Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program

Qualifications

Anne Dranitsaris, PhD., is a clinical psychotherapist, corporate therapist, and consultant in private practice in Pickering, Ontario. She has more than 25 years experience working with individuals, couples and groups for the treatment of Eating Disorders and Addiction, Depression,
Stress and Anger Management, and Relationship and Family Conflicts. She offers both brief, intense psychotherapy and long-term psychodynamic psychotherapy.

Practice Description

Anne has her doctorate in philosophy from the Open International University for Complementary Medicine (WHO). She completed her psychotherapy training at the Centre for Training in Psychotherapy (Toronto) and studied at the Masterson Institute for Disorders of the Self (New York). She is also a graduate of the International School for Spiritual Sciences (Montreal). Anne attended Ryerson University and the Institute for Management Training for organizational development and management studies. She has also completed postgraduate programs in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Spiritual Self-Schema Development, and Alternate Dispute Resolution. She has recently received her certificate from the University of Toronto Faculty of Social Work upon completion of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Professional Training.

During her career, Anne has studied psychology and spirituality from many interfaith institutions, as well as religious studies at the University of Toronto. She has also studied and practiced yoga, Buddhist and Vedic philosophy and psychology for more than 30 years. Her approach is holistic: integrating psychodynamic techniques with spiritual psychology to enhance healing and to help clients identify, emerge and actualize their authentic nature.

Dr. Dranitsaris is the owner of the Centre for Mindful Therapies. Psychotherapy services, cognitive coaching and the practice of mindfulness are at the heart of the Centre's offerings. The process of psychotherapy and cognitive coaching is one of guided self-examination for the purpose of transforming the emotional, mental, physical, and interpersonal conditions which inhibit one's healthy functioning and sense of well-being. Mindfulness, paying attention, in the present moment, non-judgmentally – helps clients develop the capacity for responding to their life rather than reacting to it.

Additional Information

Mindful Therapies are therapeutic approaches, which incorporate mindfulness as a way of helping clients to develop an open, accepting, non-judgmental relationship to their experience. When we live mindfully, we are open to life, experiencing every moment deeply, in an open and relaxed manner. Mindful Therapies help individuals slow down enough to process more deeply, and to respond rather than react to life, even when it is difficult. Living on “automatic pilot” or “mindlessly” causes a lack of calmness and clarity and increases our difficulties and suffering.

Mindful Therapies help clients cultivate a non-judgmental stance to their emotions, thoughts, and feelings while exploring and resolving underlying issues. These treatment approaches integrate psychodynamic and cognitive psychotherapy with mindfulness practices, creating a powerful synergy and allowing for direct attention to symptom relief. Clients learn to master their emotional states while gaining self-awareness.