The Mindfulness Matters Program for Children and Adolescents Strategies, Activities, and Techniques for Therapists and Teachers

This indispensable resource provides a flexible framework and a wealth of engaging tools for teaching mindfulness to children and adolescents with varying needs in school or clinical settings. Numerous kid-friendly mindfulness practices are presented, complete with step-by-step instructions, sample scripts, suggested variations, and discussion questions. The benefits of mindfulness for enhancing children's social–emotional competencies are clearly explained. Clinicians and teachers are guided to select and sequence activities for groups struggling with specific challenges: stress and anxiety, depression, attention problems, behavioral and emotion regulation issues, and trauma. In a convenient large-size format, the book includes 14 reproducible handouts. Purchasers get access to a Web page where they can download and print the reproducible materials.

Randye J. Semple, PhD, is Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Southern California (USC). She has authored over 30 scientific journal articles, book chapters, and other professional publications. Dr. Semple is Consulting Editor for Spirituality in Clinical Practice and serves on the steering committee for Mindful USC, the University's mindfulness initiative, and on the research committee of the American Mindfulness Research Association. Dr. Semple is the lead developer of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for children (MBCT-C), an evidence-based group psychotherapy that is being researched and implemented worldwide. She presents and publishes widely and provides workshops, consulting, invited lectures, and other training opportunities.
 
Christopher Willard, PsyD, is a clinical psychologist and educational consultant with a specialty in mindfulness. Based in Boston, he speaks on the topic of mindfulness and meditation with young people nationally and internationally, and teaches at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Willard is on the board of directors of the Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy and is President of the Mindfulness in Education Network. He has been practicing sitting meditation since 1999. He is coauthor of The Mindfulness Matters Program for Children and Adolescents: Strategies, Activities, and Techniques for Therapists and Teachers and coeditor of Teaching Mindfulness Skills to Kids and Teens, among other books. His website is www.drchristopherwillard.com. 
 

 
I. Introduction to the Mindfulness Matters Program for Children and Adolescents
II. Mindfulness Activities
Group 1. Introductory and Core Activities
Group 2. Mindfulness of the Breath Activities
Group 3. Mindfulness of the Body Activities
Group 4. Mindful Awareness Activities
Group5. Sensory-Based Mindfulness Activities
Group 6. Mindfulness of Thoughts
Group 7. Mindfulness of Emotions
Group 8. Concluding Activities
III. Introduction to the Pathways
Pathway through Stress and Anxiety
Pathway through Depression
Pathway through Attention Problems
Pathway through Problems of Emotion Regulation and Impulse Control
Pathway through Trauma, Abuse, and Neglect
IV. Research Support for Mindfulness with Kids
References
Index