Lunch Time Drop-in Meditation Program
Jamie Derrick, Ph.D. a clinical faculty member in the Department of Psychology and Communication Studies, is offering a lunch time drop-in meditation program that she is calling ‘UI’s Free Lunch’ for faculty, staff and students.
“I’m excited to open the world of mindfulness meditation to our campus. By doing so we join the ranks of other innovative universities like UCLA and Stanford and companies like Google and General Foods in recognizing the importance of extending access mindfulness practices to enhance the well-being and creativity of our community. This is one way I can give back to all the people that have inspired me along the way.”
The “UI’s Free Lunch” will take place each Wednesday from noon to 12:25 p.m. Location announced each semester.
Derrick recently earned certification in mindfulness facilitation from UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center and will offer training in mindfulness at U of I. She joined the University of Idaho as full time faculty in 2005. She earned her doctorate from Stanford University and is a licensed clinical psychologist and holds expertise in contemplative practices as they relate to health and creativity.
Over the last decade accumulating research has demonstrated the value of mindfulness practices for enhancing cognitive focus, emotional health, and diminishing negative impacts of stress on health. Derrick has studied with the leaders in this field at University of Massachusetts and at UCLA over the last three years to earn certification to teach the science and practice of secular mindfulness from UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center.
Derrick is also contributing to the rapidly developing field of mindfulness studies and has created a unique ‘arts-based’ mindfulness curriculum which she offered to students in an ISEM course (Art, Artists and Madness) from 2005 to 2010 and a psychology course called Mindfulness and Well-being from 2014-2020.
Her work has gained some recognition beyond the University. In conjunction with the Coeur d’Alene Tribal Department of Education, she offered mindfulness training to first generation minority students in the TRIO college preparation program at University of Idaho. She has also taught her curriculum twice at UCLA: once to 200 UCLA students and staff during a wellness fair and again to 45 international physicians and graduate/exchange students seeking advanced training in integrative medicine practices and mindfulness through the Department of Psychiatry.
How to Participate
See the CLASS calendar for all events sponsored by the College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences.
See Jamie Darrick's webpage on Considering Meditation.
Listen to Jamie Derrick's episode of the Vandal Theory Podcast, where she discusses how mindfulness practices can help people find calm during the COVID-19 epidemic, as well as mindfulness resources and short audio meditations for support during challenging times.