DEBRA BURDICK, LCSW, BCN
Debra Burdick, LCSW, BCN, also known as ‘The Brain Lady’, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a board-certified neurofeedback practitioner. Debra is an international speaker and author of the best-selling books, Mindfulness Skills Workbook for Clinicians and Clients: 111 Tools, Techniques, Activities & Worksheets, (PESI, 2013), Mindfulness Skills for Kids & Teens: A Workbook for Clinicians and Clients with 154 Tools, Techniques, Activities and Worksheets (PESI, 2014), ADHD: Non-Medication Treatments and Skills for Children and Teens (PESI, 2015) and Mindfulness Skills for Kids: Card Deck and 3 Card Games (PESI, 2017). She has taught mindfulness skills to her clients for over 25 years.
She recently retired from her private practice, and previously worked at the Child Guidance Clinic, Family Services, Child and Family Agency, and Lawrence and Memorial Hospital.
Debra incorporates mindfulness skills in all areas of her practice. She initially became interested in mindfulness to deal with a chronic illness (now thankfully healed). She found it so helpful in her own life that she started teaching her clients the skills she was using. She went on to develop clinical material on mindfulness skills and created a four-step process for working with clients using mindfulness that she perfected in her private practice and in an intensive outpatient program. Her clients have shown her that mindfulness skills improve the rate and quality of treatment outcomes.
Debra has presented numerous presentations, workshops, and teleseminars. She is often interviewed on Internet radio and telesummits and her work has been featured in The Day newspaper, Self-Improvement Magazine, and “Parenting Powers” television show.
Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Debra Burdick maintains a private practice. She is an author for Vervante publishers and receives royalties. She receives a speaking honorarium from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Debra Burdick contributes to SelfGrowth.com and receives no compensation.
MITCH ABBLETT, PHD
Mitch Abblett, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist, clinical administrator, supervisor and trainer. He has appeared on local and regional television programs in New England, and has written in professional periodicals regarding children’s mental health needs. Dr. Abblett also serves as the Clinical Director of Judge Baker Children’s Center’s Manville School, a well-established therapeutic day school for special education children with significant learning, emotional and behavior challenges. In addition to his work with emotionally-behaviorally disordered children, Dr. Abblett has also worked with a variety of populations presenting difficult behavior patterns (aggression, trauma reactivity, combat veterans, sexual perpetration, and addiction). Dr. Abblett has conducted numerous trainings regarding clinical work with difficult populations, and is a dynamic, engaging speaker. He is the author or co-author of numerous books, including The Mindfulness Skills Activity Book for Children (PESI, 2018) and The Challenging Child Toolbox (PESI, 2018). Dr. Abblett is also the co-author of the Growing Mindful (PESI, 2015), Growing Mindful 2nd Edition (PESI, 2019), Growing Mindful Spanish Edition (PESI, 2016), Growing Happy (PESI, 2016), Mindful Reminders (PESI, 2016), The Self-Compassion (PESI, 2016) and Anti-Burnout (PESI, 2017) card decks.
Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Dr. Mitch Abblett maintains a private practice and has employment relationships with The Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy, Hanover Public Schools, and Wareham Public Schools. He receives royalties as a published author. Dr. Abblett receives a speaking honorarium, recording, and book royalties from Psychotherapy Networker and PESI, Inc. He has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Dr. Mitch Abblett is a member of the American Psychological Association, the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science, and the Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy.
CHRISTOPHER WILLARD, PSYD
Christopher Willard, PsyD, is a clinical psychologist, author and consultant based in Massachusetts. He has spoken in over 31 countries and has presented at two TEDx events. He is the author of 20 books, including Alphabreaths (2019), Growing Up Mindful (2016). and Feelings are Like Farts (2024). His thoughts on mental health have been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, mindful.org, cnn.com, and elsewhere. He teaches at Harvard Medical School.
Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Dr. Christopher Willard maintains a private practice and has employment relationships with Harvard Medical School, Cambridge Health Alliance, and the Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy. He receives royalties as a published author. Dr. Willard receives a speaking honorarium, recording, and book royalties from Psychotherapy Networker and PESI, Inc. He has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Dr. Christopher Willard is the president and board member of the Mindfulness In Education Network. He is on the advisory boards of Mindfulness First and Peace in Schools. Dr. Willard is a member of Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy.