The Big Book of ACT Metaphors: A Practitioner's Guide to Experiential Exercises and Metaphors in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy by Jill A. Stoddard & Niloofar Afari

Author:Jill A. Stoddard & Niloofar Afari [Stoddard, Jill A. & Afari, Niloofar]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Psychology, Clinical Psychology, General, Behaviorism, Psychotherapy, Movements
ISBN: 9781608825318
Google: xKgfAwAAQBAJ
Publisher: New Harbinger Publications
Published: 2014-04-01T00:00:00+00:00

Going Along with the Process

(Manuela O’Connell, 2013)

The exercise Going Along with the Process uses breathing as a vehicle to target awareness, along with acceptance, defusion, and self-as-context. This exercise is helpful when you want to shift a client’s focus from one aspect of an experience to awareness of the whole process. It’s especially useful for clients with high levels of anxiety or panic, providing an avenue to expose them to all aspects of the process of anxiety or panic.

Get comfortable in your chair and take a few deep breaths. Go ahead and close your eyes if you’re willing; otherwise, you can softly focus your attention on a spot in front of you. Notice how your body fits into the chair and how your hands are resting on your lap or the arms of the chair. Notice any sounds, perhaps the ticking of the clock or the hum of the air conditioner. Gently bring your awareness to the physical sensations throughout your body, checking in on your feet, legs, thighs, buttocks, back, neck, arms, hands, fingers, and head.

Now bring your awareness especially to the changing pattern of sensations that comes with breathing. Focus your attention on the place in your body where you can be in touch with your breathing most strongly, the place where you feel the sensations of breathing most vividly and distinctly. Perhaps that place is in your chest, or maybe it’s in your belly. Notice the sensations of movement, just as they are. With openness and curiosity, gently bring your attention to the feeling of breathing and how it moves your body. There’s no need to try to control your breath in any way; simply let your body breathe by itself.

Now I’d like you to focus your attention on the mild and subtle sensations of each in-breath as the air comes into your body, allowing yourself to go along with the changing physical sensations of each in-breath. As best as you can, stay in touch with each of the sensations associated with air coming into your body, from the beginning of the in-breath until your lungs are filled to capacity, moment by moment. Explore with openness and curiosity how each moment of the in-breath feels. Is there something new you can find in each moment of the whole process of the in-breath by going along with it? Allow the experience of the in-breath to unfold. Each new in-breath is another chance to explore and investigate these sensations, moment by moment.

Now gently bring your awareness to the sensations of that turning point between the in-breath and out-breath. Is it a moment? Is it a process? How does it feel? Focus your awareness on the mild sensations of that part of the breathing cycle. With each breath you have a new opportunity to allow your attention to settle and explore the sensations associated with the change from in-breath to out-breath. Simply allow that experience to unfold.

Now gently bring your attention to the sensations of the out-breath. Focus your awareness on the out-breath and go along with each of its sensations.

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