Improve Parent Well-Being and Child Behavior with Mindfulness By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Mindful parenting means that you bring your conscious attention to what’s happening, instead of getting hijacked by your emotions.” – Jill Ceder Raising children, parenting, is very rewarding. But it can also be challenging. Children test parents frequently. […]
Spirituality May Alter the Brain to Protect Against Major Depression By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “spirituality or religion may protect against major depression by thickening the brain cortex and counteracting the cortical thinning that would normally occur with major depression.” – Lisa Miller Spirituality is defined as “one’s personal affirmation of and […]
Improve Motor Ability in Parkinson’s Disease Patients with Tai Chi By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Tai chi, a balance-based exercise, has been shown to improve strength, balance, and physical function and to prevent falls in older adults. . . it may also improve axial symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, such as postural stability.” […]
Reduce Depression with Mindfulness Training in Primary Care By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Mindfulness and other meditations, particularly combined with cognitive therapy, work just as well for anxiety or depression as the medications do, but they don’t have those side effects,” – Daniel Goleman Clinically diagnosed depression is the most common […]
Improve Adolescent Psychological Well-Being with Tai Chi or Qigong By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Qigong was able to improve attention in adolescents after 4 weeks of practice, leading us to conclude that it may be a useful tool when integrated into physical education classes.” – Leonel Duarte Adolescence is a time […]
Improve Well-Being in Adults who Experienced Childhood Maltreatment with Mindfulness By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “mindfulness-based interventions can be beneficial for childhood maltreatment survivors to alleviate psychological symptoms including stress, anxiety, recurrent depression, substance use, and post-traumatic stress.” – Diane Joss Childhood trauma can leave in its wake symptoms which can […]
Change the Brain to Increase Sustained Attention with Meditation By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “as the popularity of mindfulness grows, brain imaging techniques are revealing that this ancient practice can profoundly change the way different regions of the brain communicate with each other – and therefore how we think – permanently.” – […]
Reduce Fatigue and Improve Sleep in Cancer Survivors with Tai Chi By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “tai chi may help to increase strength, balance, flexibility, heart and lung function, feelings of well-being” – BreastCancer.org Receiving a diagnosis of cancer has a huge impact on most people. Feelings of depression, anxiety, and […]
Reduce Depression in Older Adults with Mind-Body Practices and Exercise By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Complementary use of mindful exercise, such as Tai Chi and yogic meditation, can improve clinical outcomes of mood disorders in older adults-as demonstrated in brain scans, biomarkers of cellular aging, and mental health rating scales.” – Arline […]
Improve the Well-Being of Children with Special Health Care Needs and Their Parents with Mindfulness By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “mindfulness-based parenting program can be an effective intervention for reducing the stress experienced by parents of children with special needs.” – Elizabeth J. Shaffer There is a tremendous demand for caregiving […]