Russ & His Work | The Happiness Trap | Stop Struggling Start Living by Dr Russ Harris

Dr Russ Harris, M.B.B.S., M.A.C. Psych. Med.
Russ's background is in medicine. He qualified as a doctor in 1989, at the University of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne in the UK.He migrated to Australia in 1991, and set up practice as a GP (family doctor) in Melbourne.

As a GP he became increasingly interested in the psychological aspects of medical illness (and increasingly disenchanted with writing prescriptions). He soon developed a special interest in the branch of medicine known as psychoneuroimmunology. which investigates the intimate connection between the mind, the nervous system, and the immune system.

After discovering the work of Jon Kabat-Zinn (an internationally renowned scientist; the originator of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction) Russ began teaching mindfulness skills to his patients, with impressive results – particularly with chronic pain, hypertension, depression, stress, and anxiety.

Ultimately this interest in human psychology led to a career change, and he now works in two different, yet complementary roles: both as a therapist and as a coach. Over the years, he has trained in many types of therapy and coaching, but when he discovered Acceptance & Commitment Therapy, a unique and creative mindfulness-based therapy, he was so deeply impressed that he promptly went to the U.S.A. to train with its creators, Steve Hayes and Kelly Wilson. Since then, he has been back several times for advanced training, and he is now recognized internationally as an innovative trainer in his own right. These days, Russ travels all around Australia, and internationally, providing workshops and training for a wide variety of health professionals, from coaches and counsellors, to psychologists and psychiatrists. He also regularly presents ACT workshops at both national and international conferences.

For details of Russ's ACT Workshops in Australia visit our sister website: www.actmindfully.com.au

The Happiness Trap has already reached best-seller status in Australia, and in June 2008 it was published in the USA, UK, Mexico, Latin America, and India. Over the next year, it will also be published in several other countries, including Germany, China, Sweden, The Netherlands, Thailand and Korea.

About Russ and his Work