MCA Services

Memorial Counseling Associates | (217) 788-4065
Providing assessment and therapy services in Central Illinois - Springfield, Lincoln and Jacksonville

Stress Reduction

It's difficult to enjoy life when things seem out of control and stress gets in the way. Memorial Counseling Associate's Stress Reduction Program is an eight-week program that provides help to its participants by using Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT). If you are interested in participating in a future group, please call (217) 788-4065 and ask to speak with Ruta Kulys, the group leader. The group meets on Memorial Medical Center's campus at 901 North First Street in Springfield.

What is Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy?

MBCT is based on the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn. Research shows that MBSR is enormously empowering for patients with chronic pain, hypertension, heart disease, cancer, and gastrointestinal disorders, as well as for psychological problems such as anxiety and panic.

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy grew from this work. Zindel Segal, Mark Williams and John Teasdale adapted the MBSR program specifically for people who had suffered repeated bouts of depression. Research has shown that people with a history of depression who go through the program reduce their chances that depression will return. The evidence from two randomized clinical trials of MBCT indicates that it reduces rates of relapse into depression by 50% among patients who suffer from recurrent depression.

Can I learn Mindfulness if I have not been clinically depressed?

Yes. People come to MCA's Stress Reduction Program for a variety of reasons, including:

• Stress - work, relationship, financial
• Chronic pain and illness
• Difficulty managing their temper and letting small things "get to them"
• Overeating
• Sleep problems
• Hypertension and heart disease
• Caregiver stress

About the Program

Program participants receive:

• Guided instruction in mindfulness meditation practices
• Instruction in gentle stretching and mindful yoga
• Opportunities for group discussion of their experiences with the practices
• Daily home practice assignments
• Four home practice CDs and a program manual

Most participants are eligible to have the program fee covered by their health insurance. Potential participants are evaluated to make sure the program will meet their needs. Class size is limited.

To be added to the contact list for a future session of the Stress Reduction Program, call Memorial Counseling Associates at (217) 788-4065.

Meet the Program Leader

Ruta Kulys, LCSW, CYT, is a psychotherapist with more than 20 years of clinical experience. She was trained in MBSR under the supervision of Jon Kabat-Zinn in 2003. She completed the professional training in MBCT with Zindel Segal in 2004. She was certified as a Hatha Yoga teacher in 2006 and as a Prenatal Yoga teacher in 2007. In 2009, Ms. Kulys completed a 200-hour certification to teach Vinyasa Flow Yoga with yogi and author Rolf Gates. She has completed the Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy Level 1 and 2 trainings and is a member of the International Association of Yoga Therapists.

Comments from past participants