Learning to Breathe

Book excerpt: A fully revised and updated second edition, including new research and skills in the areas of trauma and compassion Disruptive behavior in the classroom, poor academic performance, and out-of-control emotions: if you work with adolescents, you are well-aware of the challenges this age group presents, as well as how much time can be lost on your lessons while dealing with this behavior. What if there was a way to calm these students down and arm them with the mindfulness skills needed to really excel in school and life? Written by mindfulness expert and licensed clinical psychologist Patricia C. Broderick, Learning to Breathe is a secular program that tailors the teaching of mindfulness to the developmental needs of adolescents to help them understand their thoughts and feelings and manage distressing emotions. Students will be empowered by learning important mindfulness meditation skills that help them improve emotion regulation, reduce stress, improve overall performance, and, perhaps most importantly, develop their attention. Since its publication nearly a decade ago, the L2B program has transformed classrooms across the US, and has received praise from educators, parents, and mental health professionals alike. This fully revised and updated second edition offers the same powerful mindfulness interventions, and includes compelling new research and skills in the areas of trauma and compassion. The book integrates certain themes of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn, into a program that is shorter, more accessible to students, and compatible with school curricula. This easy-to-use manual is designed to be used by teachers, but can also be used by any mental health provider teaching adolescents emotion regulation, stress reduction and mindfulness skills. The book is structured around six themes built upon the acronym BREATHE, and each theme has a core message: Body, Reflection, Emotions, Attention, Tenderness, and Healthy Mind Habits, and Empowerment. Along with The Learning to Breathe Student Workbook, this is the perfect tool for empowering students as they grapple with the psychological tasks of adolescence. Make this new edition a part of your professional library today!