The New Science of Wellbeing

Week of February 26, 2022

The goal of these presentations is to explain what modern psychology, biology, and neuroscience tell us about how to increase our well-being in this complicated world. Each class will present fascinating insights on one ancient practice each session.

Compassion Meditation
Eastern philosophy was first used as a medical treatment in the US in the 1970s for treatment-resistant chronic pain. It is now seen in a range of therapies for mental and physical health. The active components of Eastern philosophy that appear in increasingly common therapies like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy will be presented in detail.

 

Eastern Philosophy
Compassion Meditation is an ancient practice that we now increasingly understand how to use effectively. This session with explain the history and variations of compassion meditation traditions across cultures, define the experience of compassion vs. empathy, and explore the science about how these meditation techniques impact physical health and mental health.

 

 

Julie Kangas, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist, certified yoga teacher, and certified compassion meditation teacher. She is an assistant clinical professor at University of California, San Diego and a psychologist at the San Diego Veteran’s Hospital. She treats Veterans with PTSD and conducts research applying yoga and meditation as treatments for mental and physical illness. She serves as the Co-Director of the Advanced Fellowship for Women’s Health and teaches doctoral and post-doctoral candidates in clinical psychology. She was recently honored by the George W. Bush Presidential Center for her leadership in serving post-9/11 Veterans. drjuliekangas.com