Project and content management for Contemporary Authors volumes
WORK TITLE: Growing Up Mindful
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://drchristopherwillard.com/
CITY: Boston
STATE: MA
COUNTRY:
NATIONALITY:
http://www.mindful.org/author/christopher-willard/ * https://therapists.psychologytoday.com/rms/name/Christopher_Willard_PsyD_Wellesley_Massachusetts_92874 * http://drchristopherwillard.com/bio-vitae/
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Male.
EDUCATION:Wesleyan University, B.A., 2001; Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology, Psy.D., 2008.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Psychologist, educator, consultant, and writer. Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology, Newton, teaching assistant, 2007-08; Lesley University, Cambridge, MA, adjunct professor, 2014—; Cambridge Health Alliance, Cambridge, clinical instructor in psychiatry, 2014—; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, teaching associate, 2014—. Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy, board of directors.
MEMBER:American Psychological Association, Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy.
WRITINGS
Contributor of chapters to books, including Handbook of Mindfulness, Wiley-Blackwell, 2014.
SIDELIGHTS
Boston-based psychologist and educational consultant Dr. Christopher Willard specializes in mindfulness with adolescents and young adults. He has published several books on mindfulness for keeping children calm and balanced and for teenage anxiety. Offering independent and fully licensed psychological and educational services, he has been practicing meditation for over fifteen years and leads international workshops. Willard also teaches at Lesley University and Harvard Medical School, and he serves on the board of directors at the Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy and the Mindfulness in Education Network. He holds a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology.
Mindfulness, like meditation, is a stress-relief practice that Willard teaches to children and teenagers and their parents to build emotional intelligence, happiness, curiosity, and engagement and to reduce anxiety, depression, and avoidance. Willard’s 2006 book Child’s Mind: Mindfulness Practices to Help Our Children Be More Focused, Calm, and Relaxed explains how teachers, parents, and counselors can teach children to learn mindfulness and integrate mindfulness into their lives so they can be happy, aware, and comfortable just being themselves. The book has resources for coordinators of retreat centers, leaders of religious institutions, therapists, and medical professionals.
In his 2014 book Mindfulness for Teen Anxiety: A Workbook for Overcoming Anxiety at Home, at School, and Everywhere Else, Willard helps anxious teenagers going through the physical and mental changes of adolescence work through panic attacks, worry, public speaking, social anxiety, and feelings of isolation. He offers tips on taking control of anxiety, meeting goals, learning breathing exercises, using guided-visualization exercises, learning time management, and feeling calm when dealing with parents and friends.
Willard’s 2016 title Growing Up Mindful: Essential Practices to Help Children, Teens, and Families Find Balance, Calm, and Resilience is aimed at teaching parents, educators, and counselors the principles of mindfulness to help children working through traumatic situations, such as bullying and social-media incidents, become resistant and creative. He includes charts and helpful practices that empower children, instructs parents not to insinuate that their child is broken and needs fixing, and offers ways to individualize mindfulness exercises for different children’s needs. The book contains 101 mindfulness cues that help children concentrate and gives advice on helping children integrate and apply mindful consciousness to everyday living. Writing in Publishers Weekly, a contributor commented: “This is a well-written, practical guide with a useful appendix.” According to Eve Costarelli in a review in LinkedIn: “This book was really user-friendly with just enough scientific knowledge mixed with common sense.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Publishers Weekly, April 18, 2016, review of Growing Up Mindful: Essential Practices to Help Children, Teens, and Families Find Balance, Calm, and Resilience, p. 114.
ONLINE
Christopher Willard Home Page, http://drchristopherwillard.com (March 1, 2017).
LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/ (September 15, 2016), Eve Costarelli, review of Growing Up Mindful.
Mindful, http://www.mindful.org/ (March 1, 2017), author profile.
Psychology Today Online, https://therapists.psychologytoday.com/ (March 1, 2017), author profile.
Christopher Willard, Psy. D. is a psychologist and educational consultant based in Boston specializing in mindfulness with adolescents and young adults. He has been practicing meditation for over 15 years, and leading workshops internationally on the topic of mindfulness with young people. He currently serves on the board of directors at the Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy, and the Mindfulness in Education Network. He is the author of Child’s Mind (2010) Growing Up Mindful (2016) and three other books on contemplative practice. He teaches at Harvard Medical School .
Christopher T. Willard, Psy.D.
EDUCATION
06/08 Psy. D, Clinical Psychology, The Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology
05/01 B.A, English, Wesleyan University
BOOKS
(forthcoming, 2014). Edited with Amy Saltzman, Mindfulness with Young People: From the Clinic to the Classroom. New York, Guilford Press.
(8/2014). The Mindfulness and Anxiety Workbook for Teens. Oakland, New Harbinger.
(Fall 2010). Child’s Mind: A Guide to Teaching Mindfulness to Young People. Berkeley, Parallax Press.
ARTICLES AND CHAPTERS
(2014). “Mindfulness Across the Developmental Spectrum” in Handbook of Mindfulness Wiley-Blackwell;, New York. (Langer et al)
GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL PSYCHOTHERAPY RELATED
1/10-present Psychotherapist and Educational Consultant in Private Practice Wellesley & Cambridge, MA
08/08-12/13 Tufts University Counseling and Mental Health Services Medford, MA
08/06-02/10 Wediko Children’s Services Boston, MA
08/05-06/06 Northern Rhode Island Community Services Woonsocket, RI
07/04-06/05 Gosnold-Thorne Counseling Center Mashpee, MA
08/02-06/06 Short Term Psychotherapy Research Program at Harvard Medical School Boston, MA
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy, Cambridge MA
09/14 Co-Director, Relational Mindfulness Conference (with Susan Pollak & Janet Surrey)
05/13-Present Director, Buddhist Psychology Lecture Series
05/12-PresentCommittee, Buddhist Psychology Film Series
10/10-Present Board of Directors
12/09-Present Core Faculty in Yearlong Certificate Program under the direction of Paul Fulton
Calmer Choice Foundation:
09/13-PresentBoard of Advisors
09/13-PresentCurriculum Development Committee
GRADUATE TEACHING
Harvard Medical School
2014-Present: Teaching Associate
Cambridge Health Alliance
2014-Present: Clinical Instructor in Psychiatry
Lesley University
2014-Present Adjunct Professor
Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy
12/08-Present Core Faculty, Certificate Program in Mindfulness and Psychotherapy
Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology:
08/07-12/07 History and Systems of Psychology (Teaching Assistant)
1/08-5/08 Social Bases of Behavior (Teaching Assistant)
1/08-5/08 Psychoeducational Assessment (Teaching Assistant)
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
American Psychological Association
Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy
LICENSURE
Massachusetts Psychology License #9151
INDEPENDENT CONSULTATION AND TRAINING
Institutions including Boston Public Schools, Belmont Public Schools, Cambridge Guidance Center, Mass General Hospital, WGBH-TV Boston, 826 Boston, The Learning Annex, Brookline Mental Health Center, Human Relations Services, Joseph Smith Community Mental Health Center, Boston Behavioral Medicine, Signet/VeRiTas Education, Calmer Choice Foundation, Newton Public Schools, Lowell Public Schools, Needham Public Schools, Harvard Public Schools, Bedford School District, and others.
GUEST LECTURES
Tufts University Department of Child Development, Lesley University, MSPP, Harvard Divinity School
PUBLIC LECTURES, PRESENTATIONS AND WORKSHOPS
11/14 Barre Center for Buddhist Studies – Cultivating Compassion and Connection in Children and Teens: a three-day workshop
11/14 Learning and the Brain Conference, Mindfulness in Education
09/21 IMC of Pioneer Valley, Mindfulness with Youth and Families
05/14 Newton Community Education, Mindfulness with Children, Teens and Families: Public Talk
05/14 Cambridge Friends School, Mindfulness with Children, Teens and Families: Public Talk
05/14 Mass School of Professional Psychology, Child’s Mind: A Daylong Workshop for Clinicians
06/14 Vermont Insight Meditation Center, Brattleboro Vermont, Retreat Day for Parents and Professionals
03/14 Harvard Graduate School of Education, Learning Differences Conference: Mindfulness with Learning Differences
03/14 Royal Institute of Health Sciences, Bhutan, Meditation and Western Medicine
08/13 Against The Stream Meditation Society, Child’s Mind: A Half-Day Workshop for Professionals
10/13 The Mind Institute, Chester, UK, Child’s Mind: A Two-day Workshop for Parents and Professionals
09/13 The Mind Institute, Warsaw, Poland Child’s Mind: A Two-day Workshop for Parents and Professionals
09/13 Barre Center for Buddhist Studies, Bringing Mindfulness to Professional Practice with Young People, a Three-day Workshop
04/13 Saamsaara, Helsinki, Finland A Two-day Mindfulness Program for Child Professionals
04/13 Saamsaara, Turku, Finland A Two-day Mindfulness Program for Child Professionals
04/13 Mass School of Professional Psychology, Child’s Mind: A Daylong Workshop for Clinicians
01/13 UCSD, Bridging the Hearts and Minds of Youth: Child’s Mind: A Three Hour Workshop
05/12 Harvard Medical School: Meditation and Psychotherapy Conference: Mindful with Youth and Families
04/12 Mass School of Professional Psychology, Child’s Mind: A Workshop for Clinicians
01/12 Barre Center for Buddhist Studies, Bringing Mindfulness to Professional Practice with Young People, a Three-day Workshop
01/12 Valpas Tyynni Mieli, Helsinki, Finland Child’s Mind: A Two-day Workshop for Parents and Professionals
08/11 American Psychological Association, Annual Convention, Bringing Mindfulness to Children and Teens
10/10 New England College Health Association, Annual Conference, Mindfulness with College Students
LANGUAGES
English, Some Spanish
OTHER SERVICE
07/09, 07/14 Teen Retreat Staff, Insight Meditation Society
01/06-04/08 Admissions Committee, Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology
09/00-06/01 Board of Trustees, Wesleyan University
Independent and fully licensed psychological and educational services
in Harvard Square and Wellesley Hills
Consultations and ongoing psychotherapy for individuals and families
Training and workshops offered for your organization
Christopher Willard's TEDx on Mindfulness and Stress for teens and the people who love them.
Clinical & Educational Experience
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My work as a psychologist has included community mental health centers, hospitals, private clinics, schools and universities. My first book, Child's Mind was published a few years back, and I recently published a workbook for anxious teens. Meanwhile, I am continuing to write and edit a number of other projects.
Currently, I teach at Lesley University and Harvard Medical School, and work part time in private practice as a therapist with a focus on mindfulness and a specialty in learning issues and anxiety. I also train teachers, therapists and medical professionals in mindfulness practices through the Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy, where I serve on the board of directors. In addition, I consult nationally and internationally to organizations and media about educational and psychological issues.
I am licensed and insured as a psychologist and health services provider in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, #9151. I received my doctorate from The Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology and bachelor’s degree from Wesleyan University.
On the personal side, I enjoy traveling, hiking, cooking, reading and writing.
Author, Growing Up Mindful (Sounds True, 2016) with praise from Jack Kornfield, Tara Brach, Chris Germer and others
Co-Author, with Mitch Abblett The Mindfulness and Teen Depression Workbook (New Harbinger, 2015)
Co-editor, with Amy Saltzman, of Teaching Mindfulness Skills to Kids and Teens (Guilford Press, 2015) with praise from Daniel Siegel and Congressman Tim Ryan and more.
Author, Mindfulness for Teen Anxiety Workbook (New Harbinger, 2014)
Author, Child’s Mind (Parallax Press, 2010) critically acclaimed by Thich Nhat Hanh, Susan Kaiser Greenland, Mary Pipher and others
Featured in The New York Times, and cnn.com, and abcnews.com and elsewhere
Faculty Harvard Medical School
Past presenter at The American Psychological Association, Harvard Medical School, Harvard Graduate School of Education, Learning and the Brain, UCSD, Mass School Psych Association, PESI Seminars and elsewhere in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia
Workshops and consultation to dozens of schools, districts, clinics and universities
Board of Directors of the Mindfulness in Education Network
Board of Directors and Faculty at the Institute for Meditation & Psychotherapy
Post-Doctoral Training at Tufts University
Pre-Doctoral Training at Wediko Children’s Services
author: christopher willard
Christopher Willard
Christopher Willard
Christopher Willard, PsyD, is a psychologist and educational consultant based in Boston, specializing in mindfulness for adolescents and young adults. He has been practicing meditation for over fifteen years. He currently serves on the board of directors at the Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy and the Mindfulness in Education Network. Dr. Willard has published five books on contemplative practice, including Growing Up Mindful. He teaches at Harvard Medical School.
Christopher Willard Psy. D.
Lecturer on Psychiatry, Part Time, Harvard Medical School
Greater Boston AreaMental Health Care
Current
Harvard Medical School, PESI, Cambridge Health Alliance
Previous
Lesley University, Tufts University Counseling and Mental Health Services, Wediko Children's Services
Education
Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology
500+
connectionsSend Christopher InMailMore options
https://www.linkedin.com/in/drchriswillard
Contact Info
Background
Summary
Over a decade of experience in mental health and educational settings as a psychologist, learning specialist, teacher. Author of "Growing Up Mindful," "Child's Mind," "The Teen Mindfulness and Anxiety Workbook," "The Teen Mindfulness and Depression Workbook," and more. I currently work and consult in private practice in the Boston area.
Keynote presenter at UCSD "Bridging the Hearts and Minds of Youth," presenter at Learning and the Brain, Harvard Medical School, Teaching Matters, PESI,Mindfulness in Education Network Conference, Mass School Psych Association, New Hampshire Psychological Association, American Psychological Association, Omega Institute, Against the Stream and more. TEDx presenter (link forthcoming).
Consulting and professional developmental in dozens of schools and hospitals. Invited workshops and lectures in the US, Finland, Poland, UK, Switzerland, Latvia, Germany, Chile, Argentina, Australia, Bhutan and more.
Specialties: Writing, public speaking, consulting, mindfulness based psychotherapies, learning specialist, therapeutic tutoring and academic coaching.
Mindfulness & Stress Talk: Dr. Christopher Willard
Mindfulness & Stress Talk: Dr. Christopher Willard
MFTA
MFTA
Mindfulness y Atencion Plena con Niños y Adolescentes
Mindfulness y Atencion Plena con Niños y Adolescentes
Experience
Lecturer on Psychiatry, Part-Time
Harvard Medical School
September 2014 – Present (2 years 6 months)
Speaker, Workshop Leader
PESI
August 2014 – Present (2 years 7 months)
Leading workshops on bringing mindfulness into work with children, teens and families.
Clinical Instructor, Department of Psychiatry
Cambridge Health Alliance
August 2014 – Present (2 years 7 months)
Psychologist, Psychotherapist & Consultant
Private Practice
August 2005 – Present (11 years 7 months)Wellesley Hills, MA & Harvard Square, MA
psychotherapy, adolescents, mindfulness, mbsr, public speaking, workshops, consulting, coaching, meditation, learning differences, neuropsychology, academic support, academic coaching, therapeutic tutoring
Dr. Christopher Willard
Dr. Christopher Willard
Author
Author
May 2010 – Present (6 years 10 months)
Child's Mind (2010)
The Mindfulness and Anxiety Workbook for Teens (2014)
Mindfulness with Youth: From the Classroom to the Clinic (Editor, with Amy Saltzman) (2015)
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=christopher%20willard
Board Member, Core Faculty
The Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy
September 2010 – Present (6 years 6 months)Cambridge, MA
Board Member
Core Faculty
Director of Buddhist Psychology Lecture Series
Dharma Film Series Committee
President-Elect
Mindfulness in Education Network
February 2015 – Present (2 years 1 month)
http://www.mindfuled.org/
Adjunct Professor
Lesley University
August 2014 – December 2014 (5 months)
Teaching in counseling psychology department
Psychologist
Tufts University Counseling and Mental Health Services
2008 – June 2014 (6 years)
Individual and Group Psychotherapy
Clinician: Boston-School Based Program
Wediko Children's Services
September 2006 – March 2010 (3 years 7 months)
Individual and family therapist
Neuropsychological testing
Consultation with school staff regarding classroom based interventions and supports
Post-Doctoral Fellow, Psychology
Tufts University
August 2008 – August 2009 (1 year 1 month)
Staff Clinician: Counseling and Mental Health Services
Individual and group psychotherapy, consulting and coaching.
Teaching Assistant
Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology
2007 – 2008 (1 year)
teaching, public speaking
Clinician
Northern Rhode Island Community Services
August 2005 – July 2006 (1 year)
Individual and group counseling for major mental health and substance abuse
Neuropsychological testing
Clinician
Gosnold-Thorne Counseling Center
August 2004 – June 2005 (11 months)
Individual and group therapist for range of mental health and substance abuse clients
Publications
Child's Mind(Link)
Parallax Press
August 31, 2010
Teaching meditation to children and teens.
Mindfulness for Teen Anxiety(Link)
New Harbinger
August 1, 2014
A self help workbook for adolescents and young adults coping with anxiety.
Teaching Mindfulness Skills to Children and Teens: From the Classroom to the Clinic(Link)
Guilford Press
September 15, 2015
A resource guide for parents, professionals and others who work with young people, with contributions from dozens of leading thinkers.
2 authors
Christopher Willard Psy. D.
Christopher Willard Psy. D.
Lecturer on Psychiatry, Part Time, Harvard Medical School
Amy Saltzman
Amy Saltzman
co-founder, director at Association for Mindfulness in Education
Mindfulness for Teen Depression(Link)
New Harbinger
May 1, 2016
In Mindfulness for Teen Depression, two teen experts offer powerful tools based in mindfulness and positive psychology to help you ease symptoms, work through troubling thoughts and feelings, and thrive in all aspects of life. (coming May 2016)
2 authors
Christopher Willard Psy. D.
Christopher Willard Psy. D.
Lecturer on Psychiatry, Part Time, Harvard Medical School
Mitch Abblett, Ph.D.
Mitch Abblett, Ph.D.
Executive Director at the Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy
Growing Up Mindful(Link)
Sounds True
May 10, 2016
While many adults now understand how mindfulness practice helps us alleviate the stress and anxiety of our busy modern lives, getting a typical teenager on board is another story. Dr. Christopher Willard draws on his work with hundreds of young children, tweens, and teens-along with countless hours training parents, teachers, and other counselors-to make the principles and practices of mindfulness...more
Mindfulness for Teen Depression: A Workbook for Improving Your Mood(Link)
New Harbinger
May 1, 2016
In Mindfulness for Teen Depression, two teen experts offer powerful tools based in mindfulness and positive psychology to help you ease symptoms, work through troubling thoughts and feelings, and thrive in all aspects of life.
2 authors
Christopher Willard Psy. D.
Christopher Willard Psy. D.
Lecturer on Psychiatry, Part Time, Harvard Medical School
Mitch Abblett, Ph.D.
Mitch Abblett, Ph.D.
Executive Director at the Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy
Languages
Spanish
Skills
Top Skills
99+Psychotherapy
99+Psychology
80Mental Health
80Mindfulness
63Adolescents
39Meditation
29Counseling Psychology
27Teaching
25Group Therapy
25Interventions
Christopher also knows about...
22Public Speaking
21Child Development
20Treatment
16Clinical Research
16Therapists
15Family Therapy
11Mental Health Counseling
10CBT
10Young Adults
10Adolescent Therapy
9Crisis Intervention
8Learning Disabilities
8Clinical Supervision
6Adults
4Workshop Facilitation
Education
Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology
Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology
Psy D
2004 – 2008
Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University
BA, English
1995 – 2001
Additional Info
Interests
Psychologist, Psychotherapist and Academic Coach.
Organizations
Additional Organizations
Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy Mindfulness in Education Network
Honors & Awards
Additional Honors & Awards
Book: Child's Mind: Spring 2010
Volunteer Experience & Causes
Causes Christopher cares about:
Children
Civil Rights and Social Action
Education
Health
Human Rights
Social Services
Growing Up Mindful: Essential Practices to Help Children, Teens, and Families Find Balance, Calm, and Resilience
Publishers Weekly. 263.16 (Apr. 18, 2016): p114.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2016 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Listen
Full Text:
Growing Up Mindful: Essential Practices to Help Children, Teens, and Families Find Balance, Calm, and Resilience
Christopher Willard. Sounds True (Ingram, dist.), $16.95 trade paper (256p) ISBN 978-162203-590-8
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
Willard (Mindfulness for Teen Anxiety), a clinical psychologist who advocates mindfulness as a stress relief practice, offers a helpful manual to introducing secular mindfulness practices to children and teens, as well as their parents. The book progresses from explaining mindfulness and its benefits, illustrated by helpful charts, to various strategies for introducing it to one's children. Speaking as a parent himself, Willard writes that it's imperative to "cultivate our own practice." He also cautions parents against raising the subject in the way that suggests to children "that they are broken and in the need of fixing." The better approach is to offer a practice that's compatible with a child's interests and fits into ongoing activities. To this end, he offers 101 "mindfulness cues" geared to children of different ages and temperaments, and discusses how mindfulness can be applied to actions as simple as eating and walking. On integrating mindfulness into play, the author says, "The games our kids play ... are practices for real life" and good preparation for becoming "mindful and compassionate adults." This is a well-written, practical guide with a useful appendix, "Matching the Practice to the Child." Agent: Carol Mann, Carol Mann Agency. (June)
Book Review: Growing Up Mindful by Christpher Willard, PSYD
Published on September 15, 2016
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Eve Costarelli
Eve Costarelli
FollowEve Costarelli
Always Be Dancing Adaptive Movement: Yoga, Dance & Mindfulness for Every(body)
I was pleased to receive the book Growing Up Mindful from the author, Christopher Willard, PSYD. As I have become increasingly more focused on bringing mindfulness into situations where mindfulness might not be readily available, such as in schools, offices, and with the special needs populations, I have enjoyed the wide array of books on the practical applications of mindfulness, that I can adapt to my needs. Dr. Willard is at the top of the game. This book was really user-friendly with just enough scientific knowledge mixed with common sense. A dream book of ideas to help create a sense of balance, ease and flexibility in your life, that of your family and also to those around you. From the excellent mindfulness exercises to the practical advice, Dr. Willard offers creative and useful scripts, examples and ideas on how to bring mindfulness into your day. I highly recommend this book. It is an excellent tool for anyone: parent, teacher, and boss who wants to help young people bring mindfulness into their lives.
He also has an audio companion to his book available on Sounds True and a great set of Growing Mindful card deck that features 50 unique mindfulness activities to teach awareness, how to be present in the moment, and cultivate kindness & curiosity. Perfect for all ages!
As a special treat, here is a YouTube link to Dr. Willard’s TedX – Growing Up Stressed or Growing Up Mindful?
Disclaimer: The author sent me a copy of Growing Up Mindful. All opinions are my own.