Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction
at Swedish Medical Center in Seattle, Washington

with Instructor and Program Coordinator Carolyn McManus, PT, MS, MA

The Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program is an course developed by Carolyn to help people with chronic pain and disease skillfully cope with their medical conditions and live more fully. It is modeled on the program created by Jon Kabat Zinn and described in Kabat Zinn’s book, Full Catastrophe Living. The group meets once a week for 2.5 hours for eight consecutive weeks. Mindfulness meditation and the application of mindfulness to daily life are the core program components. In addition, participants are introduced to gentle yoga, how to change unwanted thinking habits and to develop compassion for oneself and others. To assist the learning process, participants receive a guided meditation CD and weekly hand-outs with specific home program recommendations. Participants learn mindfulness not as a technique to use in times of stress,
but as a way of life that continually enhances and enriches a person’s daily activities and capacity for love.

As Carolyn has increased responsibilities to include The Pain Puzzle at Swedish Medical Center and MBSR at the VA, she has reduced her role as an instructor of MBSR at Swedish. Carolyn and her colleagues Diane Hetrick, PT, Teresa Dean, PT and Peg Maas, PT are presently the instructor team for this program.

Carolyn will next teach a course beginning April 5.

To find out more about the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program at Swedish Medical Center, or to register, call (206) 215-6966. View the program PDF.

"The course was life changing and put me on a daily path of meditation, mindfulness and approaching situations with an open heart, as well as helping me navigate some difficult situations. Carolyn is a highly skilled teacher and facilitator. Being in her presence is like being wrapped in a cozy blanket. I didn't want the course to end." – Patti Gorman

"The mindfulness program and Carolyn's wisdom gave me skills for living with more joy and less stress. It's amazing how I can calm down in a stressful situation by breathing mindfully. I have learned to not worry about the past or what may come in the future, but to focus on the present moment. I can plan for tomorrow, but live today. This has helped not only my physical health, but also the relationships that matter in my life. My wife has noticed these changes and has commented on how much closer she feels to me. We both agree my new skills are a real gift to my children." – Ron Smith