Keep Coming Back: Mindfulness Practices for Recovery and Renewal

Keep Coming Back is a daylong mindfulness retreat for recovery and renewal, led by Buddhist teacher and author Kevin Griffin at Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Woodacre, California. It brings Buddhist meditation practice together with the 12-Step path, and it is open to people in recovery, to those who support them, and to health care professionals who want to learn mindfulness-based approaches to addiction recovery.

What to Expect

Dharma practice and a recovery program both rest on intention and commitment. This day is built around that shared ground: one day at a time and one breath at a time, returning to the present moment and to a collective wish to be free. The focus is on renewing your commitment and keeping your program going within a framework of practice.

The day runs from 10:00am to 4:30pm and moves between guided mindfulness meditations, Dharma talks and teaching, interactive exercises, and periods of personal reflection. The exercises explore emotional awareness and mindful communication. The aim is to leave with fresh inspiration for a year of growth and well-being.

Continuing Education for Professionals

Licensed and license-eligible mental health and health care professionals can earn 5.5 continuing education credits for an additional fee. The program is aimed at psychologists, social workers, counselors, marriage and family therapists, nurses, chiropractors and other providers. Rather than staying with theory, care providers practice the same tools they might offer clients: non-judgmental awareness and present-moment focus for working with distressing emotions, and mindful speech and listening that can support therapeutic communication.

By the end of the day, participants should be better able to describe the role of mindfulness in a 12-Step recovery program, identify its key components as applied to addiction recovery, apply practices for working with difficult emotions, and describe mindful speech and listening in therapeutic communication.

Credit requires registering and paying for CEs before the program begins and attending the full day, with sign-in and sign-out at the CE table. Partial attendance cannot be credited. Continuing education is sponsored by Mindful CECs, and participants are responsible for confirming that the credits meet their own licensing board's requirements.

About Kevin Griffin, MFA

Kevin Griffin is a Buddhist teacher and the author of several books, including One Breath at a Time: Buddhism and the Twelve Steps and, most recently, Buddhism & the Twelve Steps Daily Reflections. A longtime Buddhist practitioner and 12 Step participant, he is a leader in the mindful recovery movement.

The Setting

The program is held on the land at Spirit Rock in Woodacre, in the Community Meditation Center's Great Hall. It is a day program only, not a residential retreat, and no overnight accommodation is provided.

Before You Go

This is an introductory-level day. Newcomers to mindfulness are welcome, as are experienced practitioners, and no prior meditation experience is needed. The program is offered in English and Spanish.

Lunch is not provided, so bring a sack lunch and a water bottle. Transportation is also your own to arrange. Sliding scale pricing includes scholarship rates for BIPOC participants, young adults, and those with financial need, and work exchange opportunities may be available for in-person programs. Registration closes on the morning of the program, and a waiting list is created if it fills early.