute of Seattle (LIOS) Program, affiliated with Saybrook University. Along with a private clinical practice, Carol commits 4-6 weeks annually to a meditation retreat. Her partner David and dog Bessie claim to be grateful beneficiaries of her work.