International Conference on ADHD: Mindfulness and ADHD: Reflections on What Works and What Doesn’t with Dr. Lidia Zylowska and Dr. Mark Bertin
Reflections on mindfulness for ADHD: 15 years later, what works and what does not in practice.
Since our initial presentation at the 2008 Amaheim CHADD conference, mindfulness has become a more integral part of the ADHD toolbox for many clinicians and patients. Research increasingly shows benefits of mindfulness around ADHD symptoms, anxiety, mood, stress management, emotion regulation, and self-compassion. However, as a recent survey of adults and parents with ADHD has shown, more recommend mindfulness than feel able to practice it. So, what is mindfulness really, and how can it be practiced to optimize its benefits? Drs. Zylowska (psychiatrist) and Bertin (developmental behavioral pediatrician) will reflect on their individual experiences with mindfulness over the years. They will share the impact of mindfulness in their own lives and as ADHD clinicians and teachers of mindfulness, emphasizing different ways to make mindfulness practical and doable for busy adults, parents, and clinicians. The presentation will reflect on the universal challenges of the practice, as well as and the unique ways neurodiverse brains may engage with it.