1. Adapting Mindfulness & Other Meditation Forms for Conservative Christian Clients FERNANDO GARZON, PSY.D. 2015 AACC WORLD CONFERENCE, NASHVILLE, TN HTTP://WORKS.BEPRESS.COM/FERNANDO_GARZON/ FGARZON@LIBERTY.EDU LIBERTY UNIVERSITY

2. About the Speaker  Fuller Seminary graduate  Clinical psychologist  Born again at 16  Roman Catholic (upbringing), Church of God, Presbyterian, and Baptist Christian experiences

3. Which one are you?  Trained in mindfulness (DBT, ACT, etc.) but not Christian meditation (CM)?  Cautious about all meditation?  Experienced in CM but not DBT, ACT, etc.?  Experienced in both CM & mindfulness?

4. Presentation Goals  Adaptive strategies with meditation techniques  Common Christian concerns with forms of meditation  Anticipating potential client reactions and how to respond therapeutically

5. Exercise

6. Christian-Adapted Journey Meditation  What was similar & different compared to a typical journey meditation?

7. Types of Meditation (Plante, 2009)  Focused attention  Open Monitoring  Mantra

8. Empirical Issues Khoury et al. (2013). Clinical Psychology Review, 33, 763–771 Hoffman et al. (2010). Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 78(2), 169-183.

9. Christian Concerns  Buddhist?  New Age?  Demonic?

10. Exercise

11. Reflections  Similarities/Differences with traditional mindfulness?

12. Theological Issues I  Truncated reality  Need Immanence

13. Photo by sakhorn38. Published on 23 May 2011 Stock photo - Image ID: 10042574sakhorn38

14. Exercise

15. Reflections  Similarities/Differences?

16. Christian Classics

17. Adaptive Strategies One & Two  Incorporate God’s presence in present moment meditation  Apply Biblical meanings of breath in breath meditation

18. Theological Issues II  Acceptance  Good  Something better?

19. Grace  Photo by Naypong. Published on 05 November 2014 Stock photo - Image ID: 100296179Naypong

20. Grace includes God’s love God’s compassion God’s acceptance Self- acceptance

21.  3 case examples  Non-Christian therapist  Vandenberghe, L., & Costa Prado, F. (2009). Law and grace in Saint Augustine: A fresh perspective on mindfulness and spirituality in behaviour therapy. Mental Health, Religion, & Culture, 12 (6), 587-600.

22. Grace and Judgment  Grace transforms our judgment tendencies

23. Cognitive Restructuring Example  “I’m a terrible person.”

24.  While I may be terrible, I’m saved by grace. [Return to attending to the present moment with God]

25.  While I may be terrible, God still loves me. [Return…]

26.  While I may be terrible, God still accepts me. [Return…]

27. Meta-Communication  Accusation… “Okay, I’m saved by grace regardless.”

28. Case Example  Christian woman  Drug history, anxiety & somatic symptoms  Made tremendous progress in previous treatment  Returned one year later with panic- like symptoms over the accusing thought, “I don’t deserve all these good things.”

29. Christian Classic

30. Adaptation Three  Incorporate grace to enhance self-acceptance and self- compassion

31. Immanence and Grace with clients  Photo by David Castillo Dominici. Published on 17 October 2011 Stock photo - Image ID: 10061338David Castillo Dominici

32. Negative God Image Processing  Nonverbals  Immediacy  Sins & forgiveness  Parental models

33. TM “Mantra” Meditation  Photo by tiverylucky. Published on 17 May 2013 Stock photo - Image ID: 100167829tiverylucky

34. Exercise

35. Reflection  Similarities/differences  What are some potential client responses to be aware of?

36. Contextualizing Christian Meditation CM Love God with our heart & mind Bible study Christ- Centered, Spirit-led activity Relational Focus Prayer Church Community Worship

37. Adaptations Summary  Immanence in the present moment  Grace as the anchor for acceptance  Biblical aspects of terms (breath example)  Process negative God images  Use faith-based terms & permit pondering during meditations resembling TM

38. Questions?

39. Resources  Christian mindfulness course by Richard Johnston,  http://www.christianmindfulness.co.uk/about.html http://www.christianmindfulness.co.uk/about.html