Core Principles of Meditation for Therapy

Introduction xi Part I: Theoretical Foundations 1 1 Return to Emptiness 3 Core Principle 1: Learn from What Is and What Is Not. 2 The Changing Self 15 Core Principle 2: Attune to the Natural Flow of Change. Part II: Neuroscience 27 3 The Inner Thread: Effects of All Forms of Meditation 29 Core Principle 3: Meditation Has a Dual Effect: Calm Alertness 4 Variations: Different Forms of Meditation 39 Core Principle 4: There Are Different Forms of Meditation. Pick the Suitable One for Your Client. Part III: Tools of Meditation 49 5 Attention 51 Core Principle 5: Train Attention to Enhance Meditation and Improve Therapy Outcomes. 6 Sensory Awareness 63 Core Principle 6: Attune Your Senses to Enhance Self-Awareness. 7 Body Movement and the Mind-Body Link 77 Core Principle 7: The Mind and Body Are Linked. Meditative Movement of the Body Can Elicit a Meditative State of Mind. Part IV: Meditation Instructions 109 8 Focus Meditations 111 Core Principle 8: Narrow Your Focus to Cultivate Stability, Regulation, Tranquility, and Self-Control. 9 Open-Focus Meditation: Mindfulness 119 Core Principle 9: Be Mindful in the Present Moment to Attune to Thoughts, Feelings, and Behaviors. 10 No-Focus Meditation: Emptiness and Letting Be 133 Core Principle 10: Clear Your Mind. Invite the Natural Free Flow of Potential to Emerge. Part V: Applications 143 11 Cultivating Happiness through Compassion and Gratitude 145 Core Principle 11: Nurture Happiness by Practicing Compassion and Gratitude. 12 Integrating Meditation into Therapy 159 Core Principle 12: Integrate Meditation into Most Forms of Therapy as an Adjunct or Stand-alone Method. 13 Meditations for Stress 167 Core Principle 13: Meditation Alters the Physical, Emotional, and Cognitive Components of Stress. Practice It to Calm, Manage, and Relieve Stress. 14 Meditative Regulation of Emotions 173 Core Principle 14: The Paradox of Meditative Regulation Is That You Gain Control by Letting Go. 15 Meditations for Depression 181 Core Principle 15: Meditation Can Help to Activate a Depressed Nervous System, Transforming Negative Rumination into Broader Awareness and Deeper Compassion. 16 Meditations for Bipolar Disorder 191 Core Principle 16: Use Meditation along with Medication to Rebalance the Nervous System, Strengthen Emotional Regulation, and Improve Relationships in Clients with Bipolar Disorder. 17 Meditations for Anxiety 201 Core Principle 17: Counter the Negative Anticipation toward the Future Found in Anxiety Disorders. Center the Client in the Present Moment. 18 Meditations for Trauma 211 Core Principle 18: Train the Mind and Brain after Trauma to Elicit Calm, Build Resilience, and Rediscover Well-being. 19 Meditations for Substance Abuse 221 Core Principle 19: Rewire the Reward Pathway of the Brain to Go beyond Pleasure and Pain and Find Meaning in Life without Drugs. 20 Conclusions 229 Core Principle 20: Sculpt Your Own Life through Regular Meditation as You Discover that Enlightened Well-being Is Here and Now. References 231 About the Authors 241 Author Index 243 Subject Index 247