Stress Management

Workplace Meditation: Boosting Corporate Productivity and Well-being

Posted on by Mark Moran

In the fast-paced, high-pressure environments that characterize today’s corporate landscape, workplace meditation emerges as a vital tool to enhance corporate productivity and well-being. This practice, deeply rooted in mindfulness and stress management techniques, offers a multitude of benefits ranging from improved mental health to enhanced focus and creativity. Incorporating meditation into the workplace is not just a trend but an actionable strategy to combat workplace stress, foster a culture of wellness, and ultimately, contribute to the overall success of an organization.  Meditation Instructors through AIHCP’s certification program can better assist corporation and businesses with the training in meditation to help their employees.

Workplace meditation is widely used by large corporations. Meditation Instructors can meet those needs

This article will delve into the importance of workplace meditation and explore how mindfulness and meditation techniques can significantly improve productivity and mental health among employees. Further, it will examine various case studies of successful implementations, elucidate the different types of workplace meditation programs, and provide insights into creating a meditation-friendly environment. Challenges in integrating meditation into corporate routines will be addressed, along with strategies to overcome such obstacles. Best practices for implementing meditation programs will also be discussed to guide organizations in embracing mindfulness training. By providing a comprehensive overview, this piece aims to underscore the tangible benefits of meditation in the workplace, paving the way for more mindful, productive, and healthy work environments.

Key Takeaways

  • Meditation programs in corporations help reduce stress and improve well-being.
  • Implementing meditation in the workplace can increase productivity and employee participation.
  • Corporate meditation classes benefit both companies and employees by promoting work-life balance.
  • Engagement strategies with meditation and breathwork training lead to reduced stress and increased focus.
  • Corporate meditation training courses empower employees with stress management skills and enhance resiliency.

The Importance of Workplace Meditation

In contemporary corporate settings, the significance of workplace meditation is increasingly recognized as a crucial element for enhancing employee performance and organizational health. This practice not only aids individuals in managing stress but also fosters an environment conducive to productivity and creativity.

As an employer, you have the opportunity to support your employees in reducing stress and enhancing their well-being through corporate meditation programs. These programs are designed to introduce meditation practices in the workplace, promoting mindfulness and stress reduction among employees. Corporate meditation is an inclusive benefit that can positively impact individuals from various backgrounds and cultures. By offering meditation programs at work, you are prioritizing the wellness of your diverse workforce. Meditation, a well-known method for stress relief, is cost-effective and simple to implement, making it highly effective in corporate environments. Implementing a corporate meditation program can provide employees with the tools and support needed to establish a consistent meditation practice, leading to long-term benefits both at work and in their personal lives.

Benefits for Employees

Workplace meditation offers profound benefits for employees, impacting their mental and physical health, which in turn enhances their work performance. Studies, such as those conducted by Harvard Medical School, indicate that meditation contributes to changes in brain regions related to learning and working memory capacity. This improvement in cognitive functions is crucial for sustaining attention and minimizing both external and internal distractions.

Moreover, mindfulness practices are linked to enhanced problem-solving and creative thinking. Research from the University of Groningen supports the notion that regular mindfulness meditation encourages divergent thinking, a key element in creativity. Employees who engage in regular meditation sessions report increased ability to generate innovative solutions and exhibit reduced cognitive rigidity.

The emotional and psychological benefits are equally significant. Regular mindfulness practice can lead to notable improvements in mood, reducing symptoms of severe depression and anxiety, as evidenced by studies from institutions like Boston University. These changes contribute to a more positive workplace atmosphere, as employees bring a heightened sense of patience and positivity to their roles.

Benefits for the Organization

From an organizational perspective, the integration of meditation practices into the corporate culture yields substantial rewards. Enhanced focus and reduced stress levels lead to greater overall productivity. For instance, mindfulness programs have been shown to dramatically decrease employee absenteeism and tardiness, as employees start their day with a positive outlook and maintain higher energy levels throughout the workday.

Furthermore, the practice of meditation has been found to significantly reduce employee turnover and burnout, fostering a more stable and committed workforce. Managers who participate in meditation programs often report improved leadership abilities, treating team members with greater empathy and creating a more inclusive and supportive work environment.

Organizational benefits also extend to enhanced problem-solving capabilities. Employees skilled in meditation are better equipped to handle challenging situations, viewing problems through multiple lenses and identifying innovative solutions. This ability is crucial in maintaining a competitive edge in today’s fast-paced business world.

In conclusion, the implementation of workplace meditation programs not only benefits individual employees by improving their mental health and cognitive abilities but also enhances organizational effectiveness. By fostering a healthier, more creative, and cohesive workforce, companies can achieve higher productivity and improved workplace dynamics.

How Meditation Improves Productivity

Meditation has been recognized as a powerful tool to enhance focus and concentration in the workplace. This practice trains the mind to manage the continuous noise and distractions of the external world, akin to a computer reboot that refreshes the central processing unit. By clearing the backlog of thoughts, meditation improves the mind’s efficiency and speed, allowing employees to focus more effectively on their tasks.

Workplace meditation increases productivity throughout the day and week

Enhancing Focus and Concentration

The process of meditation involves focusing on a single point, such as the breath or a specific thought, which trains the brain to direct and sustain focus on chosen points. This practice is supported by research indicating that meditation increases the working memory capacity by improving top-down attention control. For instance, a study comparing a group of novice meditators to a control group found that those who engaged in focused attention meditation significantly enhanced their ability to concentrate and manage distractions.

Additionally, mindfulness meditation, which emphasizes being present and aware, helps individuals let go of extraneous thoughts. Techniques like counting breath cycles or engaging in Zen meditation strengthen the mind’s stability and focus. These methods have been shown to lead to greater mental stability and an increased ability to focus, as frequent meditators demonstrate superior focus and are less susceptible to distractions.

Reducing Absenteeism

The benefits of meditation extend beyond mental focus to influence physical presence in the workplace. Meditation practices reduce stress and anxiety, which are significant contributors to absenteeism. By lowering stress levels and improving overall emotional health, employees are more likely to maintain consistent attendance and exhibit punctuality. Mindfulness practices have been shown to decrease employee tardiness and absenteeism dramatically, as individuals begin their days with a positive outlook and maintain higher energy levels throughout the workday.

Moreover, meditation contributes to a reduction in employee turnover and burnout by fostering a more stable and committed workforce. Managers who incorporate meditation into their routines often report improved leadership abilities and a more inclusive work environment, which in turn supports a stable employee base and reduces the frequency of stress-related absences.

In conclusion, integrating meditation into daily work routines not only sharpens focus and concentration but also significantly reduces absenteeism, thereby enhancing overall productivity and fostering a healthier, more engaged workforce.

Mental Health Benefits

Workplace meditation significantly contributes to mental health improvements, offering a robust solution for reducing stress and enhancing emotional regulation among employees. The integration of mindfulness and meditation into daily work routines has been supported by numerous studies, demonstrating substantial benefits in both personal well-being and workplace harmony.

Reducing Stress and Anxiety

Research consistently highlights the efficacy of meditation in mitigating stress and anxiety levels within corporate environments. Stanford University School of Medicine reports a 30% decrease in stress-related symptoms following meditation practices. Similarly, the Wellness Institute in Cleveland found a significant reduction in stress levels among employees at a corporate call center after participating in an eight-week mindfulness program. These programs not only reduce immediate stress but also decrease the risk of stress-related illnesses, enhancing overall employee health and workplace productivity.

Moreover, meditation’s impact on stress reduction is also evident in reduced absenteeism and lower turnover rates. Companies implementing regular meditation sessions have observed a decline in employee burnout and improved mental resilience, making it a valuable tool for managing workplace stress.

AIHCP also offers a Stress Management Certification for qualified professionals who look to not only teach meditation but also offer stress management skills to corporations and businesses.

Improving Emotional Regulation

Meditation also plays a crucial role in improving emotional regulation, which is vital for maintaining a harmonious and productive work environment. Studies indicate that meditation can enhance the brain’s ability to control negative emotions and recover quickly from emotional disturbances. This is particularly beneficial in high-pressure situations where emotional reactivity can compromise decision-making and interpersonal relationships.

The practice of mindfulness meditation fosters greater present-moment awareness, which allows employees to respond to stress with more adaptive strategies. This heightened awareness also reduces the activation of the amygdala, the brain region associated with emotional processing, which is often triggered during stress. By cultivating a mindful approach to workplace challenges, employees can maintain a calm and focused demeanor, contributing positively to their interactions and overall workplace atmosphere.

In conclusion, the mental health benefits of workplace meditation are profound, offering significant advantages in reducing stress and improving emotional regulation. These benefits not only enhance individual well-being but also contribute to a more supportive and productive organizational culture.

Case Studies of Successful Implementations

Corporate meditation classes and mindfulness training have become popular in many leading companies like Apple, Google, Yahoo, and Nike. These programs aim to reduce stress, enhance focus, and increase productivity among employees. Different structures for these classes include a certified meditation facilitator leading group sessions, customized packages by corporate mindfulness specialists, and workshops on stress management and mindful leadership.  Certified Meditation Instructors can play a role in implementing meditation training and stress management into a variety of companies.  Many companies below utilize meditation for employees to increase production.

Google

At Google, the initiative known as “Search Inside Yourself” was developed by Meng, an early engineer at the company. This program was grounded in the scientific study of mindfulness and meditation, appealing to the data-driven culture of Google. The program aimed to enhance positive emotions, resilience, prosocial behavior, and mindfulness among employees. By focusing on these aspects, Google has fostered a work environment where employees exhibit increased productivity and well-being. Additionally, the peer-led group gPause supports the ongoing practice of mindfulness, offering weekly or bi-weekly sessions that reinforce the principles taught in the Search Inside Yourself program.

SAP

SAP has integrated mindfulness into the core of its corporate life, offering two-day mindfulness courses to over 6,000 employees. These courses focus on meditations that are complemented by practices of self-mastery and compassion. SAP also provides internal mindfulness trainers who lead guided meditations during working hours, along with a multi-week mindfulness challenge that includes “micropractices” such as brief meditation sessions during the workday. This comprehensive approach has helped SAP create a more mindful, productive, and emotionally intelligent workforce.

General Mills

General Mills has adopted mindfulness programs that significantly impact employee productivity and corporate culture. The company’s mindfulness initiatives include leadership training, meditation training, and mindfulness micropractices. General Mills’ approach to mindfulness in the workplace aims to reduce stress, enhance leadership skills, and improve overall employee well-being. By integrating these practices, General Mills has seen a reduction in employee turnover and an improvement in workplace atmosphere, contributing to a more stable and committed workforce.

Types of Workplace Meditation Programs

Meditation instructors can implement mindfulness programs through a variety of ways. Please also review AIHCP’s Meditation Instructor Program and see if it meets your academic and professional goals

In-person classes have traditionally been the cornerstone of workplace meditation programs. These sessions typically involve a trained facilitator leading groups through various meditation techniques, such as mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR). The benefits of in-person meditation classes include immediate feedback and the ability to tailor sessions to the specific needs of the group. Research has shown that these sessions not only improve mental health and resilience but also positively impact work productivity measures like absenteeism and presenteeism. However, the scalability of in-person classes can be limited by logistical challenges, such as the need for a dedicated space and scheduling that accommodates all employees.

Virtual sessions

With advancements in technology, virtual sessions have become a viable alternative to in-person classes. These sessions can be conducted live or recorded, providing flexibility in delivery. Live virtual sessions have been particularly effective in reducing stress, as they maintain a level of interaction and engagement through real-time communication. Participants can benefit from the convenience of joining from any location, which helps in overcoming barriers such as transportation and conflicting schedules. However, the effectiveness of recorded sessions in reducing stress is less clear, indicating the importance of interactive elements in virtual mindfulness training.

Meditation apps

The use of meditation apps in the workplace is an emerging trend that offers scalability and personalization. Apps like Headspace provide a library of meditation content that employees can access at their convenience. These apps are designed to help individuals manage stress, improve focus, and enhance overall mental well-being. Companies like Google and Genentech have incorporated meditation apps into their wellness programs, recognizing the value of providing tools that employees can use independently. Meditation apps allow for continuous practice and skill development, which is crucial for achieving the long-term benefits of mindfulness.

Each type of program offers unique advantages and can be integrated into a comprehensive workplace meditation strategy to meet the diverse needs of an organization’s workforce. By combining in-person classes, virtual sessions, and meditation apps, companies can create a flexible and inclusive meditation program that maximizes the benefits for both employees and the organization as a whole.

Creating a Meditation-Friendly Workplace

Creating a meditation-friendly workplace involves strategic design and active encouragement to foster a culture of mindfulness and relaxation among employees. This section outlines essential steps to establish dedicated meditation rooms and promote participation in mindfulness practices, which have been shown to enhance employee well-being and productivity.

Designated Meditation Rooms

To effectively support stress reduction and mental clarity, it is vital to establish designated meditation rooms within the workplace. These spaces should be designed to be free from distractions, providing a peaceful environment conducive to meditation and relaxation practices. Key elements to consider include:

  • Soundproofing and Quiet: Ensuring the space is isolated from the noise and interruptions of the workplace is crucial. Soundproofing can be achieved through the use of specialized materials in walls and doors.
  • Comfortable Furnishings: The room should be equipped with various furniture options such as mats for yoga, comfortable chairs for sitting, and cushions for relaxation. Providing the flexibility for different types of meditation and relaxation practices is essential.
  • Natural Light and Outdoor Access: Whenever possible, incorporate natural lighting and provide access to outdoor spaces like gardens or walking paths which enhance the serenity of the meditation experience.
  • Soothing Decor: Employ calming colors and minimalistic decor to create a tranquil atmosphere. Avoiding bold contrasts and stimulating patterns helps maintain the focus and calmness required for effective meditation.

Encouraging Participation

Merely providing meditation spaces is not enough; active encouragement and organization-wide support are necessary to ensure these facilities are utilized and beneficial.

Participation is key to boosting engagement in meditation and breathwork training. By offering guided meditation programs in the workplace, employees can experience reduced stress and improved concentration, leading to a more receptive attitude towards wellness initiatives. Employers who make meditation accessible are supporting their employees in practicing self-care and achieving a better work-life balance. This small investment can yield significant returns in terms of mental wellness, physical health, and overall productivity. Guided meditation combines relaxation techniques, mindfulness, and visualization to enhance mental clarity and well-being. It provides employees with a peaceful retreat within the busy work environment, promoting a calm and focused mindset for better performance. Investing in meditation and breathwork training is investing in a healthier, happier, and more productive team. Below are some keys.

  • Internal Marketing and Education: Launch an internal marketing campaign to raise awareness about the available meditation spaces and their benefits. Educational seminars and workshops can help demystify meditation practices for employees, highlighting how these practices can improve both personal well-being and work performance.
  • Incentives and Recognition: Implement incentive programs that reward regular participation in meditation sessions. Recognition can be given through small rewards or public acknowledgment in company communications.
  • Flexible Scheduling: Encourage management to allow flexible scheduling so employees can make use of meditation rooms without feeling pressured by time constraints. Support from leadership is crucial in normalizing meditation breaks during the workday.
  • Community Building: Organize regular group meditation sessions and encourage employees to share their experiences. This not only helps in building a community of practice but also supports new participants in establishing their meditation routines.

By integrating these elements into the workplace, organizations can create a supportive environment that promotes mental health and enhances overall productivity. A meditation-friendly workplace not only benefits individual employees by reducing stress and improving focus but also contributes to a more harmonious and efficient organizational culture.

Challenges and How to Overcome Them

Resistance to Change

One of the primary challenges organizations face when implementing mindfulness programs is resistance to change. Employees may feel uncomfortable with new practices that disrupt established routines or may fear the psychological uncertainty that comes with adapting to new ways of working. To address this, organizations can begin by clearly communicating the purpose and benefits of mindfulness, not just as a tool for individual well-being, but as a strategy for enhancing overall organizational health. Engaging employees through leadership training, meditation training, mindfulness micropractices, and mindfulness coaching can gradually shift cultural norms towards embracing change. At a multinational engineering company, skepticism was overcome by simplifying the explanation of mindfulness, sharing scientific research supporting its effectiveness, and involving senior leaders as champions of change.

Skepticism from Employees

Skepticism often arises from a lack of understanding or misinformation about the nature and benefits of mindfulness. To counter this, it is crucial to start with education. Organizations should provide clear, accessible information about what mindfulness is and how it can positively impact work performance and personal well-being. Highlighting real-world examples where mindfulness has led to improvements in employee satisfaction and reduced burnout rates can also be persuasive. Additionally, offering a pilot program allows employees to experience the benefits firsthand without a full-scale commitment, which can help in reducing skepticism. Encouraging voluntary participation and providing various entry points for engagement can further enhance acceptance and participation in mindfulness programs.

By addressing these challenges through strategic communication, education, and inclusive participation, organizations can effectively integrate mindfulness practices into their corporate culture, leading to enhanced productivity, improved employee well-being, and a more adaptive, resilient workforce.

Best Practices for Implementing Meditation Programs

Implementing effective meditation programs in the workplace can significantly enhance employee well-being and productivity. To ensure the success of such initiatives, organizations should consider adopting a structured approach that involves starting with management support and offering varied programs to accommodate diverse employee needs.

In the corporate environment, employers are offering employees the chance to practice self-care and enhance their work-life balance through accessible meditation programs. This small commitment yields significant benefits for individuals and organizations alike. From mental well-being to physical health, investing in guided meditation leads to a healthier, happier, and more productive team. Whether through in-person or virtual sessions, incorporating mindfulness into the work routine can bring numerous advantages. An introduction to meditation can help employees become more mindful, improve concentration, boost productivity, and reduce anxiety, fostering a positive emotional atmosphere at work. Depending on the company’s culture, size, and resources, meditation programs can take various forms, such as incorporating different meditation activities into the workday or setting fixed meditation times for employees to join. On-site and off-site guided meditation sessions provide convenience for employees without disrupting their work routine. Skilled instructors offer expert guidance to help employees achieve relaxation, peace, and mindfulness. Implementing meditation in the workplace can be a game-changer for the work environment, shifting the focus of the workforce in just 10 minutes of meditation.

Starting with Management

Gaining the support of management is crucial for the successful implementation of meditation programs. Leaders play a pivotal role in setting a precedent for openness to new practices. By participating in meditation sessions themselves, managers can demonstrate the value of mindfulness, thereby encouraging employee participation. Furthermore, management can facilitate the integration of meditation practices by allocating resources, such as time during the workday and suitable spaces for meditation. This top-down endorsement helps to cultivate an organizational culture that values and supports mindfulness as a component of workplace wellness.

Offering Varied Programs

To address the unique needs of different employees, organizations should provide a variety of meditation programs. This could include structured in-person classes, guided virtual sessions, and access to meditation apps that employees can use at their convenience. For instance, employees who prefer a structured environment may benefit from in-person sessions led by experienced instructors, while others may find virtual sessions more accessible and flexible. Additionally, offering programs that vary in technique—from focused attention exercises to movement-based practices like yoga—ensures that employees can find the method that best suits their preferences and needs.

Incorporating these best practices into the deployment of workplace meditation programs not only fosters a supportive environment but also maximizes the potential benefits of mindfulness for employees and the organization as a whole. By strategically engaging management and providing diverse program options, companies can effectively enhance their workforce’s mental health and productivity.

Conclusion

Through the exploration of workplace meditation and its undeniable benefits, it has been established that incorporating these practices within corporate environments markedly enhances not only individual employee well-being but also overall organizational productivity. By understanding and tackling the challenges associated with implementation, companies can foster a culture of mindfulness that promotes emotional regulation, reduces stress, and cultivates a fertile ground for innovation and collaborative success. The case studies and success stories from leading companies like Google, SAP, and General Mills depicted in this discussion underscore the transformative power of workplace meditation programs in creating more resilient and dynamic workplace ecosystems.

Please review AIHCP”s Meditation Instructor Certification and Meditation Instructor Certification and see if they meet your academic and professional goals

To move forward effectively, organizations are encouraged to adopt a strategic approach that includes engaging management support, offering diverse meditation programs, and creating an inclusive, meditation-friendly workplace culture. Embracing these practices not only contributes to a significant uplift in employee morale and focus but also sets a strong foundation for sustained organizational growth and competitiveness in the contemporary business landscape. By prioritizing mental health and well-being through structured mindfulness initiatives, companies stand to revolutionize their work environments, reaping the benefits of increased productivity and enhanced employee engagement in an ever-evolving corporate world.

Please also review AIHCP’s Meditation Instructor and Stress Management Consulting programs.  The Meditation Instructor Certification and Stress Management Consultant Certification are both online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification. Certified professionals from AIHCP can offer meditation and stress management to corporations to help train employees to better manage stress and utilize meditation as a way to better increase work load productivity and a better work place.

FAQs

1. How can meditation be beneficial in a work setting?
Meditation acts as a powerful tool to alleviate stress and prevent burnout by fostering relaxation, reducing stress, and enhancing emotional health. Regular practice within the workplace can mitigate the negative impacts of chronic stress, thereby boosting job satisfaction and overall employee well-being.

2. In what ways does meditation enhance work productivity?
Meditation enhances our ability to concentrate and reduces the mental exertion required to maintain focus. Research, including studies like one conducted by Headspace, has shown that even a single meditation session can increase focus and decrease the tendency to let the mind wander by 22%, fostering a state of focused calmness. Corporate meditation programs help employees reduce stress, improve well-being, and increase productivity, leading to a happier and more efficient workforce.  Corporate meditation improves productivity by reducing stress-related illnesses, enhancing mental wellness, and improving overall performance in the workplace.

3. What does a corporate meditation program entail?
Corporate meditation involves a formal strategy to incorporate meditation practices within the workplace. This structured initiative is designed to cultivate mindfulness and alleviate stress among employees. The specifics of the program can vary based on the company’s culture, size, and available resources.  A corporate meditation program is a structured effort to introduce meditation practices in the workplace to promote mindfulness and reduce stress among employees.  Corporate meditation training courses teach stress management skills, enhance resiliency, and empower well-being among employees.  Engagement strategies with meditation and breathwork training focus on reducing stress, developing a calm mind, and increasing focus and productivity in the workplace.

4. How does meditation contribute to better business practices?
Meditation enhances mental clarity, which can significantly improve decision-making abilities. A clear mind, free from stress and emotional disturbances, tends to make more logical and strategic decisions, ultimately benefiting the business’s long-term objectives.  Offering mindfulness training and meditation programs can lead to a reduction in stress-related illnesses, improved company performance, and increased employee well-being.

Additional Resources

Sage, L. (2020). “Six Proven Benefits Of Meditation In The Workplace”. Forbes.  Access here

Harrison, P. “9 Benefits Of Mindfulness Meditation In Corporations”. The Daily Meditation. Access here

Hilton, L. et al. (2019). “Mindfulness meditation for workplace wellness: An evidence map” Work. 2019; 63(2): 205–218.  National Library of Medicine. Access here

Cleveland Clinic News Service. (2016). “Cleveland Clinic Study Finds that Meditation at Work Reduces Stress and Boosts Morale”. Cleveland Clinic.  Access here

Rogerian Approach in Counseling with Depression

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Carl Rogers, the famous psychologist and counselor, in the 1950s presented a far different approach than past Freudian psychological views that emphasized psycho-analysis and subconscious treatments.  Like others, he wanted to approach counseling and the patient differently.   He emphasized a more Humanistic approach that involved patient or client-centered therapies that addressed the feelings that existed now within the client.   In an earlier blog, AIHCP discusses in a broader stroke the Humanistic approach to grief and counseling, but in this short blog, we will instead focus more solely on Rogerian concepts in helping individuals express feelings, in particular feelings associated with depression.  Please also review AIHCP’s numerous counseling certifications for Human Service professionals.

Rogerian Theory

While Cognitive Behavioral Therapy looks to restructure and reframe illogical and negative emotional schemas with healthy and positive thoughts to alter behavior, Rogerian approaches look to address the the feelings of the client him/herself with unconditional love, genuineness, empathy and support.  It looks to transform and strengthen the person.  The term “client” is utilized instead of “patient” to remove stigmas that the person is sick or ill but merely needs love and guidance for life altering change.   The counselor guides the client but the client ultimately has more control in the sessions and is able to express and discuss his/her feelings within a far less structured environment.  Narrative is key.  The counselor does not look to confront, but to listen.

Rogerian approaches in counseling are client centered and focuses in an empathetic and non-judgmental way the feelings of the client. Please also review AIHCP’s Grief Counseling Certification

Roger’s goal was to help the client reach self-actualization of what the person can become through a process of helping the client see him/herself as he/she is, wishes to be and how to become.  Within this, a client learns to discover one’s self worth.  The counselor also helps the client distinguish between self image and real image and how to reach the ideal image.  When dealing with many individuals suffering with depression, self worth is something that is greatly damaged.  Many depressed individuals feel they have very little worth or value.  Whether this is due to something that occurred or merely depression without correlation to direct loss, the person feels a blanket of darkness over him/herself.  Allowing the client to express these emotions, both positive and negative are key in Rogerian approaches.  The counselor listens to these concerns with congruence and empathy, allowing the client to express and discuss the sadness and low self worth.  The counselor helps the client direct the session into accurately describing how he/she feels  and also views oneself.   Many who are depressed also possess a very low self image. In many cases, this self image is not properly balanced with reality.  Various distortions will emerge that are tied to the person’s feelings. It is not necessarily the role of the Rogerian approach to reframe these immediate concerns as in CBT, but to help the client understand the feelings and empathetically listen and restate these feelings to help the client re-discover where this false self image and true image lie.   The counselor’s ultimate goal is help the client find a genuine understanding of his/her real self despite feelings.  The counselor then looks to help the client find the ideal self.  In this way, one’s self image and ideal self can become congruent and tied together.

 

Once congruence is established where the depressed individual is able to find self image and ideal image as a true reality, Rogers speaks of the possibility of self actualization where the person is able to thrive and exist again in an emotionally healthy way.    Rogers listed five particular qualities of a fully functioning person who has tied self image and ideal together via self actualization.  First, he pointed out that the person is open again to new experiences.  Many depressed individuals are afraid to move on or seek out new things.  A healthy functioning individual is able to seek out and find new meanings through new experiences.  Second, Rogers spoke of existential living, where the person lives in the present and is able to experience the present in new fresh ways without prejudice or fear of the past.  Many times, depressed individuals cannot untie themselves from the past and are unable to experience the present.  Third, Rogers remarked that those who are functioning at a healthy level trust their feelings.  Individuals are able to make decisions with certitude without doubt and not second guess oneself.  Depressed individuals usually labor with decisions and fear what others may think or if they may fail.  Fourth, Rogers pointed out that individuals should be creative without fear and able to move forward and share thoughts and ideas without fear of fallout from others.  Depressed individuals lack the confidence to create or stand out.  Finally, Rogers illustrated the idea of a fulfilled life where an individual is able to live life to its fullest. The person is able to find satisfaction in decisions, goals and challenges.  Depressed individuals are unable to find joy in little things, much less have the energy for goals or the ability to face challenges.

These five qualities of a fully functional person are critical to overcoming the depressed state.  When individuals are able to express these points within life, then they are again functional and free of the dark grip of depression.  We will now in the next half of the blog look at how to implement Rogerian concepts and put them into practice.  This will involve reviewing and understanding the basics of client-centered attending and responding skills.

Rogerian Practice

It is once congruence occurs and emotions are faced that the client is able to reach this type of fulfillment.  The long process of helping the client discover this congruence and self-actualization is the key .  While those who study the Rogerian approach understand the theory, it is the practical approach from person to person that is key.

Attending and Responding Skills are imperative in Rogerian Counseling. Please also review AIHCP’s Grief Counseling Certification

The counselor within the Rogerian approach utilizes a variety of micro counseling skills discussed in previous AIHCP blogs.  Within Rogerian practice, basic attending skills are critical in helping the client discuss emotions and properly relate those emotions back.  The counselor attends the client with empathetic listening.  Rogers believed that genuine and empathetic listening was the first key in learning the story of the client.  This involved active and intense focus on the client.  The counselor should not only listen but show intense interest via eye contact, gestures, and physical positioning.  In regards to response, the counselor looks not to judge the feelings of the client, but instead to restate or paraphrase them to the client.  This helps the client not only understand that the counselor is listening but also to hear these feelings out loud. Sometimes, speaking about negative feelings also needs hearing them back to begin to decipher the false reality of those negative feelings.  In essence, the empathetic approach of active listening and responding creates not only trust between client and counselor but also creates a safe zone where the client is able to fully express inner feelings.  The counselor helps create this environment through multiple sessions and active and empathetic support for the client.  The client feels he/she exists in a safe zone where no judgement or confrontation exists.  It allows the client to take center stage and control and with the help of the counselor, unravel the negative emotions and find the real and possible ideal self that depression has hidden from the client.  Rogers refers to this type of empathetic environment as one of unconditional love.  It is place where feelings are not questioned or given positive or negative value, but only spoken about and understood within the context of the session.  The counselor helps foster this environment because the counselor is not judging or giving qualitive value to the feelings.  Instead the counselor is allowing the client to direct and discover value to the feelings.

Hence, how the counselor presents him/herself, listens, responds and creates a safe environment is critical to the success of Rogerian approaches.  While the practice itself takes more time, seems unstructured, and is more about the now of emotion, it does have success with many patients facing depression and negative emotions.  Obviously, sometimes supplemental approaches may be need introduced, as well as pharmaceutical remedies when issues beyond behavior  exist such as neurological or hormonal, but overall, Rogerian approaches are very common place in counseling.  The humanistic approach is very classical and non evasive for many individuals with already low self esteem issues that feel an abundance of negative emotions.

Those facing loss and depression need an empathetic ear and voice to help them heal.  The emotional release and discussion of issues is a key part of grief healing.  Through these discussions and release of emotions, the client can begin much of the grief work required that goes through the various emotional stages of denial, emotion, anger, and bargaining.  The grief counselor utilizing Rogerian approaches will be able to listen as the person works through his/her grief and also notate any maladaptive emotions such as guilt that may appear.  Through a non judgement zone, the counselor will be able to help the person come to grips with these emotions and help the person self-actualize beyond the loss or depression and find new hope.

Conclusion

Rogers client-centered care in the 1950s revolutionized counseling and forever changed how counselors approached clients. Humanistic approaches are in many ways the classical counseling sessions that individuals imagine where one speaks of feelings and the counselor paraphrases and asks how this makes one feel? It directly and openly deals with emotion without judgement and with complete empathy.  This is a very important aspect to consider when dealing with depressed populations who may not be ready to deal with confrontations in counseling or face fast changes.  Instead, the Rogerian approach gives the client control to discuss feelings and work them out. It slowly helps the client sort out negative feelings and replace them with positive vibes. The key is to help the client move forward in a productive and healthy life style that is congruent and true to self.

The counselor utilizes different micro counseling skills.  The counselor refrains from direct reframing, or empathetic confrontations that may upset the client. Instead the counselor becomes more passive in direction and gently moves the client through good attending and responding skills that create a safe and no judgement zone.  Depressed individuals, especially, need this type of environment to regain their voice and ability to move forward.

Please also review AIHCP’s numerous Human Service related certifications in counseling ranging from just not grief but also from stress to anger and crisis to spiritual counseling

Ultimately, as counseling continues, different techniques may need added to fit particular clients, or maybe even the necessity of medication, but overall, the initial Rogerian approaches will help the client feel safe and help form a strong bond between counselor and client.

If you would like to learn more about grief counseling, then please review the American Academy of Grief Counseling’s certification program in Grief Counseling.  The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification as a grief counselor.  AIHCP certified both pastoral counselors as well as clinical counselors.  Bear in mind, certified grief counselors who are not licensed or clinical do face restrictions in what therapies they may utilize as well as treating complicated versions of grief that lead down trajectories that include depression.

AIHCP also offers a broad range of other Human Service counseling certifications that revolve around Anger Management, Crisis Intervention, Stress Management and both Spiritual Counseling and Christian Counseling.

 

 

 

References and Additional Resources

Mcleod, S. (2024). “Carl Rogers Humanistic Theory And Contribution To Psychology”. Simple Psychology.  Access here

Bottaro, A. (2024). “Everything to Know About Person-Centered Therapy”. Very Well Health.  Access here

Joseph, S. (2015). “Carl Rogers’ Person-Centered Approach”.  Psychology Today.  Access here

Hopper, E.  (2018). “An Introduction to Rogerian Therapy”.  Thoughtco.  Access here

Miller, K.  (2019). “Carl Rogers’s Actualizing Tendency: Your Ultimate Guide”. Positive Psychology.  Access here

 

 

Stress Management: Techniques and Strategies for Overcoming Stress

Posted on by Joseph Gerard

Wellness instead of stress. Hand turns cubes and changes the word 'stress' to 'wellness'. Beautiful orange background. Concept. Copy space.Written by Sarah Lee.

The modern pace of life makes stress unavoidable for all ages, genders, and occupations. There is no way we can change the reality we live in and remove all stress factors. However, what we can do is take the challenge gracefully and learn how to deal with it in a healthy, science-proven way.

 

What is Stress and How Is It Dangerous?

Stress is a normal human response to internal and external stimuli that are perceived by our brain as dangerous or challenging. Stress responses cause a spike of adrenaline and cortisol in our blood, allowing us to immediately increase our concentration and throw all the available body resources into the fight with whatever it is. This is why it’s also called a “fight-or-flight” response, as it serves to keep us safe and alive.

Those short-term stress responses don’t cause damage to our health; however, it’s not the case when the fight-or-flight mode is turned on for a long period of time. COVID-19, for example, became one of the main stress factors that has a long-lasting impact on all people, according to the American Psychological Association (APA) report. Because of the long-term exposure to stress, from 2019 to 2023, mental health diagnoses increased from 31% to 45% among 35–44-year-olds, while ages 18–45 reported the highest rate at 50% in 2023. Chronic illnesses were also exacerbated among the first age group, increasing from 48% to 58% in the course of four years.

 

Nervous System and Stress Response

Our central nervous system has a part that’s called the autonomic nervous system. The name “autonomic” suggests that the system works independently and, on our unconscious level, controls such bodily functions as breathing, digesting, and responding to stress factors.

Behind the scenes, two constituents of the autonomic nervous system work together to take responsibility for our unconscious reaction to stress. First, there is a sympathetic nervous system that turns on the fight-or-flight response and:

  • dilates pupils and airways,
  • increases the heart rate,
  • inhibits digestion,
  • halts salivation,
  • etc.

Second, there is a parasympathetic nervous system that returns our body back to normal and:

  • constricts pupils and airways,
  • normalizes the heart rate,
  • initiates digestion and salvation,
  • increases blood flow into the reproductive organs,
  • etc.

The vagus nerve plays a crucial role in the parasympathetic nervous system. It’s, actually, a pair of nerves that stem from the brain, go down the neck, and branch out along the chest, abdomen, and pelvis. The vagus nerve serves as a communicator between the brain and other body organs (guts, diaphragm, heart, etc.).

Among all the variety of its functions, one is responsible for bringing sensory information about what’s going on in your organs to the brain and telling them when it’s time to turn on the parasympathetic system and relax.

 

How to Deal with Stress?

The sympathetic system comes into play not only when you’re facing a truly critical situation, like a car accident, but also in response to something trivial. It can be running a marathon, being late for a meeting, or not meeting a deadline. So, basically, the modern pace of life keeps our sympathetic system turned on almost constantly. This leads to chronic stress and inhibits our natural ability to switch on the parasympathetic response, i.e. relax during moments when it’s objectively needed.

Even though those responses are indeed subconscious, there are natural ways to trigger our parasympathetic system and activate it.

Mindfulness Meditation and Mindfulness-Based Therapy (MBT)

Mediation is a proven way to relieve stress, according to the study. In essence, it’s a session of conscious practice of attention and acceptance of your feelings, thoughts, and sensations. By giving yourself time to concentrate on the present moment, you’re reminding your body that there’s no real danger around you and that you can finally relax.

Stress often causes negative self-talk and an uncontrollable flow of thoughts, hence anxiety and depression. Mindfulness-based therapy (MBT) proved to be an effective treatment for anxiety, stress, and depression, as shown by a comprehensive analysis of 209 studies. In essence, MBT involves working with a cognitive-behavioral therapist and practicing mindfulness meditations and exercises.

Actually, mindfulness meditations can take different forms. It can be focusing on one’s breathing and bodily sensations, bringing awareness to all body parts, or sitting still and observing the environment around. Mindfulness can be stretched further into daily activities, such as eating and walking, when you effortfully try to feel every step and bite you take. You don’t need to be on the journey alone and, instead, make use of HeyWellness, where you can find lots of guided meditations for any problem you experience at the moment.

Yoga

Yoga is another science-backed method of inhibiting one’s sympathetic responses and stimulating the areas of the brain responsible for pleasure and relaxation. According to the study, yoga soothed anxiety and physical symptoms of stress when practiced together with meditations. By combining stretching of different muscle groups and meditating, you not only achieve tranquility of mind and increase serotonin levels but also reduce chronic pain associated with arthritis, Carpal Tunnel syndrome, and other conditions.

Vagus Nerve Massage

A high vagal tone means that your vagus nerve is more active and, hence, better at delivering the correct signals between your brain and organs. So, to activate the vagus nerve, you may try such exercises as:

Humming. It creates a vibration in your throat that massages the vagus nerve, which, in turn, can signal your brain that it’s time to switch to a more relaxed mode.

You can hum along to your favorite song or just for a few minutes while trying to concentrate on the sensation produced by it, and you will feel how the tide of stress goes away.

Deep breathing. Take slow, deep breaths, widening your abdomen instead of the chest. You can put your hand on your belly and feel how it goes up with every breath. Try to exhale twice as long as you inhale. For example, breathe in for 4 seconds and out for 8 seconds to give your vagus nerve a signal of relaxation that will be carried further to the brain.

Shaking and Yawning

Have you noticed how animals shake uncontrollably or yawn more often after experiencing stress? This is an evolutionary technique that allows the body to literally shake off the effects of the flight-or-fight response and calm down.

So, whenever you feel overwhelmed, start shaking with your whole body, mimicking the actions of, for example, a dog, and make yourself yawn, communicating to the brain that there’s no reason for tension and a high heart rate.

 

Is It Possible to Handle Daily Stress?

Triggers, problems, and challenges will always surround us, and there’s no escape from the responsibilities of normal adulthood. But it doesn’t mean that every challenge must shatter our health, keeping our bodies and minds in a constant flight-or-fight. Our brain tends to overreact to external stimuli, but we can speak its own language and consciously use our muscles and thoughts to show the brain that we’re calm and in control.

 

Author Bio:

Meet Sarah Lee, a passionate writer dedicated to exploring mental health topics on HeyZen. Sarah’s insightful articles on HeyZen delve into the nuances of emotional well-being, offering practical advice and thought-provoking insights. With a background in psychology and a deep personal interest in mindfulness practices, Sarah combines research-backed information with personal anecdotes to empower readers to prioritize their mental wellness. When she’s not writing, Sarah enjoys yoga, meditation, and connecting with others who share her passion for mental health advocacy.

 

Please also review AIHCP’s Stress Management Certification program and see if it meets your academic and professional goals.  These programs are online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification.

Finding the Real and Right Story in Counseling

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Counseling is about the person and the person’s story.   Like so many things in life, everything is not usually black and white.  There are a variety of shades of color from multiple perspectives in life that can make the story of the client incomplete.  For starters, the client has  his/her own subjective experience with the events within the story.  The unique experience of the client may very well be true from the client’s point of view due to the subjective factors and information available.  In addition, the client may possess a variety of blinders to certain truths that may be painful to accept or realize.  In other cases, the client may have various personality disorders that completely distort the reality of the events.  Whether purposeful or not, these distortions can cause larger issues in the healing, changing and transformational process.

Counselor help clients tell their story but also help them see the real story and how to find the right story

Throughout the blogs on counseling techniques, we have discussed numerous skills a counselor must utilize to help a client find change.  This blog will bring many of these skills together in helping forge the client’s initial story into the real and right story (Egan, 2019, p. 270).  Egan guides the counselor in addressing the story told, but also how to help push the client forward into telling the real and right story.  This helps the client enter into a state of self discovery so that as the story progresses, the client not only heals but also changes and transforms with the reality of the story.

Of course, as a counselor, one cannot make a client change, nor can a counselor sometimes ruthlessly correct or tell a client he/she is wrong.  The skills of counseling help the counselor with empathy and patience, gently nudge and guide the client to truth and help the client choose to pursue that truth.  This stems first by forming a strong relationship of trust with the client. It involves basic attending skills of empathetic listening, observing and responding to help understand the client and better address the issues.  Through empathetic listening and excellent observations, one can begin to see if any discrepancies exist within the story and how to better empathetically confront the client to recognizing the real story and then challenging the client to the right story and course of action, all the while, supplying the client with resources and encouragement to move forward.

 

The Story

Egan emphasizes that when helping the client tell the story that the counselor needs to make the client feel safe in the encounter.  Egan also encourages counselors to understand the styles between different cultures and how different cultures may express stories.  Some clients divulge and talk, others are more quiet, while others supply numerous details and others are vague.  Some clients may tell the core of the story and leave out secondary issues, while others may approach the story the opposite direction.  Some clients may go off topic, while others may stay on topic (Egan, 2019, p. 274-275). This is why it is important to identify what is going on or what the client is feeling at the moment, identify what the client wants and how to get what the client needs.  In this regard, counselors can help clients identify key issues and help them discuss the past but in a productive way that helps the past not define them but help them learn (Egan, 2019, p. 181).  Egan also points out it is imperative to identify the severity of the initial story.  Will this client need basic counseling or require crisis counseling?  Clinical counselors may be able to better handle the issue presented or see the need for a specialist.  Pastoral counselors dealing with issues beyond basic loss and grief, may identify something more severe and need to refer the client to a clinical counselor.

Sometimes when helping a client tell their story, it can also be useful to utilize Narrative Therapy which helps differentiate the person from the issues.  At the end of the blog, there are links to better understand Narrative Therapy and its role in telling the story.

The Real Story

After identifying the key elements of the story, counselors can help clients start to see the real story by exposing with empathy any discrepancies or any blinders a client may possess.  Through empathetic confrontation, a counselor can help a client see both sides or different angles to the story that the client may not had seen initially.  In this way, the counselor challenges the client in the quality of their perception and participation in the story (Egan, 2019, p. 289).  In dealing with the real story, Egan also points out that counselors can help clients understand their own problems and be better equipped to own their own problems and unused opportunities.  When a client is gently nudged to the realities of the real story, a counselor can help the client see that the real issue is not impossible to rectify and begin to present problem maintenance structures which help clients identify, explore and act properly with their real issues (Egan, 2019,p. 292).  Challenging and encouraging like a coach, can help clients move forward to begin to make the right story in their life.

The Right Story

In telling the right story, the client is pushed to new directions.  The client no longer denies the need to change, but has to some extent acknowledged it.  In previous blogs, we discuss issues that correlate with change in a client.  When the client is ready to change, the client still requires guidance and help.  The counselor helps the client choose various issues that will make a true difference in his/her life.   When looking at these issues, the counselor helps the client set goals.  The goals should be manageable at first and lead to bigger things but only after smaller steps to avoid let down.  The counselor can help the client choose from various options and cost benefits, as well as helping the client make proper choices (Egan, 2019, p. 299-301).   The counselor, like a coach, helps the client push forward and improve in life.  Within the phase of telling the right story, the counselor helps the client with goals but also helps the client see the impact new goals can give to life as well as the needed commitment to those goals to ensure a continued transformation.  In previous blogs, we discuss the importance of helping clients face change and develop goals. In essence, goals are developed and strategies are conceived to meet those goals

Stages of Change 

Throughout the process, Egan points out that the process involves three stages.  First, telling the story so that it transforms into the real and right one.  Second, helping the client design and set forth problem managing goals and third and finally, setting into motion those plans with strategies (Egan, 2019).  These phases involve various skillsets that the counselor must employ at different phases and stages. It involves the counselor being a listener, advisor, encourager and coach.  The counselor applies basic attending skills, in previous blogs, and utilize those attending skills in productive responses and when necessary confrontations.  Everything is accomplished with empathy and patience but the skills, built upon trust, allow the counselor to awaken the client to new realities.  Following these earlier discussions, the counselor becomes and advisor and coach in helping the client find ways to change and implement new goals and strategies.  The counselor uses encouragement skills, coaching skills, and directive skills to help the client discover the power to choose wisely and act in a more healthy fashion.  Ultimately it is about the client discovering his/her own inner abilities to not only change but to sustain change.

Conclusion

No client is the same and many will have different innate virtues or vices, talents or deficiencies, strengths or weaknesses.  It is up to the counselor to help cultivate what is best in the client and help the client become his/her very best.  Through individual skills, the counselor can help within each session, but the counselor must try and fail with multiple different theories and therapies that work best for his/her client.  This involves realizing that each case is unique and different people will respond differently to different practices or approaches.  A counselor must forever remain creative and flexible in approaches and adhere to the standards of empathy which helps establish trust with clients.

Counselors play the role of listener, advisor and coach. Please also review AIHCP’s numerous mental healthcare certifications for Human Service and Healthcare professionals

A counselor can utilize a basic structure of identifying the problem, helping the client see where he/she wishes to be and help the client find ways to do it.  This involves working the client through the story and helping them see the real and right story moving forward.  It involves then goal setting and moving forward with action.  It makes the counselor more than a listener and advisor but also a coach.

Please also review AIHCP’s numerous counseling programs for those in the Human Service and Healthcare fields.  While clinical counselors have more ability to help clients deeper with issues, pastoral counselors in Human Service can also help.  This is why AIHCP offers these certifications to both clinical and non clinical Human Service professionals.  The programs in mental health include a Grief Counseling Certification, as well as a Christian Counseling Certification, Crisis Counseling Certification, Stress Management Consulting Certification and Anger Management Specialist Certification. The programs themselves are online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification.  Please review AIHCP’s numerous certification programs.

 

 

Reference

Egan, G. and Reese, R. (2019). “The Skilled Helper: A Problem Management and Opportunity-Development Approach to Helping” (11th Ed.) Cengage.

Additional Resources

Ackerman, C. (2017). “19 Best Narrative Therapy Techniques & Worksheets”. Positive Psychology. Access here

Bates, D. (2022). “Storytelling in Counseling Is Often the Key to Successful Outcomes”. Psychotherapy.net.  Access here

Guy Evans, O. (2023). “Narrative Therapy: Definition, Techniques & Interventions”. Simply Psychology.  Access here

“Narrative Therapy”. Psychology Today.  Access here

 

Signs of Mental Illness Video

Posted on by Dominick Flarey
Mental Health should receive the same care as physical health. Please also review AIHCP’s numerous healthcare based certifications

Mental health is health.  Too many stigmas exist that prevent individuals from seeking help when signs of mental illness occur. Unlike physical symptoms of sickness that are addressed immediately, mental illness falls to the side due to stigmas and embarrassment.  It is important to notice changes in emotional and mental health that persists longer than 2 weeks.  Many minor things as OCD, ADHD, or minor stress and depression issues can be resolved through professional care.

Please also review AIHCP’s numerous mental health certifications within Grief Counseling, Crisis Counseling Spiritual/Christian Counseling, Anger Management and Stress Management Programs.  The programs are online and independent study and open to qualified professionals.  Remember only those within the clinical side of Human Services can treat mental illness.  Pastoral counselors can refer or help others in non pathological issues.

 

 

 

 

Please review the video below

Counseling Techniques in Understanding Meaning and Cultivating Change

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

When clients experience stress, grief or loss, sometimes meaning is critical to understand.  The emotions and feelings need to find meaning in relation to the issue.  Counselors need to have the helping skills to aid the client in finding meaning again.  This is essential especially in Grief Counseling.  In grief and loss, the individual needs to find meaning in the loss and be able to connect the past with the present to move forward to the future.  New meanings in relationship to the loss help the person connect the dots and knit together the chapters of life into a logical story.  When meaning is not found and emotions rage without direction, then the stressor or loss can lead to grief pathologies of depression or prolonged grief.  Hence it is important for the counselor to be able to navigate the person through the emotion and find meaning.  This is more than understanding the process of grief and loss, or dealing with stress, but also being able to help the client find meaning through good counseling techniques that help the client find meaning.

In previous blogs, we discussed the importance of meaning re-construction, as well as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or CBT, as key ways to help clients tie together pass loss or trauma to the present to move forward.  In this blog we will focus more on the micro skills and probing that is necessary to help clients find meaning via interaction, reframing and interpretation skills, and how to relate to the client.  Obviously, many of the other micro skills of attending the client, observation, focusing, responding, challenging and confronting are all implied within this blog and found in other previous blogs.

Please also review AIHCP’s multiple counseling blogs as well as certification programs in Grief Counseling, Stress Management, Crisis Intervention or Christian and Spiritual Counseling.

The Importance of Meaning

Finding meaning is critical to life. When bad things happen, counselors can help clients discover meaning

Meaning is essential to human existence.  This is why it is so important for individuals suffering from trauma, or abuse, or loss, or any situation to find meaning in their situation.  Sometimes it involves regaining it because it has been taken away, other times, it is discovering it for the first time.

Logotherapy is a type psychotherapy that helps individuals find meaning. It is based off Victor Frankl, the famous Holocaust survivor, who utilized meaning in life, even in its darkest hours, as a prisoner in a Nazi camp, to find hope.  Frankly administered to many of his fellow prisoners and helped them find also meaning despite the evil and trauma and abuse that surrounded them under Nazi rule.

Frankly believed everyone had a will to meaning.  This meaning is what pushes all in will and action and even helps one endure suffering and pain. These beliefs persist in the value and uniqueness of each human person.  It also is a platform for a person to move forward in life.  This has numerous applications in counseling and helping others. It involves understanding purpose in life despite pain, but the importance to define and push forward.  It involves understanding that life is far from fair but one can still find meaning through it.  Purpose is beyond bad things (Waters, E., 2019).

Frankly summarized his philosophy in six basic tenets.  Humanity is comprised of mind, body and soul but it is through the soul that we experience and find meaning.   He continued that life has meaning in all circumstances, good or bad.  He stated as well that humans have a will to meaning that pushes them.  He also listed humans also have freedom to access this meaning no matter the situation.  He stated in addition that true meaning is not merely an statement but something concrete that correlates with life and one’s values and beliefs.  Finally, he emphasized that all human beings are unique (Waters, E., 2019).

From Frankl and his classic work, “Man’s Search for Meaning”, counselors, but especially grief counselors have an excellent way to help reconstruct meaning to clients and cultivate true change in a client’s life.

Obviously, much of the work associated with David Neimeyer and meaning reconstruction are found from the ideas of Frankl.. Meaning helps tie together past, present and future into something that matters to the individual.  It helps make sense of the loss and allows the chapters of one’s life, even the bad ones, to have meaning to the overall story and book.  Obviously, counselors play a key role in helping clients evolve the story told initially into telling the right story that correlates with reality.  This involves intense counseling and sorting out feelings, but eventually these feelings can lead to a true meaning.  Reflecting and reframing are keys in achieving this for a client.

Reflection 

When individuals are discussing feelings and emotions, it is essential eventually, not initially, to guide them to meaning.  In the very beginning, it is important to allow raw emotion to be expressed, felt and processed, but it needs to eventually find meaning within the grieving process.  Counselors can help clients reflect on the emotion.  Ivey refers to the term “reflection on meaning” as a way to help clients find deeper understanding regarding issues, purpose, feelings and behaviors (2018, p. 258).  Ivey also points to the importance of interpreting and reframing these feelings.  Interpretation helps the clients understand their feelings and add meaning to them through a variety of perspectives or multicultural or psychodynamic ways.  The client is able to find new meaning, while the counselor provides the necessary reframing to explore new interpretations (2018, p. 258).

The counselor through reframing, can with empathy begin to offer different interpretations of the event itself,  One skill a counselor can utilize is linking.  Linking helps the client tie together two or more things that enables them to find new insight (Ivey, 2018, P. 265).  A counselor can tie family history, values and talents to the client in relationship to the issue, or tie the event to psychodynamic issues that exist within the client.  The linking helps the client find new perspectives on the issue at hand.

Counselors can help clients link and find self discovery through a variety of approaches.  Some counselors may utilize decisional theory that presents outcomes and alternatives for action.  Decisions need to be understood and made with the client understanding outcomes (Ivey, 2018, p. 268).  Another approach is person centered.  Linking is utilized to tie the problem together with the person’s strengths.  CBT is another way to help individuals review old ways of thinking, acting and behaviors and re-interpret them.   Reframing and linking can also be utilized with psycho-dynamic theories that help the person understand the person’s deeper subconscious past.  Finally, multicultural therapy can help a person link to and also reframe an issue with ones’ own ethnic and cultural backgrounds

 

 Reframing

A counselor’s response is key in helping one reframe and interpret meaning. In previous blogs, we discussed first attending the client, with basic responses, such as paraphrasing or summaries.  How one reflects how one feels helps open new dialogue and understanding.  Other ways to help discuss emotions and help build meaning and cultivation to change involves disclosures, feedback and consequences.

Counselors can help clients reframe and reinterpret events and emotions and help them find new meanings moving forward

Disclosures are excellent ways to involve oneself by sharing an appropriate story of one’s own life, but usually it involves oneself utilizing the phrase ” I think or I feel” in relationship to one’s issue or feeling or intended action.  Feedback is also critical in cultivating change.  It can be confirmatory or corrective. When corrective, it looks to help align a person back on track.  It involves empathy and nonjudgment when being applied but helps the client again find the proper perspective and route.  Remember, the client remains in charge and review how the client responds.  Empathetic confrontational approaches should be utilized.  Finally, logical consequences can be employed to help a client.  It summarizes the possible positive and negative consequences of a particular action.  The common phase includes “If you do…then…will possible result” (Ivey, 2018. p. 302).

Employing psychoeducation and instruction is also a key way to help push individuals to change and reframing.  By making the client understand the science and philosophy of their feelings, one can better take ownership to change.

Whatever link the counselor can utilize through whichever therapy, or phrasing is good.  Each individual is different.  The key is to help the person find a new perspective on the emotion, situation, stressor or loss.  This enables the person to form a new meaning which can help them tie the past with the present and into the future.

Fostering Resiliency

Through any change and new discovery,  counselors need to foster resiliency.  This helps the person emotionally and physically push forward into the new change and maintain the new meaning he/she has found.  This can be accomplished through a multitude of stress management techniques that involves multicultural approaches, psychoeducation, social skill training, assertiveness training, conflict resolution, bio or neurofeedback, positive reframing, CBT, time management, relaxation management and active planning techniques (Ivey, 2018, p. 288).  Ivey also lists the importance of Seven Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes.  He includes exercise, nutrition, sleep, social relations, cognitive challenges, meditation and cultural health.  Within these, he also lists the importance of prayer, hobbies, positive thinking, social outreach and avoidance of negative substances (2019, p. 288).

Egan, emphasizes that in cultivating change, counselors need to help client discover their own resilience.  Egan points out the difference between process resilience and outcome resilience.  In counseling, the counselor should be able to encourage clients to change in face of challenges, but also note outcomes.  With outcome resilience, the counselor comments on the change and how one has returned to one’s own self (Egan, 2019, p. 263).  Like a coach, the counselor hence cheers the person’s progress and ability to overcome.  Counselors need to also help clients identify resources for resiliency, within family, friends or other social support systems.  A counselor should help a client find ways to make better connections with families and friends as well.  In pushing forward, a counselor can help a person reframe issues, such as challenges or crisis as ways to grow and to understand that change is part of life (Egan, 2019, p. 265).  A client must continue, especially after loss, or trauma, to continue to keep things in perspective, maintain a healthy outlook,  find new ways for self discovery and maintain care of oneself (Egan, 2019, p.265).  A counselor can help a person maintain this progress.

Recall also, the previous blog which discusses the change scale in clients and how it is essential that the counselor discovers the level of acknowledgement and commitment to change a client may possess, as well as helping the client implement first order or second order changes depending on their situation.  The counselor can help the client with goals to implement the change and also be aware of possible setbacks and pitfalls.

Conclusion

Please also review AIHCP’s multiple mental health certifications, including AIHCP’s Grief Counseling Certification

In helping clients change, reflection and reframing are key in helping the client link and find meaning in the trauma or loss.  As time progresses, the client will be able to find meaning and connect the incident into one’s life narrative.  Counselors can help this transition through a variety of skills mentioned in this blog and throughout other blogs written for AIHCP.  These skills help the client understand the emotion and find linking to it.  This helps them discover new meaning and ways to reinterpret the event.  Furthermore the counselor helps the client move forward by fostering resiliency and helping the client continue to move forward.

Please also review AIHCP’s various mental health certifications.  These certifications are granted to professionals in the health care field and human service field.  Some may be licensed professionals while others may be pastoral in nature.  Obviously such licensures or lack of, grant or prohibit the extent of certain counseling therapies and techniques.

AIHCP’s programs include Grief Counseling, Crisis Counseling, Stress Management Consulting, Anger Management Consulting and also Christian Counseling and Spiritual Counseling.  The programs are online and independent study.

References

Egan, G. & Reese. R. (2019).”The Skilled Helper: A Problem Management and Opportunity-Development Approach to Helping” (11th Ed). Cengage

Ivey, A. et, al. “Intentional Interviewing and Counseling: Facilitating Client Development in a Multicultural Society” (9th Ed( (2018). Cengage.

Additional Resources

Morin, A. (2023). “How Cognitive Reframing Works”. Very Well Mind. Access here

Caraballo, J. (2018). “Reframing is Therapy’s Most Effective Tool, Here’s Why”. TalkSpace.  Access here

Ackerman, C. (2018). “Cognitive Restructuring Techniques for Reframing Thoughts”. Positive Psychology.  Access here

Waters, E. (2019). “Logotherapy: How to Find More Meaning in Your Life”. PsychCentral.  Access here

Mastering EFT: Remove Negative Energy with Tapping

Posted on by Dominick Flarey
EFT can help remove negative energy. Please also review AIHCP’s EFT Practitioner Certification and see if it meets your professional and academic goals

In an age where mental health and mindfulness are at the forefront of public consciousness, the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), alternatively known as tapping, emerges as a powerful tool in managing negative energy and enhancing overall well-being. This method, grounded in the ancient knowledge of meridians, combines elements of cognitive therapy with finger tapping on specific eft tapping points, aiming to restore energy flow and foster emotional healing. Its rising popularity among healthcare professionals and individuals alike underscores its significance in contemporary practices of health and mindfulness, highlighting EFT’s role in addressing the ubiquitous challenge of maintaining mental health in a fast-paced world.

The ensuing article delves into the essence of EFT, elucidating its principles and the scientific rationales underpinning its efficacy. A comprehensive exploration of negative energy and its impacts sets the stage for understanding why EFT tapping is an invaluable resource in the toolkit for mental health care. Following a detailed exposition on the benefits of EFT for removing negative energy, the text offers a step-by-step guide to EFT tapping, including a detailed EFT tapping sequence that readers can employ. Addressing common challenges and providing tips for effective EFT tapping enhances the utility of this piece. To inspire and motivate, real-life success stories demonstrating the transformative power of EFT in overcoming eft tapping for anxiety and other mental health challenges are shared. This article aims to furnish readers with insights and practical knowledge to master EFT, empowering them to navigate their journey toward emotional freedom and improved mental health with confidence.

Also if interested in training others to utilize EFT, please review AIHCP’s EFT Practitioner Certification and see if it matches your academic and professional goals.

What is Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)?

Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), also known as tapping, is a method used to manage emotions, troubling thoughts, and reduce stress and anxiety. This technique involves tapping fingertips on specific points on the hand, head, and torso, similar to acupuncture points, to help calm feelings such as anger or worry. EFT is recognized as an alternative treatment for physical pain and emotional distress, often described as psychological acupressure.

The process of EFT begins with identifying the issue, followed by tapping on designated meridian points while focusing on the emotional or physical pain. This tapping aims to balance the energy system of the body, which, according to its proponents, can alleviate symptoms caused by negative experiences or emotions. The technique is grounded in the principles of Chinese medicine, which asserts that these meridian points are pathways through which energy flows, affecting overall health. Imbalances in this flow are believed to contribute to disease and discomfort.

Despite its growing popularity and use in treating conditions like anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the effectiveness of EFT is still a subject of research. It is vital to note that while EFT can be a valuable tool for emotional and physical relief, it should not replace professional medical advice for serious health issues. Proponents of EFT argue that tapping helps to access the body’s energy and send signals to the brain that control stress, thereby restoring balance to disrupted energy and reducing negative emotions.

In practice, EFT combines elements of cognitive therapy with physical stimulation of acupressure points. The method involves a setup statement that acknowledges the problem while promoting self-acceptance, followed by tapping on key acupressure points. This combination aims to reduce stress and anxiety effectively, providing a non-pharmacological and cost-effective approach to managing symptoms.

EFT is easy to learn and can be applied as a self-help technique, making it accessible to a wide range of individuals seeking relief from various psychological and physiological challenges.

Understanding Negative Energy

Negative energy, though immeasurable, is commonly felt and can originate from various sources such as people, environments, or one’s own thoughts. This type of energy is known to cause both mental and physical exhaustion, perpetuating itself and thereby breeding more negativity. It is crucial to recognize and address negative energy as it impacts health and happiness significantly.

Individuals often experience negative energy through interactions with certain types of people. For instance, attention seekers, who may appear charming, often dominate conversations and focus primarily on themselves or engage in gossip, leaving others feeling drained and overwhelmed. This exhaustion is due to the mental energy these individuals consume, making it essential to manage interactions with such personalities to preserve one’s mental well-being.

EFT can remove negative energy in our systems. Please also review AIHCP’s EFT Practitioner Certification

Environmental factors also play a significant role in influencing one’s mood and energy. Cluttered or unwelcoming spaces can induce stress and disrupt sleep, contributing to the accumulation of negative energy. Additionally, the physical characteristics of a place, such as a dentist’s office versus a friend’s home, can evoke different emotional responses, often described in terms of the energy perceived in these environments.

Self-talk, or the internal dialogue that continuously flows through one’s mind, significantly affects one’s emotional state. Negative self-talk can deteriorate mental and physical health, whereas positive thinkers tend to experience better overall well-being and longevity. Understanding and transforming one’s self-talk from negative to positive is a powerful tool for combating negative energy.

For those sensitive to energy, such as empaths, the presence of negative energy can be particularly impactful. Empaths are highly attuned to the energies around them, which can sometimes result in absorbing these energies, affecting their emotional and physical state. Learning to manage how one interacts with and responds to these energies is crucial for maintaining personal health and energy balance.

In conclusion, addressing negative energy involves identifying its sources—be it people, environments, or personal thoughts—and implementing strategies to mitigate or transform its effects. By understanding the manifestations and impacts of negative energy, individuals can take proactive steps to enhance their emotional and physical well-being.

The Science Behind EFT

Energy Systems and Meridians

The concept of meridians, integral to the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), originates from ancient Chinese medicine, which describes these as invisible pathways in the human body through which vital energy, or Chi, flows. This network includes 12 primary meridians and eight additional pathways, linking various organs and body systems. These meridians carry not just energy but also information essential for the sustenance and growth of living beings. Disruptions in this energy flow, often caused by intense emotions or traumatic events, can lead to physical and emotional health issues. EFT, by tapping on these meridians, aims to unblock these pathways, thereby restoring balance and promoting health.

How EFT Interacts with the Brain

EFT’s interaction with the brain is particularly notable. Tapping on meridian points sends signals directly to the mid-brain’s stress centers, reducing the stress or negative emotions associated with specific issues. This process can alter neural connectivity, as shown in studies where decreases in neural connectivity between areas of the brain associated with pain modulation have been observed following EFT sessions. Furthermore, EFT can reconstruct neural circuits that maintain maladaptive mental models, thus facilitating significant psychological shifts and improvements in mental health.

Scientific Studies and Evidence Supporting EFT

EFT’s effectiveness is supported by a robust body of research. Studies have demonstrated its benefits across various conditions, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD. For instance, a large-scale study involving 5000 patients found that 90% of those who received acupoint tapping reported improvement, compared to 63% undergoing traditional cognitive behavioral therapy. Moreover, meta-analyses have shown significant treatment effects of EFT for anxiety and depression, with effect sizes indicating substantial improvements compared to control treatments.

Research into the physiological impacts of EFT reveals changes in biological markers of stress, such as blood pressure and cortisol levels, after EFT sessions. Additionally, epigenetic studies have shown that EFT can regulate genes associated with inflammation and immunity, suggesting its potential in addressing long-term physiological stressors.

These findings not only validate the therapeutic potential of EFT but also highlight its role as a non-invasive, cost-effective treatment option for emotional and physical ailments, making it a valuable tool in both clinical and self-help contexts.

Benefits of Using EFT for Removing Negative Energy

Emotional Benefits

Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) has demonstrated significant reductions in emotional distress markers such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Studies show a reduction in anxiety by 40%, depression by 35%, and PTSD by 32% following EFT sessions. Additionally, EFT has been effective in reducing cravings by 74%, which indicates its powerful impact on emotional regulation and impulse control. These benefits are maintained over time, suggesting that EFT provides lasting emotional relief.

Physical Benefits

EFT also offers considerable physical health benefits. Significant improvements have been observed in resting heart rate and blood pressure, with reductions of 8% and 6-8% respectively, which are both clinically and statistically significant. Additionally, cortisol levels, a biomarker of stress, were reduced by 37%, indicating a substantial decrease in stress. Such physiological changes not only demonstrate EFT’s effectiveness in enhancing physical health but also suggest potential reductions in healthcare utilization and costs.

Psychological Benefits

The profound psychological changes induced by EFT include increased happiness and improved mental well-being, with happiness scores increasing by 31%. The technique’s ability to foster significant psychological shifts is further evidenced by its impact on salivary immunoglobulin A (SigA), which increased by 113%, reflecting enhanced immune functioning and psychological resilience. Moreover, EFT’s non-invasive and non-pharmaceutical nature makes it a valuable tool for diverse populations, providing a safe and effective method for reducing psychological distress across various settings.

Step-by-Step Guide to EFT Tapping

Step 1: Identifying the Issue

To begin the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), one should first pinpoint the problem they want to address. It is crucial to focus on one specific issue at a time to ensure the effectiveness of the tapping process. This could be a troubling thought, a negative feeling, a behavior one wishes to change, or a physical discomfort localized in a specific part of the body.

Step 2: Setting the Intensity Level

Once the issue is identified, the next step is to assess the initial intensity of the distress. This is done by rating the discomfort on a scale from 0 to 10, with 10 representing the highest level of distress. This rating not only helps in measuring the effectiveness of the tapping but also provides a benchmark to gauge progress throughout the session.

Step 3: Formulating the Setup Statement

The setup statement is a crucial component of EFT, consisting of two parts: an acknowledgment of the problem and a phrase of self-acceptance. Commonly, this can be phrased as, “Even though I have this [issue], I deeply and completely accept myself.” This statement is repeated while tapping on the karate chop point, which is located on the side of the hand.

Step 4: Tapping Sequence and Points

The tapping sequence involves using the fingertips to tap on specific meridian points on the body. These points include the top of the head, beginning of the eyebrow, side of the eye, under the eye, under the nose, chin, beginning of the collarbone, and under the arm. Each point should be tapped approximately five to seven times. During this process, one should repeat a reminder phrase related to the issue at hand to maintain focus.

Step 5: Measuring the Intensity Again

After completing the tapping sequence, it is important to reassess the intensity level of the distress using the same 0-10 scale. This step determines whether the issue’s intensity has decreased and whether further rounds of tapping are needed. The goal is to continue until the intensity level is significantly reduced or reaches zero.

Step 6: Repeating the Process

If the intensity of the distress has not sufficiently decreased after the first round, the process should be repeated. This includes revisiting the setup statement and moving through the tapping points again. Each round should help in progressively reducing the distress level until the desired relief is achieved.

Detailed EFT Tapping Sequence

EFT has numerous steps but they help one through a process of removing negative energy

Begin with the Karate Chop Point

The Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) begins with tapping on the Karate Chop point, located on the side of the hand. This initial step involves using the opposite hand to tap this point while repeating a setup statement that addresses the specific issue being targeted. The Karate Chop point is crucial for setting the intention and starting the energy flow necessary for the session.

Move Through All Major Meridian Points

After the Karate Chop point, the sequence progresses through major meridian points on the body. These include:

  1. Eyebrow Point: Located at the beginning of the eyebrow, this point helps release trauma and emotional pain.
  2. Side of the Eye: This point can alleviate feelings of resentment and anger and is found at the end of the eyebrow on the bone.
  3. Under the Eye: Situated under the eye, tapping here aims to reduce fear and anxiety.
  4. Under the Nose: This point helps in releasing feelings of shame and powerlessness.
  5. Chin Point: Located below the lip and above the chin, it aids in clearing confusion and uncertainty.
  6. Collarbone Point: Just below the collarbone, this point helps in releasing feelings of being stuck and promotes clarity.
  7. Under the Arm: About a hand’s width from the armpit, this point can help release guilt and worry.
  8. Top of the Head: Tapping here can enhance spiritual connection and complete the energy circuit for the session.

Each point should be tapped approximately five to seven times to stimulate the energy flow and work on clearing the negative emotions associated with each specific area.

Repeat the Sequence

The tapping sequence is typically repeated to reinforce the positive effects and deepen the emotional and energetic release. Depending on the intensity of the issue, multiple rounds may be necessary. It is recommended to reassess the emotional intensity after each round to measure progress and determine if additional rounds are needed.

Incorporate Affirmations and Positive Statements

During the tapping process, it is beneficial to incorporate affirmations and positive statements. This practice helps reframe negative thoughts and beliefs into positive ones, enhancing the effectiveness of the tapping. Affirmations should be specific, positive, and present tense, focusing on desired outcomes and feelings.

By following these steps, individuals can perform a comprehensive EFT tapping sequence that addresses both emotional and physical issues, promoting overall well-being and emotional freedom.

Common Challenges and Tips for Effective EFT Tapping

Overcoming Skepticism

Skepticism towards Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) often arises due to its unconventional approach, which may seem too simplistic to effectively address complex emotional and physical issues. Individuals may be hesitant to embrace EFT due to preconceived notions about alternative therapies or a lack of understanding about how tapping can influence the body’s energy systems and emotional responses. To overcome this skepticism, it is crucial to educate individuals about the scientific basis of EFT and the evidence supporting its efficacy, such as its ability to interrupt the body’s fight or flight response and facilitate emotional and cognitive shifts. Encouraging skeptics to try EFT with an open mind and experience its benefits firsthand can also be a powerful way to reduce doubts and increase acceptance.

Staying Focused During Tapping

One common challenge faced by individuals practicing EFT is maintaining focus during the tapping process. It is essential to stay tuned into one’s emotions and physical sensations rather than getting overly caught up in the specific words used during tapping. Describing what one is experiencing, whether it is a visual image, a memory, or simply the physical sensations associated with the emotion, can help keep the brain engaged and enhance the effectiveness of the tapping session. Practitioners recommend using personalized scripts or modifying pre-scripted sessions to better reflect personal experiences and emotions, which can help maintain focus and ensure a more impactful tapping experience.

Customizing EFT to Suit Personal Needs

EFT offers flexibility to be adapted according to individual needs and specific issues. The generic setup phrase used in EFT can be customized to address personal beliefs and barriers that may hinder healing, such as feelings of unworthiness or fears related to overcoming a particular issue. By creating personalized setup statements that confront and neutralize these limiting beliefs, individuals can enhance the effectiveness of EFT and experience more profound emotional relief. Additionally, incorporating positive affirmations and choices into the tapping sequence can further empower individuals to take control of their healing process and achieve greater emotional freedom.

Real-Life Success Stories

Personal Experiences

Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) has been transformative for many individuals dealing with a variety of emotional and physical challenges. One compelling testimony comes from a person who, after being bullied in childhood, experienced a significant change in their response to confrontation as an adult after practicing EFT. This individual reported a spontaneous, relaxed reaction in a potentially threatening situation, which was a stark contrast to their previous response of freezing in fear. The change was so profound that the problem seemed to have dissipated entirely, as if it had never been there.

Another individual shared their journey of overcoming severe panic attacks and chronic anxiety through EFT. After a few tapping sessions, they experienced the best three weeks they had had in 18 months. This led them to explore Matrix Reimprinting using EFT, which they described as EFT on steroids. Ten years later, they reported being a completely different person, equipped with tools for handling life’s challenges.

Clinical Case Studies

In clinical settings, EFT has shown remarkable results. A detailed case study involving a 51-year-old woman treated for severe Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) symptoms with EFT reported resolution of her symptoms in just one session. The intervention focused on tapping techniques developed specifically for her condition.

Another case involved a woman diagnosed with stage four non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Her treatment integrated Thought Field Therapy® (TFT) alongside conventional treatments, focusing on eliminating the trauma and anxiety associated with cancer. This approach is believed to promote greater bioenergy healing flow, contributing to her recovery.

EFT in Medical Settings

EFT’s integration into medical settings has also been documented. A study on treating Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) with EFT in combination with Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) showed positive outcomes. This approach was used in treating a survivor of the World Trade Center attacks, demonstrating its effectiveness in a high-stress context.

Moreover, EFT has been applied to patients with panic disorders in conjunction with oriental medical treatments like acupuncture and herbal medications. The results indicated significant improvements in patients’ symptoms, showcasing EFT’s compatibility and effectiveness with other treatment modalities.

These real-life success stories and clinical case studies not only highlight the versatility of EFT in treating a range of conditions but also underscore its potential as a powerful tool for emotional and physical healing across various settings.

Conclusion

Learn how to teach others the power of EFT in removing negative energy. Please also review AIHCP’s EFT Practitioner Certification

The exploration of Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) reveals its potency as a multifaceted tool capable of addressing a broad spectrum of emotional and physical discomforts. By delving into the science behind EFT, the technique’s foundational principles, and its application, this article has highlighted EFT’s potential to transform negative energy into an empowered state of mental and physical well-being. The real-life success stories further underscore the significant, positive impact that mastering EFT can have on individuals’ lives, offering a beacon of hope for those seeking relief from various psychological stresses and ailments.

As we conclude our journey through the realms of EFT, it’s evident that this technique stands as a valuable asset in the contemporary landscape of mental health and holistic healing. The implications of its broad applicability not only enhance individual well-being but also point towards a future where integrative approaches to health care are more readily embraced. Readers are encouraged to explore EFT further, integrating its practices into their lives as a step towards achieving emotional freedom and fostering an overall enhancement of life quality.

Please also review AIHCP’s EFT  Practitioner Certification.  The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification as an EFT Practitioner.

FAQs

What is EFT tapping and how does it help release negative energy? EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) tapping is a mind-body technique developed in the 1990s by engineer Gary Craig. It aims to help individuals connect with their emotions and release negative energy. This method involves tapping on specific acupressure points using your fingertips.

Are there any reasons to avoid using the tapping technique? Yes, tapping should be approached with caution as it can sometimes increase pain or discomfort. There is also a risk that it could exacerbate existing mental health issues or potentially trigger new ones. Therefore, it is advised to avoid using tapping as a standalone treatment for mental health conditions.

Has EFT tapping been scientifically validated? EFT tapping has been recognized as an “evidence-based” practice according to the standards of the American Psychological Association’s Division 12 Task Force on Empirically Validated Treatments. It is considered effective for treating conditions such as anxiety, depression, phobias, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Can EFT tapping be used for manifestation? Yes, EFT tapping can be a potent tool for manifestation. It helps individuals to identify and release limiting beliefs, clear emotional blocks, and foster a positive mindset. When combined with manifestation techniques, EFT can enhance the alignment of one’s thoughts, emotions, and actions with their desired outcomes.

Additional Resources

Barkley, S. (2023). “Understanding EFT Tapping”. PsychCentral.  Access here

Laurence, E. “EFT Tapping: What You Need To Know”. Forbes Health.  Access here

Baron, M. (2019). “10 Reasons You Have Negative Energy & How To Reverse It STAT”. MGBMindfulness.  Access here

Ferraro, K. (2022). “6 Simple Ways to Clear Negative Energy”. Yoga Journal.  Access here

Focusing and Empathetic Confrontation in Counseling

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Like in previous blogs, attending to the client, empathetically listening and observing, properly responding and encouraging are key elements in basic counseling.  Like a coach training a player or athlete, challenging and encouraging a client to change is like coaching.  It involves the counselor helping the client push forward, and like in coaching, this sometimes involves more than just challenging, but to also focus on the issue that needs addressed and then properly fix it.  A good coach will focus and see a flaw in the mechanics of a player and then challenge and confront the player and help guide the player to fixing it.  Counselors focus on the client’s story and then discover the core issues.  After finding the core issues, they offer empathetic confrontations to help push forward.   These skills represent later measures after basic attending, listening, observing and responding and look in later sessions to help the client find real and true change.  In this blog, we will first look at focusing and then conclude with empathetic confrontation.

Focusing in Counseling

According to Ivey, the skill of focusing is a form of attending of the client that enables a counselor to discover multiple views of the client’s story (2018, p. 221).   It helps the client think of new possibilities during the restory and call to action (Ivey, 2019, p. 221).  A counselor goes well beyond merely the “I” in the story but looks to broaden the story beyond merely the client but into other aspects of the client’s life.  How the counselor responds to the client hence can play a key role in where the story proceeds in the counseling sessions.  Counselors who direct the conversation through selective attention skills can take the “I” conversation into other social and cultural spheres of the client.  These other spheres of influence can be key clues into the client’s mindset. Ultimately, focusing is about helping the client address emotional issues.  It is client based and humanistic in approach.

How a counselor focuses on the multiple aspects of a client’s story is key to understanding the whole story. Please also review AIHCP’s Grief Counseling Certification

Ivey lists seven focus dimensions that counselors can utilize in responding and discussing issues.  The first is to focus on the client him/herself.  This involves direct questions regarding the client’s feelings.  The second involves focusing on the theme .  It involves asking the client about the issue itself and discovering details regarding the theme of the issue and how the client feels in the immediate moment.   The third dimension shifts focus to others within the client’s life.  It delves into questions about significant others, family members, friends or others involved in the issue.  The fourth dimension of focusing looks at mutual aspects of how the client and counselor can work together. It emphasizes “we” and how the counselor and client can find ways to deal with the issue.  The fifth dimension focuses on the counselor.  It involves how the counselor can paraphrase and share appropriate and similar experiences with solutions.  The sixth focus puts into perspective the issue in regards to the client’s cultural or environmental background and how they may play into the current issue.  Finally, focusing on the here and now delves into identifying how the client feels at the moment itself (Ivey, 2018, p. 221).

Focusing on a client’s cultural/religious/ethnic background can play a key in discovering issues that exist in the person.  It can help explain why a particular client responds and reacts a certain way.  It can also be used to find strengths for the person.  Ivey illustrates the importance of Community and Family Genograms that help map out the client’s background (2018, p.212).   A good family genogram will help clients identify issues from a cultural standpoint and understand better their relationship to their surrounding environment and its stressors.  In addition, it can also help clients discover new hidden strengths that exist within their family and culture.   Helping the diverse client take pride in their past and heritage can help build resiliency.  When stressors or issues occur, a client can utilize a term referred to as “body anchoring” where the client reflects upon a voice of a relative, famous individual, or cultural icon to help him/herself find confidence and strength to face the issue (Ivey, 2018, p. 220).  This also helps multicultural clients have the power to name issues that are effecting them.  Using focus on culture can be a very helpful tool when utilized correctly during a counsel session.  This type of focusing helps many diverse populations deal more effectively against microaggressions (Ivey, 2018, p. 248).

Ways to help find a client’s particular cultural awareness during focusing is through the Cross five stage model, named after William Cross (Ivey, 2018, p. 244).  Also referred to as the five stages of cultural identity, Cross identified how diverse populations recognize themselves and respond to confrontation.  Focusing on the stage of a particular client hence can be very beneficial.  The first stage involves the conformity stage.  The individual may be unaware of racial identity and merely conforms to societal expectations.  The second stage involves dissonance where the individual realizes that something does not match or fit.  This can lead to self-appreciation or self doubt.  The third stage results in resistance or emersion.  An individual may become more angry at the injustice or immerse oneself more in one’s own culture.  The fourth phase involves introspection where the individual sees oneself as an individual and part of the cultural group.  The final phase of integrative awareness is the full sense of caring for oneself and one’s cultural heritage.  This leads to appreciation and action but more so due to pride and awareness (Ivey, 2018, p. 245).   Through identification of these phases or stages, counselors can help clients better utilize the client’s heritage and culture to empower the client in various interventions.

Empathetic Confrontation

Empathetic Confrontation looks to help someone understand negative behaviors in a nonjudgmental and empathetic way

A counselor, like a coach, uses a variety of encouragement and challenging strategies to help a client find change.  Within the Problem Management Model, a client is shown the present, perceived view and ways to find the new view.  This involves identifying internal as well as external conflicts.  Sometimes, clients may become stuck in a way of thinking. They lack intentionality to change or lack creativity (Ivey, 2018, p. 229).  Within this state, the client becomes immobile, experiences blocks, cannot achieve goals, lacks motivation and has reached an impasse (Ivey, 2018, p. 229).   In these, cases, like a coach, the counselor needs to help the client face these issues and move forward.   This involves a type of confrontation but this confrontation is not meant to imply aggression or hostile or argumentative behavior but is an engagement for change. According to Ivey, Carl Rogers pushed for the ideal of Empathetic Confrontation, which espouses a gentle listening to the client and then encouraging the client to examine oneself more fully (2018, p. 2029).   Summaries are an excellent way to help confront a client with empathy.  In this way, the counselor can present a two-part summary which states both positions with the connecting phrase “but on the other hand” (Ivey, 2018, p. 229-230).  This presents both views of feelings and allows the client to digest the statement and see any discrepancies or issues of conflict within his/her logic.

 

Carl Rogers points out that even when presented in these terms, sometimes, the client may feel attacked or confronted. In these cases, he suggests to also hold tight to nonjudgmental attitudes, keeping one’s own beliefs to the side.  Rogers emphasized that individuals with issues who come to counseling do not need judged or evaluated but guided (Ivey, 2018, p. 230).   Within any issue, the counselor confronts but also supports.  This involves first a relationship that must exist.  Without a relationship of trust, the client will not accept any advice from a sterile stranger who he/she may merely see as a paid listener.  When confronting, it is essential when summarizing to state the client’s point of view first, before comparing the opposing view.  In addition, the client must remain in charge of outcomes.  The counselor when confronting is not telling the client what to do but offering suggestions (Ivey, 2018, p. 232).  In conclusion, the counselor must listen and observe for mixed messages and then respond with empathy in a summary that clarifies any internal or external issues.  This should resolve with actions towards resolution of the issue (Ivey, 2018, p. 235).

Egan points out that are multiple ways to challenge and confront clients to life enhancing actions.  Egan differentiates between goals but also strong intention and commitments to a course of action.  The importance of understanding the value of action intentions is key in helping a client carry out a particular again (2019, p, 234-235).    Implementing these instructions, with strong phrases such as “I strongly intend to do x when y occurs” can help clients find tools necessary to incorporate the necessary change (Egan, 2019, p. 235).  Sometimes, a self contract to do a certain thing can be a powerful tool in helping clients galvanize towards change (Egan, 2019, p. 239).

Egan also points out that counselors need to help their clients overcome procrastination.   Egan lists numerous excuses that can include competing daily agendas or short term pains (2019, p. 236).  It is important to guide one’s client between conscious deliberation and procrastination that prevents true change.

Egan reminds counselors to also help clients identify unused resources that can help facilitate change.  Replace “I can’t” with “I can” phrases by helping the client discover unused talents and resources to help one overcome negative thoughts of failure. (Egan, 2019, p.237).

When aiding clients with life enhancing actions, it is important to provide sometimes confirmatory feedback as well as corrective feedback.  Obviously, confirmatory feedback acknowledges progress, but corrective feedback looks to help clients who wandered off from the course of action (Egan, 2019, p. 244).   The spirit of empathy and nonjudgment are again essential in how this is accomplished.  In many ways, it is confronting but in a non hostile way.  Counselors can help clients stay on track through multiple ways via checklists, identification of possible obstacles and helping them identify damaging attitudes.  Such attitudes can be due to a passivity not to take responsibility, a learned helplessness, disabling self talk, or disorganization (Egan, 2019, p. 245-248).  Egan also warns that while helping clients, be aware of entropy and how initial change can gradually break down.  Egan lists false hopes and the natural decay curve as two things that can occur in clients (2019, p.249-250).  Within each, clients may have too high of expectations, or consider mistakes to destroy the entire process.  Give clients the power to make mistakes throughout the process.

Sometimes, as noted, some clients are more resistant to confrontation and change.  Some may become visibly upset if confronted with a discrepancy in life.  Different clients respond to different challenges in different ways.  The Client Change Scale or CCS is a way to measure a client’s reaction to empathetic confrontation (Ivey, 2018, p. 237).  Level 1 involves denial of the issue. Within this level, the story is distorted and the client will look to blame others unfairly.  Level 2 consists of bargaining and partial acceptance of the story.  In this reality, the story is finally changing in a more true direction.  Level 3 involves acceptance of the reality.  The truth is recognized and the story is finally complete.  Level 4 incorporates new solutions to make the story better and finally Level 5 refers to transcendence and the incorporation of the new story into the client’s life (Ivey, 2018, p. 246).  The CCS helps the counselor track each session and see if progress or regression occurs from one session to the next in regards to change.

Egan points out that many individuals are reluctant to change due to variety of issues including fear of intensity of it, lack of trust in the process, extreme shame, loss of hope, or even the cost of the change itself (2019, p. 253-255).  In dealing with these things, counselors need to be realistic and flexible and look to push the client beyond resistance by examining incentives of change (Egan, 2019, 259).  In some cases, when change is identified and the need for it accepted, clients may need time in adjusting or implementing it.  Egan points out that change can exist on two levels.  He refers to these types of changes as first order changes and second order changes.  First order change is operational and a short term solution, while second order change is more strategic and long term.  Egan compares the two with first and second as being compared in these ways.  First order utilizes adjustments to the current situation, while second is systematic, first monitors, while second creates new, first creates temporary, while second creates to endure.  First changes look sometimes to deal with the symptoms while second attacks the causes (Egan, 2019, p. 308).

In some clients, the situation to change may not permit a new paradigm but may requires coping skills.  For instance, a stressed employee may be forced to keep a stressful job but may need to tinker with it due to the financial a loss of finding a new job would incur with a more lasting change, while a battered spouse would require a permanent change and would not be able to cope with the existing abuse.

An interesting model is the GROW model.  John Whitmore, creator of the model utilized the acronym to produce change and to assess one’s willingness to change.  G represents goal or what one wishes to accomplish. R stands for reality and where the client currently exists.  O stands for options and what one can possibly do.  Finally W stands for will, or what one is willing to do.

This model as well the Problem Management Model are ways to help move the sessions and help identify issues and assess how to empathetically confront and challenge individuals to productive change.

Conclusion

How a counselor attends to a client also involves sometimes more than listening but also focusing on particular aspects of the client’s life.  This involves the other aspects of the clients life and in many cases includes cultural and social issues that affect the client.  This can be merely family but also take upon the broader cultural aspect of a person.  Someone of European descent may react quite differently than someone of Asian descent to the same issue.  Hence focusing in on these issues is an essential attending skill.  It is also important to understand where one cultural exists within oneself.  The Cross model can help counselors better gauge one’s cultural awareness and how that plays in one’s particular situation.

Please also review AIHCP’s Grief Counseling Certification as well its Christian Counseling Program.

In addition, this blog discussed the importance of Empathetic Confrontation.  Carl Rogers understood the importance of helping individuals identify problems that were internal or external but he also understood that is was critical to approach confrontation with nonjudgment and empathy.  Employing a two part summary with “on the other hand” can help expose issues and offer good solutions but different individuals react to confrontation to change differently.  The Client Change Scale is an excellent way to gauge and monitor a client’s willingness to change.  Through Empathetic Confrontation, the counselor looks to challenge past themes or schemas of a client’s life and help them find new ways to correct negative behaviors.

Please also review AIHCP’s many mental health certification programs.  AIHCP offers a Grief Counseling Certification, as well as a Christian Counseling Certification. In addition, AIHCP offers programs in Crisis Intervention, Healthcare Life Coaching, Stress Management and Anger Management Consulting.  The programs are online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification.

 

 

Reference

Ivey, A. et, al. “Intentional Interviewing and Counseling: Facilitating Client Development in a Multicultural Society” (9th Ed( (2018). Cengage.

Additional Resources

Williams, M. (2018). “Ethnic and Racial Identity and the Therapeutic Alliance”.  Psychology Today.  Access here

Sutton, J. (2022). “How to Assess and Improve Readiness for Change”, PositivePsychology.com.  Access here

“Focusing” (2016). Good Therapy.  Access here

“The Technique of Confrontation in Counseling” (2022). Optimist Minds. Access here

 

 

Meditation and Stress Reduction

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Mindfulness Meditation: A Key to Stress Reduction

In an era where stress and anxiety pervade daily life, mindfulness meditation emerges as a beacon of relief and tranquility. This ancient practice, rooted in the recognition and acceptance of the present moment, holds profound implications for emotional and physical well-being. Despite its historical origins, mindfulness meditation has gained recognition in the modern world as a valuable tool for stress reduction and the management of anxiety. Through facilitating a state of calm awareness, individuals are empowered to navigate the complexities of life with a greater sense of ease and stability.  By creating a space between your thoughts and your reactions, meditation allows you to witness the happenings in your mind without judgment, leading to a calmer and more focused state of being. Regular practice can not only make you feel better and more refreshed but also equip you with the skills to face daily challenges with a healthier attitude. Scientific research supports these claims, showing that meditation can improve symptoms of stress-related conditions and promote overall emotional and physical well-being.

Meditation is tied to stress reduction. Please also review AIHCP’s Meditation Instructor and Stress Management Consultant programs

The subsequent sections of this article will delve into a comprehensive exploration of mindfulness meditation, illuminating its connection to stress reduction and its myriad benefits to mental and physical health. Readers will gain insights into various meditation techniques, practical steps to initiate a meditation practice, and strategies to overcome common challenges encountered along the journey. Additionally, the discussion will extend to advanced meditation practices, offering pathways for further growth and exploration. The culmination of this discussion seeks to equip individuals with the knowledge and tools necessary to harness the power sunlocking a more serene and mindful existence.

Also if a professional and seeking certification as a Meditation Instructor or as a Stress Management Consultant, then please review and click the links at the end of the article with information about the programs.

Key Takeaways

  • Meditation helps create a mental space between thoughts and reactions, fostering a calmer state of mind.
  • Regular meditation practice can offer significant emotional and physical benefits, including improved sleep and reduced anxiety.
  • Scientific studies have shown that meditation can alleviate symptoms of stress-related conditions like irritable bowel syndrome and PTSD.
  • Various meditation techniques, such as mindfulness and loving-kindness meditation, are effective for stress relief.
  • Incorporating meditation into daily life can be facilitated by setting up a dedicated space, choosing the right time, and using guided meditations.

Understanding Meditation

Mindfulness meditation is a mental training practice that focuses on slowing down racing thoughts, letting go of negativity, and calming both the mind and body. It involves being fully focused on the present moment, acknowledging and accepting thoughts, feelings, and sensations without judgment. This practice can be straightforward enough to learn on one’s own, but a teacher or program may be beneficial, especially if meditation is pursued for specific health reasons.

During mindfulness meditation, individuals become aware of their breath, noting the sensation of air moving in and out of their body and the temperature changes associated with breathing. The primary goal is not to stop thoughts but to become more comfortable observing them without reaction, using the breath as a stable point of focus.

Mindfulness involves various techniques that can help reduce stress and improve mental clarity. These include guided imagery, breathing methods, and other practices designed to relax the body and mind. Regular mindfulness exercises are beneficial, not only for stress reduction but also for lowering heart rate, improving immunity, and enhancing sleep quality.

Clinical studies have supported the effectiveness of meditation for various conditions including stress, anxiety, pain, depression, and insomnia. Mindfulness helps individuals experience thoughts and emotions with greater balance and acceptance, improving overall mental health and attention.

Structured mindfulness exercises such as body scan meditation, sitting meditation, and walking meditation are also effective. These practices involve focusing attention on different parts of the body or the act of walking, helping to cultivate a deeper awareness of the present moment. Practicing mindfulness can be simple and integrated into daily routines, enhancing one’s ability to live in the moment and engage with the world with an open and accepting attitude.

Mindfulness meditation encourages a non-judgmental attitude towards one’s thoughts and feelings, fostering a sense of curiosity and kindness towards oneself and others. This approach helps in exploring the present moment as it is, enhancing the capacity to manage life’s challenges with grace and resilience.

The Connection Between Meditation and Stress Reduction

If stressed out, try meditation. Please review AIHCP’s Meditation Instructor Program

Meditation has long been recognized for its ability to reduce stress, offering practitioners a sense of calm, peace, and balance that extends beyond the meditation session into daily life. By focusing on the present and engaging in mindfulness practices, individuals can clear away the information overload that contributes significantly to daily stress. This process not only helps in managing stress but also enhances overall emotional and physical well-being.

Meditation offers us a way to mitigate the effects of stress by influencing how our brains respond to stress triggers. It helps us temper our reactions, cultivate a more balanced response to stressors, and even befriend stress. Meditation gives us a helping hand in managing our stress levels, not by eliminating stress but by changing our relationship with it.

How Mindfulness Reduces Stress

Mindfulness meditation facilitates a unique mental state where one becomes more aware of their thoughts, allowing them to step back and not take these thoughts so literally, which prevents the stress response from initiating in the first place. This form of meditation encourages individuals to not immediately react to situations but instead, pause, use their “wise mind” to assess the situation, and then respond in the most appropriate manner. The practice switches the mind from a “doing” mode, associated with action and stress responses, to a “being” mode, which is linked to relaxation and a reduced stress response.

The Stress Breath Practice

A practical application of mindfulness in managing stress is the Stress Breath Practice, introduced by Andres Gonzalez. This technique involves a specific breathing practice that can be utilized in any stressful or anxious situation, helping to reset the brain and shift the body from a state of stress to one of calm. By using everyday objects as cues for the practice, such as car keys in Gonzalez’s example, individuals can create habitual responses that facilitate stress management throughout the day.

Guided Meditations for Stress

Guided meditations, like the body scan meditation, have been scientifically shown to reduce stress markers such as cortisol levels. Participants in these guided sessions report significant reductions in stress, evidenced by biological markers and personal reports of increased calm and reduced anxiety. These practices are particularly beneficial as they provide structured pathways for individuals to follow, potentially leading to more consistent and effective meditation practices.

Through these methods, mindfulness meditation not only helps individuals manage existing stress but also builds resilience against future stressors, enhancing both mental and physical health in the process. By incorporating mindfulness practices into daily routines, individuals can maintain a more balanced and stress-reduced lifestyle.

Scientific Studies on Meditation and Stress Reduction

Meta-Analyses and Systematic Reviews

Meta-analyses and systematic reviews have provided comprehensive insights into the efficacy of meditation for stress reduction. A meta-analysis including nearly 1,300 adults found that meditation may decrease anxiety. Notably, this effect was strongest in those with the highest levels of anxiety. These reviews often highlight the role of mindfulness-based interventions in reducing perceived stress and anxiety.

Longitudinal Studies

Longitudinal studies have shown that regular meditation practice can lead to sustained reductions in stress levels over time. For instance, an 8-week study on mindfulness meditation revealed a significant reduction in the inflammation response caused by stress. These findings suggest that the benefits of meditation extend beyond immediate stress relief to long-term health improvements.

Randomized Controlled Trials

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are considered the gold standard in clinical research. RCTs on meditation have demonstrated its effectiveness in managing stress-related conditions. For example, a study titled “The Neuroscience of Mindfulness Meditation” found that mindfulness meditation can improve both mental and physical health. Another RCT comparing meditation and exercise for preventing acute respiratory infection showed that meditation could be a viable alternative to traditional medical interventions.

The effect of conscious mindfulness-based informative approaches decreased the perceived stress and anxiety of the patients in the experimental group, highlighting the practical benefits of meditation in clinical settings.

Benefits of Meditation on Mental Health

Meditation offers a multitude of benefits for mental health, primarily by instilling a sense of calm, peace, and balance that enhances overall emotional well-being. By fostering a new perspective on stress-inducing situations, meditation builds skills that help individuals manage stress more effectively. This practice increases self-awareness, focuses attention on the present, and reduces negative emotions, which collectively contribute to improved mental health.

Meditation has numerous health benefits beyond merely stress reduction

Reduction in Anxiety and Depression

Meditation has been consistently linked to lower rates of anxiety and depression. The practice helps by altering brain function; it reduces the activity in the amygdala, known for its role in processing fear and stress, and it disengages the prefrontal cortex that often exacerbates stress and anxiety. Regular meditation leads to changes in these brain areas, which are particularly relevant in the context of depression and anxiety. Studies have shown that mindfulness, whether innate or cultivated through meditation, correlates strongly with reduced symptoms of these mental health conditions. Additionally, meditation practices like mindfulness-based cognitive therapy blend cognitive behavioral techniques with meditative practices, effectively reducing anxiety and depression by altering negative thought patterns.

Improvement in Emotional Well-being

Mindfulness meditation enhances emotional well-being by teaching individuals to engage with the present moment in a non-judgmental and accepting manner. This increased mindfulness leads to better emotional regulation and reduces tendencies toward anger and negative mood states. The practice of mindfulness can significantly increase self-awareness, allowing individuals to recognize and manage negative thoughts and mood patterns more effectively. Moreover, various forms of meditation, including guided imagery and walking meditation, contribute to an enhanced state of mental clarity and emotional tranquility. The ability to maintain focus on the present and to manage one’s reactions to stress and anxiety not only alleviates current symptoms but also contributes to long-term emotional resilience.

Physical Health Benefits of Meditation

Reducing Blood Pressure

Meditation techniques such as Transcendental Meditation and mindfulness-based stress reduction have been shown to produce clinically significant reductions in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. These techniques can be effective as standalone treatments or alongside traditional pharmacotherapy, offering small yet meaningful reductions in blood pressure. Studies suggest that the efficacy of meditation in reducing blood pressure is comparable to that achieved with single-agent drug therapy, highlighting its potential as a valuable tool in managing hypertension. Furthermore, meditation can be efficiently and effectively delivered, potentially reducing the need for laboratory monitoring or frequent prescription refills, and generally exhibits few and rare side effects.

Research also indicates that various meditation practices can modestly lower blood pressure, as affirmed by an American Heart Association scientific statement. Techniques designed to evoke the relaxation response, developed by Dr. Herbert Benson, have been particularly helpful in managing high blood blood pressure and other stress-related disorders. This relaxation response counters the stress-induced fight-or-flight response, promoting a state of restful alertness that beneficially impacts cardiovascular health.  Heart Rate Variability (HRV) is a key indicator of autonomic nervous system function and overall cardiovascular health. Regular meditation practice has been linked to improved HRV, which reflects a better balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. This balance is essential for maintaining a calm state and preventing new damage from the physical effects of stress.

Meditation has been shown to significantly reduce cortisol levels, the primary hormone associated with stress. Cortisol reduction is crucial as elevated levels can disrupt sleep, promote depression and anxiety, increase blood pressure, and contribute to fatigue and cloudy thinking.

Boosting Immune Function

Meditation has been found to robustly activate the immune system, with studies showing increased activity in genes related to the immune response following meditation practices. Notably, meditation led to heightened activity in genes associated with interferon signaling, which plays a crucial role in the body’s defense against viruses and potentially severe illnesses like COVID-19. This suggests that meditation can enhance the body’s natural defense mechanisms, contributing to improved overall health and resilience against infections.

Additionally, mindfulness meditation has been shown to influence several key aspects of the immune system, including reducing markers of inflammation and increasing the number of CD-4 cells, which are vital for orchestrating the immune response to infections. Regular meditation practice has also been associated with increased telomerase activity, which helps maintain chromosome stability and prevents premature cellular aging. This can lead to better immune function and reduced susceptibility to a variety of age-related diseases.

In summary, mindfulness meditation not only helps in reducing blood pressure but also enhances immune function, providing a holistic benefit to physical health. These interventions can be integrated into daily routines, offering a sustainable approach to managing and improving overall health.

Enhanced Emotional Stability

Meditation has been shown to offer many benefits. Although it’s well known as a technique to reduce stress and anxiety, research shows that it may also help enhance your mood, promote healthy sleep patterns, and boost cognitive skills. Meditation can give you a sense of calm, peace, and balance that can benefit your emotional well-being and your overall health.

Reduction in Anxiety Symptoms

Meditation is the habitual process of training your mind to focus and redirect your thoughts. The popularity of meditation is increasing as more people discover its many health benefits. You can use it to increase awareness of yourself and your surroundings. Many people think of it as a way to reduce stress and develop concentration.

Improvement in Sleep Quality

People also use the practice to develop other beneficial habits and feelings, such as a positive mood and outlook, self-discipline, healthy sleep patterns, and even increased pain tolerance. Meditation can help you learn to stay centered and keep inner peace.

The emotional and physical benefits of meditation can include: giving you a new way to look at things that cause stress, building skills to manage your stress, making you more self-aware, focusing on the present, reducing negative feelings, helping you be more creative,

Different Techniques of Meditation

There are numerous types of meditation. Please also review AIHCP’s Meditation Instructor Certification

Mindfulness Meditation

Mindfulness meditation focuses on being present and fully engaged with whatever one is doing at the moment, free from distraction or judgment. Individuals practicing mindfulness learn to pay attention to their breath as it goes in and out and acknowledge when the mind wanders from this task. This practice helps in returning to and remaining in the present moment, anchoring oneself without judgment. Mindfulness can be simple yet requires patience, as it involves continually bringing one’s attention back to the breath or chosen object of focus. This technique fosters a deep engagement with the present moment and enhances personal awareness and acceptance.

Transcendental Meditation

Transcendental Meditation (TM) is a form of meditation that involves silently repeating a mantra to settle the mind and achieve a state of profound relaxation and balance. This technique, derived from the Vedic tradition, does not involve concentration or contemplation, making it distinct from mindfulness meditation. TM allows individuals to transcend thought, reaching a state of ‘pure awareness’ or restful alertness. The practice is usually taught by certified instructors through a standardized course, ensuring that each participant learns the technique properly to achieve optimal results.

Guided Meditation

Guided meditation is another effective technique, particularly beneficial for beginners who may require more structure in their practice. It involves following the spoken instructions of a guide or teacher, which can be delivered through audio recordings or in-person sessions. These meditations utilize visualizations and are often designed to target specific areas such as stress reduction, emotional healing, or personal growth. They help practitioners to focus their attention and achieve deeper levels of relaxation. Guided meditations are versatile and can include various elements such as mindful breathing, body scans, or visual imagery to enhance the meditation experience.

Each of these techniques offers unique benefits and can be chosen based on individual preferences and goals. Whether one seeks to improve concentration and presence through mindfulness, achieve deep relaxation with Transcendental Meditation, or explore structured pathways through guided sessions, these practices provide valuable tools for enhancing mental and physical well-being.

Loving-Kindness Meditation

Loving-Kindness Meditation (LKM) focuses on developing feelings of compassion and love towards oneself and others. This practice can help in reducing negative emotions and fostering a positive outlook, which is essential for stress relief.

Exploring different meditation techniques can help you find the one that best suits your needs. Regular practice is key to experiencing the full benefits of meditation.

Cultural and Historical Perspectives on Meditation

Meditation in Eastern Traditions

Meditation has been around for thousands of years, deeply rooted in Eastern traditions such as Buddhism, Hinduism, and Taoism. Mindfulness’ roots reach deep into Buddhism, where it was originally practiced to deepen understanding of the sacred and mystical forces of life. In Hinduism, meditation is a key component of yoga, aimed at achieving spiritual enlightenment. Taoist meditation focuses on harmonizing the body, mind, and spirit with the Tao, or the fundamental nature of the universe.

Western Adoption of Meditation

In more recent years, mindfulness has become a popular way to help people manage their stress and improve their overall well-being. The Western adoption of meditation began in the 20th century, influenced by Eastern philosophies and practices. Psychologists have found that mindfulness meditation changes our brain and biology in positive ways, improving mental and physical health. This has led to the integration of meditation into various therapeutic practices and wellness programs.

Evolution of Meditation Practices

Meditation practices have evolved over time, adapting to the cultural and societal needs of different eras. Initially, meditation was primarily a spiritual practice, but it has since expanded to include secular applications. Today, there are two major styles of meditation: focused-attention meditation and open-monitoring meditation. Focused-attention meditation concentrates on a single object, thought, or sound, while open-monitoring meditation encourages awareness of all aspects of one’s environment and self.

Meditation is a type of mind-body complementary medicine that can help you relax deeply and calm your mind. There is no wrong way to meditate, making it accessible to people from all walks of life.

Steps to Start Your Meditation Practice

Once you decide to meditate for health and better quality of life, you will need to find a place to maximize its benefits.

Find a Quiet Place

To begin your meditation practice, it is crucial to find a quiet and comfortable place where distractions are minimal. This could be a dedicated space in your home or any area where you feel at ease and can relax without interruptions. It is also beneficial to sit in a calm and quiet area that feels peaceful, as this setting helps in focusing and maintaining the tranquility necessary for effective meditation.

Set a Time

Consistency is key in meditation, so setting aside a specific time each day for this practice is essential. Many find it helpful to meditate early in the morning or just before bedtime, as these times are generally quieter and less prone to disturbances. Starting with a manageable time limit, such as five or ten minutes, can be effective, especially for beginners. As you grow more accustomed to the practice, you can gradually increase the duration.

Focus on Your Breathing

Focusing on your breath is a fundamental aspect of meditation. Start by breathing naturally and paying attention to the air moving in and out of your body, without attempting to control or alter your breathing pattern. This focus helps anchor your mind in the present moment. Whether you choose to sit on a chair with your feet flat on the ground or on a cushion on the floor, ensure your back is straight but not tense. Let your hands rest comfortably, and gently close your eyes to help maintain focus. When thoughts or physical sensations interrupt your focus, simply acknowledge them and return your attention to your breath.

Guided meditations can be particularly helpful for beginners. There are many apps and online resources available that offer guided sessions, ranging from a few minutes to an hour. These can provide structure and help you stay focused, especially when you’re just starting out.

Everyday ways to practice meditation include integrating it into your daily routine. You can meditate while eating, showering, walking, or even listening mindfully. The key is to find what works best for you and stick with it.

By incorporating these steps into your daily routine, you can establish a solid foundation for your meditation practice, enhancing both mental and physical well-being.

Overcoming Common Challenges in Meditation

Handling Distractions

Distractions are a natural part of the meditation process, and learning to manage them effectively is crucial for a productive practice. One common method to handle distractions is to let them pass without giving them new energy, which naturally strengthens concentration. When distractions arise, such as a stray thought or external noise, acknowledging them without engagement can help maintain focus on the meditation practice. It is beneficial to treat distractions as opportunities to cultivate patience and improve focus by gently bringing attention back to the meditation object, whether it’s the breath, a mantra, or bodily sensations.

Another effective strategy is to develop a mindset of non-craving and non-resistance. This involves accepting the present moment and whatever experiences it brings without wishing for a different reality. By embracing distractions with self-compassion and returning to the present moment, meditators can transform these interruptions into moments of mindfulness.

Overcoming Initial Discomfort

It does often take some practice, however, and some people find it difficult to “get it” in the beginning. Meditation also requires a little patience and may be difficult for people with little free time. However, the time and effort it takes to learn and practice is well worth it in terms of the benefits it provides.

Maintaining Consistency

Consistency is the backbone of a successful meditation practice, yet it is often where many practitioners encounter challenges. To enhance consistency, it is helpful to meditate at the same time and place each day, creating a ritual that anchors the practice. This could involve setting up a specific area in your home as a dedicated meditation space, which can help in forming a habit.

Tracking one’s meditation sessions can also significantly improve consistency. Using a simple method like marking a calendar for each completed meditation session provides visual progress and can motivate continued practice. Additionally, starting with short meditation sessions and gradually increasing the duration as comfort with the practice grows can prevent feelings of overwhelm and build confidence in one’s ability to meditate regularly.

Implementing a routine is another key aspect. Setting aside a consistent time and space for meditation and committing to show up can make it easier to integrate the practice into daily life. Building rituals, such as lighting candles or saying a prayer before meditating, can also enhance the meditation experience and make it more enjoyable, which supports regular practice.

For those struggling with motivation, it is important to remember the long-term benefits of meditation and to write an implementation intention. This helps in staying committed to the practice even when inspiration wanes, by reinforcing the values and discipline rather than fleeting feelings.

By addressing these common challenges with practical strategies, individuals can enjoy a more consistent and rewarding meditation practice, leading to significant improvements in mental and physical well-being.

Meditation research is still relatively new, but promising. Numerous studies have found that, in diverse populations, meditation can minimize stress and build resilience.

Advanced Meditation Practices

Deepening Your Meditation

In the Hindu tradition, advanced stages of meditation are known as savikalpa samadhi and nirvikalpa samadhi. Savikalpa samadhi represents a state where concentration continues with subtle effort, akin to a continuous flow of green dots in concentration. This stage is contrasted by nirvikalpa samadhi, or seed-less absorption, where there is no effort, no meditator, and no object of meditation, symbolized by empty dots. Achieving these states is rare and marks a significant milestone in one’s meditative journey.

True meditation involves letting go of any effort to change, improve, or deepen the practice. If a desire to go ‘deeper’ arises, it should simply be observed without reaction. This non-reactive observation allows the meditation to deepen naturally, leading to profound silence and freedom.

Incorporating Mantras

Mantra meditation can significantly illuminate and transform the mind. Mantras, often encapsulated in sacred texts like the Shiva Sutras, are said to transfigure the mind through deep identification with the Self enshrined in the mantra. A systematic approach to integrating mantra and consciousness is through purashcharana, where a mantra is repeated a specific number of times each day for a set period, potentially lasting months or years. This practice magnifies the mantra’s energy, purifies the mind, and removes spiritual impediments.

The practice of japa, or the repetition of a mantra, is foundational in mantra meditation. Initially, the mantra is linked with the breath to stabilize concentration. As familiarity with the mantra increases, it begins to pulse more rapidly and effortlessly in a phase called ajapa japa, where the mantra reverberates continuously without conscious effort. This advanced stage of mantra meditation not only deepens the meditative experience but also integrates the mantra into daily consciousness, making it a constant source of peace and calm.

In conclusion, advanced meditation practices like savikalpa samadhi and nirvikalpa samadhi represent profound depths of meditation that few achieve. Incorporating mantras through practices like purashcharana and japa can significantly enhance and deepen one’s meditation, leading to transformative spiritual growth.

Future Directions in Meditation Research

Emerging Technologies

The integration of emerging technologies into meditation practices is a promising area of research. Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are being explored to create immersive meditation experiences. These technologies can provide guided sessions that adapt to the user’s progress, potentially enhancing the effectiveness of meditation.

Interdisciplinary Approaches

Interdisciplinary approaches are crucial for advancing our understanding of meditation. Combining insights from psychology, neuroscience, and even artificial intelligence can lead to more comprehensive studies. This holistic view can help in identifying the specific mechanisms through which meditation impacts mental and physical health.

Potential for Personalized Meditation Programs

The potential for personalized meditation programs is another exciting direction. By using data from wearable devices and self-reports, customized meditation routines can be developed to meet individual needs. This approach can make meditation more accessible and effective for a broader audience.

Recent evidence has shown that mindfulness meditation training can decrease loneliness and increase daily positive emotion in novices. Moreover, these personalized programs can adapt to changes in the user’s mental state, providing a more tailored experience.

Conclusion

Throughout this article, we explored the nuanced world of mindfulness meditation, unveiling its quintessential role in stress reduction and its broader implications on mental, emotional, and physical health. We delved into various techniques and practical steps for integrating meditation into daily life, overcoming common challenges along the way. The journey through mindfulness meditation not only highlights its efficacy in managing stress and enhancing well-being but also emphasizes its transformative potential on overall quality of life. By embracing mindfulness, individuals gain access to a powerful tool that fosters resilience, emotional balance, and a deeper connection to the present moment.

Meditation reduces stress! Please also review AIHCP’s Meditation Instructor and Stress Management Consultant certification programs and see if they meet your academic and professional goals

 The practice of meditation, particularly mindfulness meditation, has been shown to be an effective tool for stress reduction. By creating a space between our thoughts and our reactions to those thoughts, meditation allows us to witness our mental activity without judgment, thereby reducing the emotional and physical impacts of stress. Regular practice can lead to significant improvements in overall well-being, including better sleep, lower blood pressure, and reduced symptoms of stress-related conditions such as anxiety, depression, and irritable bowel syndrome. The academic and clinical evidence supporting these benefits underscores the importance of incorporating meditation into daily routines for those seeking to manage stress more effectively. As we continue to explore the depths of meditation’s impact on stress, it becomes increasingly clear that this ancient practice holds substantial promise for enhancing modern mental health and well-being.

The significance of mindfulness meditation extends beyond the individual, potentially influencing broader societal health and well-being. As we conclude, it’s clear that mindfulness meditation offers a pathway to a more mindful existence, characterized by increased awareness, acceptance, and a profound understanding of the interconnectedness of all aspects of life. This exploration sparks a call to action for further research and widespread adoption of mindfulness practices, promising a future where mindfulness meditation is not just a personal endeavor but a collective journey towards a more balanced, peaceful, and mindful society.

Please also review AIHCP’s Meditation Instructor Program and its Stress Management Consulting Program.  Both programs are online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification in stress management or meditation instruction.

FAQs

How does meditating relieve stress?

Meditation, particularly mindfulness meditation, creates a space between your thoughts and your reaction to those thoughts. Instead of being swept away by mental activity, the practice of meditation simply invites you to witness what’s happening in your mind without judgment.

What is meditation?

Meditation is a practice where an individual uses a technique, such as mindfulness, or focusing the mind on a particular object, thought, or activity, to train attention and awareness, and achieve a mentally clear and emotionally calm and stable state.

What are the benefits of meditation for stress management?

The benefits of meditation for stress management include reducing stress, controlling anxiety, promoting emotional health, enhancing self-awareness, lengthening attention span, and improving sleep.

How long does it take to see the benefits of meditation?

With regular practice over weeks or months, you can experience significant benefits from meditation, including reduced stress and anxiety, improved emotional health, and better sleep.

Yes, research has shown that meditation may improve symptoms of stress-related conditions, including irritable bowel syndrome, post-traumatic stress disorder, and fibromyalgia.

How does meditation affect the body physically?

Meditation can lower resting heart rate, reduce blood pressure, and improve heart rate variability. It can also help in reducing cortisol levels, which is a stress hormone.

What types of meditation are best for stress relief?

Some of the best types of meditation for stress relief include mindfulness meditation, transcendental meditation, and loving-kindness meditation.

Is it normal to feel discomfort when starting meditation?

Yes, it is common to feel some initial discomfort when starting meditation. This can include physical discomfort from sitting still or mental discomfort from facing your thoughts. With consistent practice, these discomforts often diminish.

 

Additional Resources

“How to Manage Stress with Mindfulness and Meditation”. Mindful Staff. Mindful. Access here

Nash, J. (2022). “13 Ways Meditation Can Help You Relieve Stress (+ 3 Scripts)”. Positive Psychology. Access here

Howlett, K. (2018). “With mindfulness, life’s in the moment”. The Harvard Gazette.  Access here

“Breath meditation: A great way to relieve stress” (2014). Harvard Health Publishing. Access here

Challenging and Encouraging Clients in Counseling

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

To help transform a person to change, attending, listening and responding are key, but the skilled counselor needs to be able to help instigate change or water the seeds of the healing process within a client.  Whether loss and grief, or merely more daily stressors or emotional issues that are holding the client back from living life productively, the counselor needs to know how to coach the client and help the client find that preferred outcome.  This involves not only identifying the goals and actively pushing towards them but also motivating and challenging them.  Like a coach who is able to abstract the best out of their players on the field, a counselor needs to be able to encourage and challenge his/her clients to produce meaningful change.  Some clients respond better, others may be still facing inner turmoil and self esteem issues.  Some clients may be more resilient naturally, while others may need more prodding and gentle and empathetic guidance.  Each client is unique and different but the general ideas within this short blog complement the previous blogs on attending the client and responding to the client.

Challenging and encouraging a client to change is much like a coach trying to get the best of a player on the field

 

Some clients may have zero motivation to be challenged.  They may possess some world view or bias that prevents this change.  Some may be forced to attend counseling and feel no need to change.  This can occur with state mandated counseling or clients forced to attend because of family or spouses.  Some clients may feel motivated simply because of guilt and look to foster a positive change.  Some may simply have an interest in the counseling process and wish to see what happens.  In the best case, one will find a client who understands the critical importance of counseling and the changes that need made.  Regardless of the clients motivation level, it is the purpose of the counselor to help bring the best out of the client. This can be easier said then done.

 

 

 

The Counselor as Coach?

Life coaching in itself is a newer field within the Human Service Field.  It is not clinical or requiring of various licensing but it does promote the idea of healthy change and life styles.  It involves a professional who is trained to motivate, direct and help clients meet end goals.  This involves both encouraging and challenging the client.  Whether it is a weight goal, training goal, dieting goal, or health and life style change, life coaches are inherently trained to help produce change through motivation, encouragement and challenging of their clients.  Counselors, whether pastoral or clinical, working in grief counseling or other mental counseling disciplines, through empathetic listening and responding, should have a vested interest in helping their clients meet change, but some may lack the skills to help motivate the client to change.  As counselors, the client is directed and given options, but is never commanded or forced to change, instead, the client is invited to change through an array of options.  Many times, clients need motivated and encouraged and even challenged to push forward through these options. Many times they may fall and need help getting up.  Again, like a coach in sports, it is the counselor’s profession to not only direct, but also to help the client emotionally and mentally push towards that direction.

Challenging for New Behaviors

According to Egan, it is important to challenge clients to change.  He states,

“Help clients, challenge themselves to change ways of thinking, expressing emotions, and acting them mired in problem situations and prevent them from identifying and developing opportunities…become partners with your clients in helping them challenge themselves to find opportunities in their problems, to discover unused strengths and resources, both internal and external, and to commit themselves to the actions needed to make opportunity development happen (2019, p. 190).

In challenging, Egan emphasizes the importance of the counselor and client relationship which is based on trust and partnership.  A counselor, in the eyes of the client, needs to earn the right to challenge.  Once this is established, the counselor needs to ensure that challenges are presented tentatively but not apologetically, with a balance between not being too harsh but not also too passive.  In addition, counselors need to ensure the challenges are clear and specific.  Challenges also should not make demands or be forceful in nature but provide a structural system of choices.  As the term challenge indicates, it is never easy, so help clients utilize unused strengths to help meet the challenges and the ability to build on successful challenges to meet new ones (2019, p. 220-225).  As Egan points out, the counselor should be a “catalyst for a better future (2019, p. 190)”.

Many times, a counselor has to identify what is preventing the person from being able to face a challenge in life

In challenging clients, many times, they have many inherent issues that are already hampering them with the problem and maybe life in general.  To help clients become more resilient and able to create new behaviors, counselors sometimes need to identify blocks and issues within the client.  Egan lists a variety of target areas that negatively affect a client’s ability to respond to challenges and delay productive and healthy change.  Through attending, listening and responding, a counselor is able to identify certain issues that may restrict the ability of a client to respond effectively to challenges.

The first issue Egan lists are what he refers to as self defeating mindsets that include “assumptions, attitudes, beliefs, values, bias, convictions, inclinations, norms, points of view, perceptions of self and the world, preconceptions and prejudices (2019, p. 190-191)”.   Albert Ellis looked at facing irrational beliefs head on with interventions that would challenge irrational mindsets.  According to Ellis, many individuals have flawed misconceptions on life.  Egan lists a few of these ideals.

  • I must only be liked and loved in life
  • I must always be in control in life
  • I must always have my things done my way or no way
  • I should never have any problems
  • I am a victim and not responsible for any of my issues
  • I will avoid things that are difficult
  • I believe my past dictates what I do in the future
  • I do not need happiness in anything or anyone else

(Egan, 2019, p.191)

Ellis considered these mindsets as impediments to change because when something did happen that was bad, the person would tend to “catastrophize” it and become unable to adjust to the problem or even be remotely open to challenges to face it.  In addition to these mindsets, Egan points out that some individuals embrace in four fallacies that hamper change, as according to Sternberg.  Among those listed by Sternberg were egocentrism and taking into account only one’s own interests, omniscience and thinking one knows everything about the issue, omnipotence and feeling one can do whatever one desires and invulnerability and one will never face true consequences (2019, p.192).  Obviously these four fallacies are undesirable characteristics and whether naive or part of a greater personality disorder, they are issues that can prevent true change in the client.

In addition to mindsets, some individuals may have self defeating emotions and feelings that prevent them from achieving goals.  They may possess low self esteem or poor self image.  They may have fears that prevent them doing greater things.  Others may possess various dysfunctional behaviors that are external in nature.  In essence, the person cannot get out of their own way in life.  Their behavior, unknown to them sometimes, continues to create the issues they are trying to escape. Others may possess discrepancies in what they feel and think in regards to what they say and do and how they view themselves versus how they are truly viewed by others. Other times, individuals can be hampered in making true change or answering challenges because of unused strengths or resources (Egan, 2019, p. 194-197).

Other “Blind Spots” within the client preventing and hampering change can include various levels of unawareness.  This can include being blind to one’s own talents and strengths seen by others but not perceived by the self.   Some individuals may be unaware due to self deception itself, or choosing ignorance.  Some individuals will avoid issues and problems because they simply would rather not know because the truth may be too terrifying.  In helping clients challenge themselves to new behaviors, counselors can open clients to new areas of awareness with simple self questions.

  • What problem am I avoiding?
  • What opportunities am I ignoring?
  • What am I overlooking?
  • What do I refuse to see?
  • How am I being dishonest with myself?

(Egan, 2019, p. 204)

As the counselor, but also a coach, it is important to help clients identify these issues and understand why they are unable to move forward.

Helping Clients Identify These Issues and Healthy Challenging

Carl Rogers promoted a empathetic approach. In helping others face hard realities, a fact based empathetic approach is key.  Showing patience and empathy and carefully presenting the issue with assertiveness but compassion is key in helping the client awaken to certain issues.  Of course, timing, tone, and words all play a key role in helping the client become acceptive.  The counselor cannot come across as afraid to address issues but not confrontational.  Sometimes, certain words, may offset a client or labels, and the counselor will need to navigate why and how to discuss the issue.  Also within this process, the counselor cannot simply give a set of directions but present options.  Finally, again, the counselor needs to present the new awareness and challenge to the client without judgment but in a way that creates self awareness and pushes forward change.

Counselors help motivate clients to change through empathy and supplying the client with appropriate level challenges and options to meet

When discovering hindering blind spots and issues, the counselor needs to become a detective in some respects before he/she can truly become a coach.  What is the client truly trying to say, or hinting at, or half saying (Egan, 2019, p.206)?  Counselors need to help clients understand their implicit thoughts and words and make them become more explicit.  In doing so, counselors can help clients understand themes in their stories, make connections with what may be missing and share educated hunches in feedback (Egan, 2019, p. 207-210).  Counselors can through their hunches, help clients see the bigger picture, dig deeper in the story, draw conclusions, open up more, see overlooked aspects, or even own their own story (Egan, 2019, p. 210-211).

 

 

Of course how these opinions and disclosures are presented to the client are critical.  They are part of the art of counseling and also the product of good coaching. A good coach is able to present a deficiency in a player’s form or approach and help turn into change and better performance.  This however involves not tearing down the player, but building the player up and giving the player the tools necessary to improve.  As an teacher and encourager, a coach is able to transform the problem and help the player have success on the field.  Likewise, an counselor needs to be able to coach his/her client through approaching a weakness and being able to challenge the person to overcome it and make it a strength in the field of life.  Strength Based Therapies as proposed by Pattoni, (2012) help clients label their strengths and identify them and utilize them in variety of goal setting environments. The process looks to expand hope but also create autonomy in facing issues.

When providing factful information and options to a client, a counselor needs to remain empathetic and tactful in delivering the news.  Some news can be shocking to a client and the client may need time or understanding in the process (Egan, 2019, p. 213).  Hence Egan recommends sometimes sharing one’s disclosures and challenges, but he recommends it to be used with caution.  He recommends being sure to use it sparingly, appropriately and culturally aware.  Timing can be key.  One does not wish to have one’s own disclosure to become a distraction (2019, p.215).

As a counselor and coach, how one gives suggestions and recommendations for better improvements are critical.  Inspired first with empathy and secondly aware of internal issues of the client, a counselor needs to approach and challenge the client without confronting but at the same time presenting clear and factual options to promote change.  These challenges are not easy, so like a good coach, a counselor needs to find ways to provide encouragement during the change process.  Counselors should invite clients to challenge themselves and help them identify specific challenges that will make the best changes.  Like a sports coach, while identifying any issue, the counselor needs to encourage and identify strengths to overcome a particular challenge.  Furthermore, the challenge needs to be evaluated as not to be too intense to be self-demeaning to the client.  Sometimes, success is built upon.  So when identifying challenges, the counselor needs to present them in a fashion that leads to success (Egan, 2019, p. 220).

As a counselor-coach, a counselor identifies changes that are essential and helps the client identify change.  Some clients are more resistant to change.  In another blog, we discuss the Client Change Scale which lists the levels of difficulty for a client to accept change or implement it based on their stage.  It is the counselor’s job to help the client see the necessity of change and help the client find it through encouragement and help.  Some changes will be first order, or deal with the current situation, or others may be second order and more long term or permanent.  This depends on the nature of the issue and the needs of the client.  The counselor like a coach, helps the client implement goals, strategies and plans to implement the change.   The counselor helps the client see his/her possible self, delve into creativity,  and think differently (Egan, 2019, p. 315-318).  In essence, the counselor helps the client see a better future, set goals to attain it and help them put it into action (Egan, 2019, p. 314).

 

Conclusion

Counselors are like coaches.  They need to challenge their clients by identifying weaknesses and help clients overcome them with appropriate challenges.  This involves active attending and responding to the client and understanding the inner challenges the client faces.  The counselor then is able to better become a catalyst of change in the clients life with setting appropriate challenges to make the client a better person in the field of life.

Please also review AIHCP’s multiple counseling certifications in Grief Counseling, Christian Counseling, Life Coaching, Anger Management, Stress Management and Crisis Intervention Counseling

Please also review AIHCP’s Grief Counseling Certification, as well as its Christian Counseling Certification.  Other mental health certifications for both pastoral and clinical counselors, or those engaged in the Human Service Fields, include Stress Management, Life Coaching, Anger Management, and Crisis Intervention. The programs are online and self study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification in any of these fields.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reference

Egan, G. & Reese. R. (2019).”The Skilled Helper: A Problem Management and Opportunity-Development Approach to Helping” (11th Ed). Cengage

Additional Resources

Sutton, J. (2022). “Motivation in Counseling: 9 Steps to Engage Your Clients”. Positive Psychology.  Access here

Sutton, J. (2022). “How to Perform Strengths-Based Therapy and Counseling”. Positive Psychology. Access here

“The Skill of Challenge in Counselling”(2019). Counseling Tutor. Access here

Voitilainen, L. et, al. (2018). “Empathy, Challenge, and Psychophysiological Activation in Therapist–Client Interaction”. Front Psychol. 2018; 9: 530. National Library of Medicine. Access here