The Center for Mindfulness & CBT

03/24/2026

We’re honored to celebrate the launch of The BFRB Workbook for Teens & Young Adults with both authors, our very own Dr. Laura Chackes and Lauren McKeaney (who is flying in for this event).

Lauren is the founder and CEO of the Picking Me Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting people living with skin picking disorder.

This workbook was created to give teens and young adults practical tools and support for BFRB recovery. The combination of Laura's expertise in treating BFRBs, and Lauren's lived experience that has led her to recovery with her skin picking, makes this workbook a unique resource.

Join Laura and Lauren for readings from the book, conversations about the content and process of writing it, and book signings at Expanding Care: An Evening at the Center.

📅 Saturday, April 11th from 5-8pm
📍 The Center for Mindfulness & CBT, 967 Gardenview Office Pkwy, St. Louis, MO 63141
🔗 RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1984701879749?aff=oddtdtcreator

03/24/2026

Feeling overwhelmed? Try this simple reset 🌿

Breathe in for 4…
Breathe out for 6…
Slow it down, unclench your jaw, drop your shoulders.

Then gently ground yourself:
5 things you can see
4 things you can feel
3 things you can hear
2 things you can smell
1 thing you can taste
Come back to the present moment, right here is safe. 🤍

Save this for when you need a pause.

03/23/2026

Mindfulness is the practice of coming back to the present moment with awareness, without judgment. It doesn’t eliminate stress or difficult emotions, but it changes how you relate to them.

Our Introduction to Mindfulness course is designed to help you:
✨ Slow down and reconnect
✨ Build practical tools for stress and overwhelm
✨ Strengthen emotional awareness and resilience
✨ Bring more calm and clarity into your everyday life

Through guided practices like grounding, mindful breathing, and working with emotions, you’ll learn how to respond instead of react, and step out of autopilot. Whether you’re brand new or looking to deepen your practice, this 4-week course offers structure, support, and real-life tools you can start using right away.
You don’t need more time; you just need a new way to relate to the time you already have.

To sign up or learn more about Dr. Bucklen’s Introduction to Mindfulness 4-Week Class starting Monday, March 23rd, click here:

https://mindfulstl.com/courses/introduction-to-mindfulness-2/

https://mindfulstl.com/introduction-to-mindfulness-a-practical-path-to-calm-clarity-and-connection/

03/18/2026

✨ Meet Our Featured Provider: Gwynneth Bensen, PLPC, BFA, M.Ed. ✨

Gwynneth is a Provisionally Licensed Professional Counselor who brings a warm, person-centered approach to her work. She helps clients build self-trust, strengthen relationships, and better understand patterns in their thoughts, emotions, and experiences.

Using a blend of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Narrative, and Gestalt techniques, Gwynneth supports clients in healing fragmented parts of themselves and moving forward with clarity and purpose.

Thanks Gwynneth for all you do!

03/18/2026

Spring break reminder 🌿

You don’t have to make it perfect to make it meaningful. If your mind starts saying “I should be doing more” or “this isn’t enough,” pause and notice the thought -- then gently question it.

Be where your feet are.
Rest, explore, do less, do more… just be present with it.

That’s mindfulness 🤍

03/14/2026

We’re excited to invite you to Expanding Care: An Evening at the Center, a special open house celebrating several new ways we’re growing support for our community.

Join us for an evening featuring:

✨ The release of The BFRB Workbook for Teens & Young Adults, with readings and book signings by the authors, Dr. Laura Chackes and Lauren McKeaney, founder & CEO of the Picking Me Foundation

✨ The launch of our new Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) for teens and adults with OCD, anxiety, depression, and/or trauma

✨ The growth of our clinical team

✨ An introduction to The BFRB Foundation, a nonprofit organization (501(c)(3) pending) committed to raising awareness, building community, and expanding access to trusted resources and care for individuals living with body-focused repetitive behaviors

Come tour the Center, meet the authors and clinical team, and celebrate this exciting next chapter with us.

📍 The Center for Mindfulness & CBT, 967 Gardenview Office Pkwy, Creve Coeur, MO
📅 Saturday, April 11th
🕕 5-8pm

RSVP: https://bit.ly/Center4Mindfulness

03/11/2026

Last week, The Center hosted an in-service higher education lecture from our very own Nicole Schlesinger titled “DBT 101: The Basics.”
During the presentation, Nicole walked through what Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is - a structured, evidence-based treatment designed to support individuals experiencing severe emotional dysregulation, particularly those with borderline personality disorder.

She explored key DBT concepts including dialectics, acceptance, and change, and discussed how clinicians can use these principles to better support clients in building a life worth living.

Thank you, Nicole, for such and insightful and engaging presentation!

Last week, The Center hosted an in-service higher education lecture from our very own Nicole Schlesinger titled “DBT 101: The Basics.”

During the presentation, Nicole walked through what Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is—a structured, evidence-based treatment designed to support individuals experiencing severe emotional dysregulation, particularly those with borderline personality disorder.
She explored key DBT concepts including dialectics, acceptance, and change, and discussed how clinicians can use these principles to better support clients in building a life worth living.

Thank you, Nicole, for such an insightful and engaging presentation!

03/09/2026

When the clocks spring forward for Daylight Saving Time, let it be a gentle reminder that just like we adjust our clocks, we can also shift our mindset: moving forward with fresh energy, perspective, and intention. 🌱⏰✨
At the Center for Mindfulness & CBT, we believe small mindset shifts can create meaningful change in how we experience our days. Take a moment today to pause, breathe, and move forward mindfully.

03/06/2026

✨ In this group, you’ll learn skills for:
• Mindfulness: staying present without judgment
• Emotion Regulation: managing emotions more effectively
• Distress Tolerance: coping during overwhelming moments
• Interpersonal Effectiveness: communicating clearly and maintaining healthy boundaries

👥 Who: Adolescents ages 12–17 (ages 11 & 18 considered after appointment) + a caregiver
🗓 When: Saturdays, 9–10:30 AM starting April 11
💻 Where: Virtual
💲 Cost: Most insurance plans accepted or self-pay $75

Led by: Tamara Hoyt, MSW, LCSW at The Center for Mindfulness & CBT. Tamara works with teens and adults experiencing anxiety, trauma, depression, eating disorders, OCPD, and BPD.

📩 Learn more or register today to support your teen with skills that build resilience and emotional balance (https://mindfulstl.com/groups/adolescent-and-caregiver-dbt-skills-group/)

03/06/2026

We are grateful for the opportunity for Dr. Laura Chackes to provide a training for counselors at Washington University in St. Louis’s Center for Counseling and Psychological Services on identifying and treating body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs), including skin picking and hair pulling.

Universities play an important role in helping students access effective treatment for these often misunderstood disorders, and it’s encouraging to see counseling centers expanding their knowledge in this area.

We’re always happy to support clinicians and organizations interested in learning more about evidence-based treatment for BFRBs.

03/02/2026

Set a boundary.
Speak a kind word to yourself.
Pause and choose a healthier response.

Whatever the situation, take a moment to strengthen your commitment to yourself.

In Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), small intentional actions reshape thought patterns. When you challenge a negative belief, replace self-criticism with self-compassion, or assert a clear boundary, you’re actively rewiring your mindset.

Today, don’t just notice your thoughts; respond to them with intention. One small action can shift your entire pattern.

02/24/2026

BIG news for the BFRB community
Two new evidence-based workbooks have been released. A big step forward for a population that has long been under-resourced.

📘 The BFRB Workbook for Teens & Young Adults by Dr. Laura Chackes, with contributions from Lauren McKeaney

A 10-week, interactive program combining ComB, mindfulness, and self-compassion to build awareness, reduce shame, and support real recovery.

📗 Free to Be Me with a BFRB by Dr. Jennifer Gola, Dr. Marla Deibler, and Dr. Renae Reinardy

An engaging workbook for kids (7–12) that teaches skills for managing hair pulling, skin picking, and nail biting in a compassionate, empowering way.

Science-based. Practical. Hope-filled. And a reminder that no one has to navigate BFRBs alone.

Bulk orders available for schools, clinics, and support groups — reach out for more details!