Neuro-Nirvana: Integrating Science and Spirituality for Mindful Living

Neuro-Nirvana is a new group at Union meeting every other week on the coffee shop's second floor. Union is well-established within the LGBTQ community here in Dallas, and all people are welcome, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, or faith.

Agenda:

• 6:00 - 6:10PM - Arrival and introductions
• 6:10 - 6:20PM - Psychoeducation
• 6:20 - 6:40PM - Guided meditation
• 6:40 - 7:00PM - Group de-brief and discussion
• 7PM onwards - Optional dinner at a vegetarian-friendly restaurant

A field-guide to the mind

Guided meditations will be based on established principles in psychology and related fields with a focus on treating disociation and intergrating emotional and cognitive processing. A limited number of zafus, zabuton's, and yoga mats will be available for those wishing to sit on the floor. Feel free to bring your own.

Group leader

Dr. Austin Beltrand is a Neurology resident at UT Southwestern with plans to specialize in Interventional Neuropsychiatry. He has an interest in treating Functional Neurologic Disorder (FND) and other neuropsychiatric conditions with mindfulness-based therapies. His prior training includes bachelors in neuroscience and philosophy from UCLA. He is the author of "Mindfulness, without a Mind: The Brain's Hidden Habit of Dissociation".

What is FND?

Functional neurologic disorder (FND) is the 3rd most common reason why people are referred to a neurologist, and is characterized neurologic symptoms without a structural cause. Typical symptoms include weakness, numbness, seizures, tics, and tremors. FND often, but not always, occurs in the setting of prior trauma, and there is significant intersection between FND and the LBTQ community.
Dr. Beltrand's work includes the development of guided meditation courses that re-unify body and mind by targeting the theoretical mechanisms of FND.

Host or Publisher Austin Beltrand