Kid strategy of the week:
Things I Can and Cannot Control: Draw a circle, and inside the circle, explore all the things that the client can control in their lives (e.g., their behavior, how and when they ask for help, how they treat themselves and others). In the blank space outside the circle, list things that the client cannot control in their lives (e.g., whether they go back to school in the fall, other people’s behavior). Process what the activity was like for them, as well as how recognizing what is and isn’t in their control could impact their life moving forward.
Sample Progress Note: The focus of this session was… The therapist helped client explore aspects of their life that are and are not within their control. Client was (able to/had difficulty) identify aspects of their life that are in their control (e.g., x, y, z), aspects of their life that are not in their control (e.g., a, b c), and how understanding the difference could impact their decisions.
Couples strategy of the week:
Brainstorming Date Ideas: Help your couple think of ways to intentionally connect through quality time together. Make lists of dates in different categories: free, cheap, more expensive, at home, outdoors, etc. To take this one step further, the couple could write each date idea on colored notecards or popsicle sticks for them to select later on (see example below).
Sample Progress Note: The focus of this session was… The therapist helped the couple identify ways to intentionally connect through spending quality time together. The couple was (able to/had difficulty) identify a variety of activities that could help them connect, and they reported that the activity was (helpful/challenging/boring).
Adult strategy of the week:
Identifying Cognitive Distortions: Everyone experiences cognitive distortions at some point; they’re really common! However, these ways of thinking can misinform us about reality and influence our emotions and behaviors in ways we don’t like. Review the list of cognitive distortions, identify cognitive distortions that are common for you, and try to think of ways to adjust the thoughts so that they are more neutral and accurate. http://www.pacwrc.pitt.edu/curriculum/313_MngngImpctTrmtcStrssChldWlfrPrfssnl/hndts/HO15_ThnkngAbtThnkng.pdf
Sample Progress Note: The focus of this session was… The therapist provided psycho-education about cognitive distortions and helped client identify ways to reframe and challenge their cognitive distortions. Client reported that the psycho-education was (interesting/unhelpful), and they were (able/not able) to identify ways to reframe and challenge their cognitive distortions.
Mindfulness/meditation of the week:
Walking Meditation (Source)
For this meditation, find a quiet place indoors where there is space to walk in small circles, or choose a path or quiet open space outdoors.
We’ll begin standing. Close your eyes with your feet hips width distance apart, and your arms hanging loose by your sides.
Wherever you are, root your feet to the ground, and feel the opposing energy that transfers
from the earth, up through your spine and out through the crown of your head.
Notice how the more you press down into the earth, the taller you feel
Let breath awareness guide your attention in towards your body. Focus on the connection
between your feet and the ground, and sensation in your legs and low body.
Spend a few cycles of breath here, simply noticing what is.
Where the body is. How the body feels.
With your eyes still closed, slowly shift back and forth a few times from your heels to the balls of your feet.
Notice what arises in your awareness with this small movement.
Then return to neutral, get centered. And shift side to side. Just a small sway of your weight
from the right foot to the left, back and forth.
Or from the outer edge of the foot towards the inner arches.
Notice what arises in your awareness with this small movement.
Come back to center, and focus your energy again on noticing the connection between your
feet and the earth. The sensations of your lower body, your thighs, knees, calves, shins,
heels, inner arches and ankles, the soles of your feet and your toes.
Maintain this awareness of your felt sense of the body as you slowly open your eyes.
Still standing, for a few cycles of breath, as you take in the information of the body
In spite of the distractions of all that you see.
As you are ready, with body awareness, begin slowly walking forward.
Take as much time as you can with each movement, and each part of every movement
Notice all the detail you can.
The shift of your weight forward.
The shift from heel towards toes
The lift of the heel
The lift of the foot
The movement of your foot through space.
The placement of the foot
The shift of weight
(pause 3-5 breaths)
As you move through space, walking forwards
How is your intent to walk forward
Related to the movement itself?
Which comes first?
The lift of the foot, or the intention to lift the foot?
Which part of the process is intentional?
Or is the body acting on its own?
Walking Guided Meditation Script
As you walk forward through the space around you
Curious about the process
Curious about the movement itself
At which point does the shift of weight begin?
At which point does the lifting of the foot begin?
At which point does it end?
At which point does the lifting of the foot become the placing of the foot?
(pause 3-5 breaths)
As you slowly step forward
Notice when the body is still and when it is moving,
And allow for the boundaries between movement and stillness to break down.
(pause 3-5 breaths)
As you slowly step forward,
Notice the separation between movement, and awareness of that movement
Notice the connection between movement, and awareness of that movement
Allow for the boundaries between body and mind to break down
(pause 3-5 breaths)
And you slowly walk forward,
At which point are you in contact with the earth, and when are you not?
Is there ever a point in which you are not held by the earth?
Allow for the boundaries between your body and the elements around you to break down.
(pause 3-5 breaths)
Continue with the movement,
With awareness
With contemplation
Allow the form body, its movement through the emptiness of space
And the dance between the two
To show you what’s real and what is not
Continue until you’ve reached the end of your path, or until your time is up.
Spend a few moments standing still.
Close your eyes, and come back to the sensation of feet rooted to the ground
Allow yourself to feel held,
Notice the energy that the earth gives back to you when you surrender to the earth, and release your heaviness down.
Notice your breath
And then slowly, open your eyes.
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