Symbolic Projections

Some days I toil over the idea of what "mindfulness" entails. Today seems to be one of those days. Bringing back down to basics: 1 thing at a time. Doing something on purpose. Simply. It's an echo of something I heard Kabat-Zinn say this video from a several years back. With recent changes in group participants I decided it was time to return to basics - breath+body. Paying attention to and noticing how 'breath' affects our bodies in a very real way. Re-visiting a directive I first used in 2014 for an acute admissions dorm, Mindfulness with a Sponge . Engaging in rhythmic movement that is in pace with the breath. In time paint is introduced and manipulated using a moist sponge. Over the span of a few brief minutes and a series of overlapping horizontal strokes an abstract 'breath-scape' emerges. a serene body of water or a soothing cloud streaked sky... These are visual traces of breath. Likely the first time these clients have literally

It's been a while. My last post was ages ago and since much has transpired. Let me bring you up to speed. At the end of 2016 I blogged THIS and was feeling pretty enthused about my new mindfulness infused art therapy group for forensic mental health clients. The group came together in a series of serendipitous events. After a great few months the membership trickled out as the participants became competent and returned to court. In the moment I was cautiously happy for each of them. Don't get me wrong, in large part what I do in my "mindfulness" groups is to help with emotional competency . I want those who need to face the trials and tribulations of our judicial system to survive it. I want them to have a chance, no matter how small. I had one participant who left & returned tell me about fondly remembering me "getting on his case every time he started to get worked up and telling him to STOP + BREATHE and take it from the top".