Diaphragmatic Breathing for Chronic Conditions – Feb 2024

Live Online Workshop

Day 1: 8 February 2024 | 2.00pm–5.00pm AEDT

Day 2: 15 February 2024 | 2.00pm–4.00pm AEDT

Member price: $440.00 including GST (member price will display once logged in)

Non-member price: $733.00 including GST

Employer Partner Program price: $550.00 including GST

Diaphragmatic Breathing (DB) is evidence-based, non-pharmacological, non-invasive, cost-effective and simple. Social workers are ideally placed to integrate DB for chronic conditions such as anxiety, depression, pain, sleep disorders and trauma.

Diaphragmatic breathing can help clients to:

• Lower harmful effects of stress hormones (Healthline, 2022)
• Lower heart rate, blood pressure and respiration rate
• Cope better with stress, distress and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms
• Decrease chronic conditions

This two-part interactive workshop will provide participants with the opportunity to experience, and learn and develop proficiency in slow, diaphragmatic breathing as a simple skill for mental health practice.

Facilitated by Dr Judy Lovas, the workshops will:

• Translate and explain current research that supports clinical use of DB
• Outline biological pathways involved in stress and relaxation
• Consider the why, how and when to apply DB clinically

Participants will:

• Gain benefits from the personal practice of DB
• Develop skills to guide clients through a brief DB session
• Learn to teach clients to practice DB in their daily life

Format:

• facilitator-led workshops: 5 hours
• self-directed learning and practice: 1 hour

Additional resources:

• Pre-reading
• Supplementary handouts (self-directed practice and reflective activities)

Who should attend? Social workers who wish to understand and develop proficiency in DB as an effective evidence-based therapeutic tool.

AASW Credentials: Mental Health (FPS), Clinical

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this program, participants will be able to:

• Define stress, relaxation and relaxation therapy
• Evaluate leading research in DB as a therapeutic intervention for chronic conditions
• Identify biological mechanisms that link DB with positive outcomes for chronic conditions
• Experience and practice DB on a personal level
• Apply DB to clients in a clinical setting

Presenter

Dr Judy Lovas is dedicated to teaching psychoneuroimmunology-based interventions for chronic conditions. She has a PhD from Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney.

Judy presents to health and medical professionals, at universities and in seminars, conducts relaxation classes in aged care and neurological rehabilitation, is an international speaker and will speak about links between cognition, emotion, health, stress, disease, relaxation and health to anyone interested!

The AASW is pleased to welcome Judy back to our program due to popular member demand.