"Mindsight," the provocative new book by internationally acclaimed author and psychiatrist Daniel J. Siegel, M.D., will be the topic of discussion at a free community book talk on Tuesday, March 6 at 6 p.m. at the Fairfield University Bookstore, 1499 Post Road. Paula Gill Lopez, Ph.D., associate professor of school psychology, and Tracey Robert, Ph.D., associate professor of counselor education, both of Fairfield University's Graduate School of Education and Allied Professions , will lead the discussion.

The event is free and open to the public and participants need not have read the book to engage in the conversation.

Daniel J. Siegel, M.D., is a respected author, award-winning educator, and child psychiatrist. He is currently a clinical professor of psychiatry at the UCLA School of Medicine where he also serves as a co-investigator at the Center for Culture, Brain, and Development and co-director of the Mindful Awareness Research Center. Dr. Siegel is executive director of the Mindsight Institute, an education center devoted to promoting insight, compassion, and empathy in individuals, families, institutions and communities.

A Harvard-trained physician, Dr. Siegel is a global innovator in the integration of brain science and psychotherapy with a focus on the internal world of the mind. In "Mindsight," he uses his own case histories and combines Western neuroscience and Eastern meditation to teach patients to counter tormenting memories, irrational fears, unreasonable anger, patterns of conflict with family and employers, and more.

"He challenges his patients to a life of tough work and convincingly suggests it will be well worth the effort," wrote a reviewer for Publishers Weekly.

Two Fairfield associate professors will lead the discussion of Dr. Siegel's book, presenting it from the perspective of practitioners who work with students and clients and how it informs their work. They would also like to hear from others about what they have learned from their own mindfulness practices.

Dr. Paula Gill Lopez, who joined the Fairfield faculty in 1994, has research interests in the areas of diversity, dropout prevention, mindfulness meditation, and clinical supervision, among other topics. She received her Ph.D. from the University of California at Berkeley and is director of Fairfield's School Psychology Program and Chair of the department of Psychological and Educational Consultation.

Dr. Tracey Robert is a licensed professional counselor (LPC) and is nationally certified as a career counselor since 1983. She has been a member of Fairfield's counselor education faculty since 1996 and is director of clinical training. She received her doctorate from Mississippi State University and her areas of research include spirituality, career and clinical supervision.

Posted On: 02-17-2012 11:02 AM

Volume: 44 Number: 197