Mindfulness in Counseling Candice L. Mowrey, PhD, LPCS

Goals Understand what mindfulness is and what it is not Identify clients that could benefit from mindfulness strategies Practice what you preach… …then teach Common barriers Resources

Connection with present moment What is mindfulness? “Paying attention in a particular way, on purpose, without judgment.” John Kabat-Zinn Intentional Non-judgmental Active Connection with present moment Observation

What Mindfulness is not Avoidance Detachment Emotionless An endpoint Absence of thought

Who is appropriate? Mindfulness has been proven beneficial for individuals with depression, anxiety, chronic pain, PTSD, personality disorders, substance use diagnoses, and severe/persistent mental illness Mindfulness has not been contraindicated for any population so far

Where do I start? The most common question I get from clients when discussing mindfulness is “so, do YOU meditate?” Client buy-in may be related to counselor practice

Basics Sit comfortably, but alertly, closing your eyes if that’s comfortable. Take a few deep breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth. Put your attention on your breath—the tip of your nose, your stomach rising and falling. As you breath think to yourself “I am breathing in, I am breathing out.” WHEN you become distracted by thoughts, noises, physical sensations, acknowledge them and return your attention to your breathing.

Teaching mindfulness Make mindfulness an in session activity, not just a homework assignment Do the activity along with your client Start with short 3-5 minute exercises, encourage meditating for longer periods outside of session Speak slowly, softly, and repeat instructions Guided meditations are also an option

Meditation Log

Common Barriers “It didn’t work.” “I didn’t do it right.” Clients understandably want their pain to stop, and may perceive any technique you teach as an immediate means to that end. “Working” as it pertains to mindfulness lies in the willingness to be with thoughts and feelings as they arise. “I didn’t do it right.” If you sat for 1 minute and attempted to attend to your breathing, you did it right. Boredom, physical discomfort, apparent increase in negative emotion, frustration

“Meditation practice isn't about trying to throw ourselves away or become something better. It's about befriending who we are already.”  Pema Chodron

Resources The Courage to be Present, Karen Kissel Wegela A Path with Heart, Jack Kornfield The Chopra Center, Guided Meditations http://www.chopra.com/library/guidedmeditations Working with barriers to meditation (shenpa), talk by Pema Chodron http://pemachodronfoundation.org/videos-new/working-with- shenpa-getting-hooked-in-meditation/