What do you feel when you gaze up at the Milky Way, see a beautiful rainbow, or stand before a mountain that seems impossibly high? This feeling – often complete with goosebumps and a shiver down our spine – is known as awe. And as it turns out, this underappreciated and often misunderstood emotion holds an important key to a happy, meaningful, and healthy life.Although we think of awe as a rare emotion, reserved only for the most exhilarating of life’s marvels, studies have shown that awe-inspiring experiences are all around us. And when we get more in touch with these experiences, we can improve our physical health, strengthen our social bonds, and become lastingly happier. Experiences of awe strengthen our immune system, improve our psychological well-being, and even change our brain in unique ways. As it turns out, the moments that make us go “Wow!” can be the very moments that lastingly change our life forever.In addition to awe, attendees will learn about how similar states have been more broadly linked to greater overall well-being, meaning, and life satisfaction. In particular, recent research on the psychotherapeutic effects of psychedelic-assisted therapy have shown fascinating parallels between experiences of awe and common experiences evoked by many psychedelics. Attendees will learn about this exciting emerging part of the field, and the role of mental health clinicians in this rapidly-developing space.Lastly, participants will also explore the importance of other positive psychological principles – including gratitude, flow, self-compassion, and more, with a particular focus on how to apply these concepts during times of hardship and challenges. Best of all, we’ll be reviewing dozens of evidence-based practices that can easily be integrated into your clinical work. Through discussion, lecture, clinical vignettes, and small group work, you will learn to harness these breakthrough findings and transform your clinical practice.

Hosted by MAK Continuing Education, LLC, Cape Cod Institute live online and in Orleans, MA for 15 CEs. For more info, visit the event website.