Teaching mindfulness skills in a trauma-informed manner

Note: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction is a pre-requisite

with Trish Magyari, MS, LCPC, NCC, RYT-200

 

Youth with elevated ACES scores, traumatic stress symptoms, or even full PTSD are likely to be present in every mindfulness group. They experience a number of challenges to developing mindfulness skills stemming from the primary effect of traumatic stress on the brain, namely chronic and easily triggered fight/flight/freeze reactivity. Yet there is also growing research and clinical experience revealing that those with trauma histories can master and greatly benefit from mindfulness meditation and skills, especially when practices are taught using trauma-informed principles.  It is most prudent and effective therefore to deliver all mindfulness interventions this manner—in which how practices are introduced, delivered, and processed are key elements to the trauma-informed approach.

 Utilizing a robust evidenced-based and theoretical framework, this practical training will delineate a method of delivering mindfulness meditations, mindfulness practices and mindfulness-based interventions in a trauma-informed manner. General principles will cover the entire process of a mindfulness approach including: creating a trauma-informed environment; introducing mindfulness practices; creating resources and supports for at-risk participants; teaching participants ways to self-regulate during mindfulness meditations; delivering practices; modulating silence; sequencing and choosing meditations; adapting instructions to include trauma-informed options and choices; using invitations rather than directives; the use of ritual and structure; identifying participants who may need additional support; addressing distress; and delivering trauma-informed mindfulness retreats. The guidelines and principals shared will be relevant for general classroom or community groups as well as for trauma-specific groups.

This experiential workshop includes lecture and discussion on applying a trauma-informed theoretical framework to mindfulness meditation and everyday mindfulness skills; a brief review of the evidence-base; experiential practices: trauma-informed meditations (sitting with the breath; mindfulness of difficult emotions; and body scan); and practice teaching brief mindfulness meditations in a trauma-informed manner.