An Evidence-Based Model
The resilience training curriculum I developed has been validated in four studies with researchers from The Duke Clinical Research Institute, published in peer-reviewed journals, and proven to promote clinically significant improvement in key mental health outcomes, including anxiety, depression, distress, self-efficacy and PTSD.
I have designed resilience training programs for a diverse array of organizations, including Navy SEALs, the LAPD, 20 hospitals across the country, including Duke Health and the National Institutes of Health, the National Guard, the Veterans Administration, non-profits who support at-risk youth, and schools.
My programs have received funding from The National Cancer Institute, Navy SEAL Family Foundation, Pfizer, Genentech, Amgen, Livestrong, Duke Cancer Institute, Colorado Health Foundation, Women’s Cancer Research Fund, the Aspen Center for Integral Health, Susan G. Komen Foundation, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, and the Annenberg Foundation, and they have improved the lives of numerous populations from first responders and military personnel to cancer patients and people with Type 1 Diabetes, from healthcare practitioners and family caregivers to people facing end of life and those suffering from grief, and from corporate executives and high net worth families to inner city kids and divorcing parents.
One of my programs is the subject of a documentary called What Love Is: The Duke/Pathfinders 50, which aired on pbs for over a year.
I am the author of three books: It Takes Two Minutes to Shift Your Mindset and Build Resilience, which breaks resilience down into bite-sized skills anyone can apply to their life immediately; Resilience: Why Some People Have It, Others Don’t, and 47 Skills to Get It; and Resilient Family Capital: The 15 Strategies Every Family of Wealth Needs.
In 2018, I founded of The MacDermott Method to bring my unique model of resilience-training to children, especially teens.
The US Surgeon General has declared a mental health crisis for our children and young adults, and Kristin’s mission is to make her evidence-based resilience-training programs accessible to all young people through their schools, after-school programs, and families.
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What is Resilience?
The ability to overcome challenges, bounce back from setbacks, disappointments and failures, and use hardship to become a stronger, happier version of yourself.
Components of the Resilience Model
These short videos explain each of the components of the model and how they build personal empowerment and improve relationships.
Emotional Intelligence
Emotional Intelligence is about understanding the interplay between our thoughts, emotions, bodies and behavior. This self-awareness also build empathy.
Interpersonal Skills
Interpersonal skills help us create and maintain healthy support systems, which is the most important resilience factor.
Mind-Body Skills
Mind-Body Skills help us use our minds to have a positive impact on our bodies. Focusing on our breath, for example, helps us calm our bodies and minds.
Strengths
When we take ownership of our personal strengths and structure our lives around them we feel good about ourselves—we build self-esteem.
Needs and Values
Relationships and life feel better when we are able to get our needs met. In addition, we feel good about ourselves when we live in alignment with our values.
Beliefs
Our beliefs shape our lives.
They either inspire us to reach for our dreams
or put unnecessary limits on our potential.
Inner Wisdom
We can feel in our bodies whether a decision feels good for us and whether a person feels open, safe and trustworthy. Trusting our own guts is a powerful skill.
Spirit
Research shows that a strong personal spirituality is the most protective factor for adolescents against anxiety and depression.* Spirit, which does not have to be about religion, is a source of meaning, connection and peace.
*The Spiritual Child, by Dr. Lisa Miller