Support Group Information

Are you interested in learning about emotional regulation and wellbeing from a Buddhist perspective? You’re warmly invited to join our new fortnightly support group exploring this fascinating topic with Corina Erismann and Ani Könchog. Both of them are experienced psychologists, mindfulness teachers, and Buddhist practitioners with a great deal of humour, wisdom, experience, and knowledge of dharma to share.

The group will be grounded in a scientific understanding of human psychology, integrating research with insights from Buddhist philosophy. You’ll engage in discussions, exercises, and guided meditations aimed at providing a deeper understanding of emotional processes and effective techniques for emotional self-regulation.

Some of the broader themes we will address in the groups include:

• The power of vulnerability

• Growing from challenges

• Befriending the dragon

• You are stronger than you think

• How to not fear our shadow side?

Specific subjects include:

Emotional Awareness and Regulation:

Understand the mechanisms underlying emotional awareness and regulation and learn strategies for effectively managing emotions.

Compassionate Self-Understanding:

Explore the psychological benefits of self-compassion and how it fosters healthier relationships and emotional resilience.

Mindfulness and Inner Balance:

Investigate the scientific foundations of mindfulness practices and their impact on enhancing psychological wellbeing and resilience.

Embracing Impermanence and Letting Go:

Study the psychological effects of accepting impermanence and the benefits of reducing attachment in fostering emotional balance and adaptability.

Participants

Limited number of places available. No prior knowledge of Buddhism or psychology is required. The groups will be facilitated in English.

Dates

Fortnightly beginning Tuesday 28th November, 2023.

Time

18:00 GMT (London) | 19:00 (Berlin)

Length of sessions

90 minutes

About the facilitators

Corina Erismann

Corina Erismann is a clinical psychologist and certified mindfulness teacher trainer, mindful eating teacher, group facilitator, deep listening practitioner, and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy specialist with focus on depression. She has been teaching mindfulness programs and mentoring mindfulness teachers since 2013. Since 2017 she has taught MBCT groups for sensitive individuals experiencing recurrent depression, trauma and challenging emotions. Corina also facilitates supervision and support group sessions for psychologists on the topic of mindfulness-based psychotherapy.

Ani Könchog Lhamo

Ani Könchog has been a beloved part of the New Life community for over a decade. We refer to her affectionately simply as ‘Ani'. Since her first visit to our Thai centre in 2012, Ani has returned year after year to offer counselling, Buddhist teachings, meditation instruction, and her wonderful photographic skills. She is an ordained Buddhist nun in the Tibetan tradition and has studied under Pema Chödron, B. Alan Wallace and Tsoknyi Rinpoche. She is also a trained psychologist specialising in EMDR therapy with a degree from the University of Oslo. Ani has lived and travelled all over the world and considers herself a 'European and life-long expat.’ She speaks fluent French, Norwegian, and English, and pretty good German.