This document discusses mindfulness-based recovery tools for a tobacco cessation group. It provides a brief history of mindfulness practice and discusses how neuroscience has shown that mindfulness training increases activity in the middle prefrontal cortex which is associated with functions like emotional balance and response flexibility. It then introduces the SURF tool for tobacco cravings, which involves noticing the urge to use (S), understanding what's happening in the body (U), riding the urge without acting on it (R), and focusing on the present moment (F).

1. Tobacco
Cessation
Group
March 7, 2012
Mindfulness-Based
Recovery Tools
Stephen J. Paquette, BASc, RYT, MPH (c.)
Prevention & Health Promotion Coordinator
SPaquette@swndha.nshealth.ca

2. Outline
 Introduction
 Mindfulness, Past and Present
 Neuroscience: Enlightening Mindfulness
 The SURF Tool
 Reflections

3. The History of Mindfulness
 Millennia of practice throughout the world
 The Relaxation Response
 Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)
 Mindfulness Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP)

4. The Perfect Storm
Budget / Financial Pressures
Evidence Neuroscience
• Chronic Disease • fMRI
Mindfulness
• Mental Illness • Neuroplasticity
• Substance Use • Mechanisms
Population Health Approach
• Complete State Approach • Pathogenic and Salutogenic

5. Mindfulness-Based Practices
Relaxation
Martial Arts
Yoga
Tai Chi

6. Long-Term Effect
Increased activity
in the middle
prefrontal cortex
(Siegel, 2010)

7. Middle Prefrontal Cortex
Functions
 Empathy  Bodily Regulation
 Insight  Attuned Communication
 Intuition  Emotional Balance
 Fear Modulation  Response Flexibility
 Moral Awareness
Source: Siegel D J, MindSight (2010)

8. Basic Neurobiology
LEFT RIGHT

9. The Left Hemisphere
Serial
Processor
Limited
Separate
Left-Brain
Judgmental

10. The Right Hemisphere
Parallel
Processor
Expansive
Sensational
Right-Brain
Creative

11. Neuroscientific Study
 University of Toronto and CAMH
 N.A.S. Farb et al (2007)
 Narrative Focus (NF) vs. Experiential Focus (EF)
 Mindfulness Training (MT) decouples habitual default
NF
 Mindfulness Training improves both

12. Neuroscientific Study
Narrative
Focus
Experiential
Focus
Source: N.A.S. Farb et al (2007)

14. SURF the URGE

15. SURF the URGE

16. SURF the URGE

17. SURF the URGE

19. Reflections

20. Thank You!
a·lo·ha [ah-loh-hah]
Origin: alo – to be present with
ha – the Great Breath