In my private practice I have begun to use 'Mindfulness' with several clients and with myself. Mindfulness is simply the practice of being aware of the moment. I typically practice by focusing on my breath, in and out, and I count from 1 to 10 then back again. Simply focusing on the air as it enters and leaves my body. As thoughts, judgments and feelings intrude I let them pass without pushing and gently refocus on my breath. There are infinite ways to practice but this seems to work best for me.
Mindfulness has helped me and my clients I think. It also seems to be helping in my own parenting. I find myself slower to anger and frustration and more 'in the moment' observing my thoughts and feelings without having to act on them.
I am keeping a journal in order to help me be disciplined about the practice. See below.
6/11/09
948-954: Counted breaths 1 to 10. Attempting to focus on the awareness of air leaving and entering my body. Interrupted by outside sounds and thoughts of today’s business. Attempted to gently refocus on breaths. Lost count and went back to 1 on a couple of occasions. Also considered my body in space, in the chair, but detached as well. Kept eyes closed mostly as a way of reinforcing focus on breathing. Attempted awareness over thinking. Still having a problem with this concept.
6/12/09
804-808: with client: focused on awareness of body in space; in contact with chair or couch, in addition to breath entering and exiting body. During the practice I began a ‘body scan’ from feet on upward and lost focus on breath…..but that’s ok. Some of my clients have found this a useful way to begin our sessions. I think it’s useful for both of us.
6/15/09
854-903: Counted breaths, 1 to 10; mind tended to wonder to how I would use mindfulness with clients this week, brought attention back to breaths. Remember what Kabat-Zinn said about awareness and ‘proprioception’ and how I ‘know’ where my body is in space. Also thought about not trying to breath deep but just breath and observe how my body knows to breath. Kept on coming back to breaths. Went a little longer than usual today.
Proprioception — from Latin proprius, meaning "one's own," and perception — is one of the human senses. There are between nine and 21 in all, depending on which sense researcher you ask. Rather than sensing external reality, proprioception is the sense of the orientation of one's limbs in space. This is distinct from the sense of balance, which derives from the fluids in the inner ear, and is called equilibrioception. Proprioception is what police officers test when they pull someone over and suspect drunkenness. Without proprioception, we'd need to consciously watch our feet to make sure that we stay upright while walking.
6/16/09
1006-1012: with client, focused on aural awareness, let sounds enter the ear; street sounds are prevalent but also, underneath, are the sounds of the a/c and the computer, humming. Without the focus of counting breaths intrusive thoughts were a little more prevalent.
6/30/09
902-908: with loratab client, counting breaths 1 to 10 and back again; wondering if this guy is going to make it, then back to breathing, random thoughts, then back to breathing. Then focus on the breath for a few moments, that’s all, then the noise, cars, computer etc.
7/6/09
802-810: with client, counting breaths, found it difficult to focus, mind kept wandering to business concerns, getting paid etc. Judgments creeped in.
7/18/09
950-10: after run, still sweating and breathing heavy, tried listening to modern chamber music, tried to just focus on the music, eyes closed, then open, then closed again. Kept on thinking what a beautiful day, cool with a slight breeze, nice. Then brought focus back to music. It was hard, too many other stimuli I guess.
Mindfulness has helped me and my clients I think. It also seems to be helping in my own parenting. I find myself slower to anger and frustration and more 'in the moment' observing my thoughts and feelings without having to act on them.
I am keeping a journal in order to help me be disciplined about the practice. See below.
6/11/09
948-954: Counted breaths 1 to 10. Attempting to focus on the awareness of air leaving and entering my body. Interrupted by outside sounds and thoughts of today’s business. Attempted to gently refocus on breaths. Lost count and went back to 1 on a couple of occasions. Also considered my body in space, in the chair, but detached as well. Kept eyes closed mostly as a way of reinforcing focus on breathing. Attempted awareness over thinking. Still having a problem with this concept.
6/12/09
804-808: with client: focused on awareness of body in space; in contact with chair or couch, in addition to breath entering and exiting body. During the practice I began a ‘body scan’ from feet on upward and lost focus on breath…..but that’s ok. Some of my clients have found this a useful way to begin our sessions. I think it’s useful for both of us.
6/15/09
854-903: Counted breaths, 1 to 10; mind tended to wonder to how I would use mindfulness with clients this week, brought attention back to breaths. Remember what Kabat-Zinn said about awareness and ‘proprioception’ and how I ‘know’ where my body is in space. Also thought about not trying to breath deep but just breath and observe how my body knows to breath. Kept on coming back to breaths. Went a little longer than usual today.
Proprioception — from Latin proprius, meaning "one's own," and perception — is one of the human senses. There are between nine and 21 in all, depending on which sense researcher you ask. Rather than sensing external reality, proprioception is the sense of the orientation of one's limbs in space. This is distinct from the sense of balance, which derives from the fluids in the inner ear, and is called equilibrioception. Proprioception is what police officers test when they pull someone over and suspect drunkenness. Without proprioception, we'd need to consciously watch our feet to make sure that we stay upright while walking.
6/16/09
1006-1012: with client, focused on aural awareness, let sounds enter the ear; street sounds are prevalent but also, underneath, are the sounds of the a/c and the computer, humming. Without the focus of counting breaths intrusive thoughts were a little more prevalent.
6/30/09
902-908: with loratab client, counting breaths 1 to 10 and back again; wondering if this guy is going to make it, then back to breathing, random thoughts, then back to breathing. Then focus on the breath for a few moments, that’s all, then the noise, cars, computer etc.
7/6/09
802-810: with client, counting breaths, found it difficult to focus, mind kept wandering to business concerns, getting paid etc. Judgments creeped in.
7/18/09
950-10: after run, still sweating and breathing heavy, tried listening to modern chamber music, tried to just focus on the music, eyes closed, then open, then closed again. Kept on thinking what a beautiful day, cool with a slight breeze, nice. Then brought focus back to music. It was hard, too many other stimuli I guess.
