I conducted my own rendition of the “Notes from the Future” workshop for some of my fellow clinicians here in my agency. This activity stood out to me due to its purpose of connecting to self. Those of us who work with survivors of interpersonal violence and sexual assault often see our clients so disconnected from themselves as a result of their trauma and may disengage from our own bodies to be able to assist our clients. We may not recognize how we remain in fight or flight even after clocking out of work.
To support staff with grounding in their bodies and being present with themselves, I provided a brief guided meditation prior to us creating together. I invited them to take note of the sensations they feel and how they perceive their immediate environment, noticing any tension and discomfort before releasing it. We also envisioned a safe place, such as a place where we might want to go for a vacation, and the feelings, emotions, and experiences we may have in that place. This served to connect them back to what they enjoy and look forward to so that they can remain more present in themselves. It also encouraged everyone to realign with their bodies and not just their minds, which then helped them in the art activity that had followed.
After the workshop, a common review was how grounding it was. To my surprise, everyone’s favorite part was the guided meditation. One of the interns claimed that she was able to let her mind become blank. One of the clinicians allowed herself to drift off into a short slumber, expressing that the space allowed her to quiet her mind and relax enough to let herself rest.
They requested that we do this activity again with the rest of our staff as it may benefit them as well. I was glad that my colleagues felt inspired about the activity and were considering some guided meditation for their clients. Because the activity was so well-received, I feel confident in sharing this with my own clients as well. It seemed to help my coworkers both regulate and feel hopeful, which would be very useful for the clients we see.
