My journey meditations
Driving to my psychotherapy placements was a big part of my training as a therapist. Both of my placements, in Market Harborough and Nottingham, involved long journeys, and the journey itself was an important part of my preparation for being with clients.
That all changed in March 2020. Lockdown meant no more long drives, and for a while no client work at all. Once the practice moved online in May, I realised that my journey from kitchen to laptop wasn’t able to replace the 60 plus minutes of driving. This space had afforded me the time to know where I was, how I was, before I spent time with my clients. Our capacity to be alongside clients relies on our ability to recognise what we feel, and who the feelings belong to. Without the time to unpack myself and review my inner landscape, I wasn’t prepared for client work. I needed something to replace my journey, and not just my journey in. Returning to busy family life only a few feet away meant I needed to be able to set my work aside safely. I needed the return journey to examine my state, the events that had happened, and reflect on what needed to be explored, put down or brought to supervision.
To help with this, I created my journey meditations. A set of questions interspersed with breathing, to take me into the space for client work and back out again. The questions mirrored the mental processes I would go through whilst in my car, but in a shorter format. I use them every time I see clients, and they have become invaluable. I share mine here in the hope that it may help support other therapists who have had a similar experience.
For now, I continue to work from home. I continue to use the journey meditations to help me get ready. If you have also been struggling with the transition between work and home, when they are now in the same place, I invite you to reflect on your old journey. What did that space and time offer you, how could you shape your own set of meditations?
Happy travelling, and safe journey.
The journey in:
*Breathe*
How are you feeling?
First responses, don’t worry about why or thinking it away. What is your current state of mind and body?
*Breathe*
How have you felt?
Events to be considered, positive and negative, where they left you. How are they impacting you and your capacity today?
*Breathe*
Look within
What needs are to be acknowledged? What shifts in thinking and feeling would help? What actions are needed? How does this serve your truth?
*Breathe*
Look without
Notice your environment. What has changed? What is calling to your attention?
*Breathe*
Be at peace
Let go of the unresolved if it isn’t necessary. Ground yourself. Notice the change since you started. Feel yourself as you are, without judgement. Know you are enough.
The return:
*Breathe*
What just happened?
Process how you responded and were impacted – inquire and be curious
*Breathe*
Where has it left me?
What am I carrying? What needs to happen so I can put it down? Recurrence?
*Breathe*
What am I returning to?
The reality of moving in bigger circles and acting more
*Breathe*
How can I hold that?
The parts of me and my life, are they fitting well? What are my self-care needs?
*Breathe*
Be at peace
Let go of the unresolved. Attend to your support networks. Reconnect and share your experience. Feel your needs and express them. Know you are enough.