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The Awakened Brain: The New Science of Spirituality & Our Quest for an Inspired Life with Prairiewoods (in person)

Monday, May 5, 6–8:15 p.m.; Tuesday, May 6, 9:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.; or Tuesday, May 6, 6–8:15 p.m.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) within the Department of Health and Human Services has identified spirituality as one of the eight key components of overall wellness. Author and researcher Lisa Miller, PhD, is one of the nation’s leading neuroscience researchers about the impact that spirituality can have on our mental wellbeing. Join Prairiewoods for our annual Spirituality in the 21st Century event, which will combine cutting-edge science with direct tools for application for people from all walks of life. According to Dr. Miller’s research, those reporting a moderate or high level of spirituality are 60% less likely to have significant depression, 70% less likely to engage in risky behaviors, and 80% less likely to become addicted to alcohol and drugs. Join Dr. Miller as we delve deeply into spirituality and how it correlates with a healthy brain. Dr. Lisa Miller is a professor of clinical psychology at Teachers College, Columbia University. She is the founder and director of the Spirituality Mind Body Institute, the first Ivy League graduate program in spirituality and psychology. For more than a decade, she has held joint appointments in the Department of Psychiatry at Columbia University Medical School. Dr. Miller has worked closely with the United States Army, assisting them in educating soldiers about the importance of spiritual fitness. Author of the New York Times best-selling book The Spiritual Child, Dr. Miller released a second evidence-based book based on her research in 2021 called The Awakened Brain: The New Science of Spirituality and Our Quest for an Inspired Life. Join her for one of three sessions (Monday, May 5, 6–8:15 p.m.; Tuesday, May 6, 9:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.; or Tuesday, May 6, 6–8:15 p.m.). Similar content will be available at all three sessions, with an online option on Monday evening, a focus on human services and youth on Tuesday morning, and a focus on healthcare on Tuesday evening. This event will be held at First Lutheran Church (1000 3rd Avenue SE in Cedar Rapids). The cost of the evening sessions is $25, or $10 for students. The cost of the Tuesday morning session is $40, or $10 for students, and includes lunch. For more information or to register, contact Prairiewoods at www.prairiewoods.org/spirituality-in-the-21st-century or 319-395-6700.

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