Donald Fleck
Mindfulness Teacher, Psychotherapist, Mentor
Donald Fleck, MBA, LCSW, DCSW (Diplomate in Clinical Social Work) has been practicing psychotherapy for 25 years, teaching mindfulness meditation for 15 years, and mentoring in Mindfulness for 10 years.
Donald is a Certified teacher of Mindfulness Based - Cognitive Therapy (MB-CT). He studied MBCT with Zindel Segal, Susan Woods, Pat Rockman, Evan Collins, and Gwen Morgan. He is a mentor to aspiring MBCT teachers with the Mindfulness-Based Professional Training Institute of the UCSD Medical School as well as with the Centre for Mindfulness Studies.
Donald has learned through retreats and writings from Jon Kabat-Zinn, Thich Nhat Hanh, Jack Kornfield, Tara Brach, Sharon Salzburg and others.
Donald has an AB degree in economics from Duke University and an MBA from Columbia University.
Working the Present,
Mindfully-Based
Donald wrote the book Working the Present, Mindfully-Based: Bringing Mindfulness Based - Cognitive Therapy Group Work into Individual Therapy, a book endorsed by Zindel V. Segal, Ph.D. This book takes the approach of using principles of MBCT in an ongoing, dynamic way in psychotherapy.
It introduces a 4-stage development process in Mindful Therapy:
Awareness of the present as a grounding skill.
Allowing present experience to be, letting it flow by rather than trying to stop it.
Accepting the remaining difficulties after mindfulness has been applied, reducing the feeling of defeat and opening up the person to growth in related areas.
Actions that are taken when the person is grounded in the present and more responsive than reactive. With responsive, thoughtful and considered actions we get out of the trap of reactivity. With this perspective we learn to select actions that are genuinely helpful.
Personal Statement
‘I’ve done quite a few things in my life. But, these days I spend a lot of time just being mindful in the present moment.
‘Some at my age are slowing down, enjoying the fruits of their life but I’ve found this exciting gem. I’ve found a very helpful and fruitful way to combine wonderful things: mindfulness meditation, teaching and mentorship.
‘I’ve raised a family. All grown up. I’m hugely proud of my children. I get involved in causes, I love being in nature, I walk in the woods, read books, watch movies…
‘But what really gets me… is the continuing beauty, power and fullness of the mind anchored in the present.’
Donald’s Personal Journey with Mindfulness
Donald describes first trying out mindfulness using the Book The Relaxation Response by Herbert Benson, and his being inspired by the Bill Moyers series Healing and the Mind.
A double reading of Mary Oliver's Wild Geese - the Poet of Honor of mindfulness teachers
