perspectives mental health counseling

March’s Mindfulness Exercise

~ JB ~ Leave a comment

Mindfulness involves observing and accepting the things around and within us in the present moment, without judgment.  In therapy, Johanna may involve mindfulness skills to build awareness of various issues and to develop coping strategies to reach optimal wellness.   The exercise below is not individualized to your needs as it may be in therapy, but is rather intended as a general exercise that you may find useful.

March’s Mindfulness Exercise:

 

When you wake up in the morning, what is the first thing you are aware of? When you go to bed at night, what is the last thing you are aware of? For the next week, try to increase your awareness at either the start or end of your day. Notice your breathing, and check in with how you are feeling physically, emotionally, and what thoughts cross your mind.

Are there habits you’d like to change at either the start or end of your day? This mindfulness practice could be the initial building block to making change!

This is intended to increase your awareness and acceptance of your own thoughts and feelings at the start or end of your day. If you are a current client in therapy, please feel free to bring in your observations to your next appointment!

NOTE: This is not intended to replace therapy.  Please contact Johanna at (585)406-3012 if you are interested in engaging in counseling for optimal wellness.

February’s Mindfulness Exercise

~ JB ~ Leave a comment

Mindfulness involves observing and accepting the things around and within us in the present moment, without judgment.  In therapy, Johanna may involve mindfulness skills to build awareness of various issues and to develop coping strategies to reach optimal wellness.   The exercise below is not individualized to your needs as it may be in therapy, but is rather intended as a general exercise that you may find useful.

February’s Mindfulness Exercise:

Often, when we get to February, it can feel like winter is dragging on. How does the weather impact your mood?

Take a moment to look outside (or go outside, if your winter jacket is handy). What colors do you see? What shapes? Where do you see movement outside, or stillness? What are the clouds doing in the sky? As you are observing with your eyes what you see, also begin to observe your breathing. Check in with yourself, and notice (without judging) what kind of thoughts are popping into your head. Notice how you are feeling emotionally, and how you are feeling physically.

This is intended to increase your awareness and acceptance of your own thoughts and feelings as you consider the weather outside your door. If you are a current client in therapy, please feel free to bring in your observations to your next appointment!

NOTE: This is not intended to replace therapy.  Please contact Johanna at (585)406-3012 if you are interested in engaging in counseling for optimal wellness.

January’s Mindfulness Exercise

~ JB ~ Leave a comment

Mindfulness involves observing and accepting the things around and within us in the present moment, without judgment.  In therapy, Johanna may involve mindfulness skills to build awareness of various issues and to develop coping strategies to reach optimal wellness.   The exercise below is not individualized to your needs as it may be in therapy, but is rather intended as a general exercise that you may find useful.

January’s Mindfulness Exercise:

It’s a new year! This month we will be mindful of our hopes and fears for the coming year. Take out a sheet of paper and number it 1-10 on one half of the paper, and 1-10 again on the other half of the paper. Writer down ten fears you have for 2017, and ten hopes.

Then set the paper aside and begin taking slow, deep breaths in and out. What did you feel as you were writing down the fears? The hopes? What are you feeling now? Pay attention to your thoughts and feelings (physical and emotional). Try not to judge or change them. If you find yourself becoming anxious or distracted by thoughts, return to your breathing.

 

This is intended to increase your awareness and acceptance of your own thoughts and feelings as you consider the coming year. If you are a current client in therapy, please feel free to bring in your hopes and fears for exploration at your next appointment!

NOTE: This is not intended to replace therapy.  Please contact Johanna at (585)406-3012 if you are interested in engaging in counseling for optimal wellness.

Warm Holiday Wishes

~ JB ~ Leave a comment

To all my clients, colleagues, and friends:

I’m sending you warm holiday wishes as we head towards celebrations, towards the end of 2016 and the beginning of 2017. I’m sending warm wishes to those who are looking forward to the celebrations, the food and gifts and time with loved ones; those who are overwhelmed with the stress of holiday cooking, shopping and job requirements; those who are missing a loved one or are alone at this time of year; those who are struggling to be kind to themselves; and all of us as we step towards a new year.

As always, should you find that you are having difficulties this time of year, please don’t hesitate to call or email to set up an appointment. I look forward to seeing you soon; you are welcome in my office, however you are and whatever you carry with you!

With all my best,

Johanna

December’s Mindfulness Exercise

~ JB ~ Leave a comment

Mindfulness involves observing and accepting the things around and within us in the present moment, without judgment.  In therapy, Johanna may involve mindfulness skills to build awareness of various issues and to develop coping strategies to reach optimal wellness.   The exercise below is not individualized to your needs as it may be in therapy, but is rather intended as a general exercise that you may find useful.

December’s Mindfulness Exercise:

This month’s mindfulness exercise involves a bit of reflection. Take out whatever calendar you use for planning purposes – it may be on your phone, email, or a paper planner. Look through each month of the past year and for each month, write down one word that comes to mind. The word could be related to a feeling (“happiness,” “frustration”); an event (“birthday”); or anything else that comes to mind.

Then take a moment to look through your list of words. Breathe slowly and deeply as you reflect on the past year. What thoughts and feelings do you notice? Are you holding tension physically, and if so, where? Try to have awareness of these things without judging them or changing them.

 

This is intended to increase your awareness and acceptance of your own thoughts and feelings as you reflect on the end of 2016.

NOTE: This is not intended to replace therapy.  Please contact Johanna at (585)406-3012 if you are interested in engaging in counseling for optimal wellness.

November’s Mindfulness Exercise

~ JB ~ Leave a comment

Mindfulness involves observing and accepting the things around and within us in the present moment, without judgment.  In therapy, Johanna may involve mindfulness skills to build awareness of various issues and to develop coping strategies to reach optimal wellness.   The exercise below is not individualized to your needs as it may be in therapy, but is rather intended as a general exercise that you may find useful.

November’s Mindfulness Exercise:

The holidays are coming. For this month’s exercise, we will do a free- write activity. Take a pen and paper and five minutes to write down your thoughts about the holidays. What do you feel emotionally about the holidays? What thoughts are popping into your head? How do you feel physically as you think about them? Try to write for five minutes without stopping (unless, of course, your hand hurts – then take a break!). After you have written your thoughts down, take a few deep breaths. How are you feeling right now? Try to notice without judgment.

This activity is intended to increase your awareness and acceptance of your own thoughts and feelings about the holidays coming up.

NOTE: This is not intended to replace therapy.  Please contact Johanna at (585)406-3012 if you are interested in engaging in counseling for optimal wellness.

Scheduling appointments just got easier.

~ JB ~ Leave a comment

Johanna is now offering client self-scheduling through the client portal! You can set up your next appointment by logging into the client portal and choosing your appointment time.

Be sure to ask Johanna about it in your next session, or feel free to call (585)406-3012 or email jbondperspectives@gmail.com with questions.

Scheduling appointments just got easier for everyone!

October’s Mindfulness Exercise

~ JB ~ Leave a comment

Mindfulness involves observing and accepting the things around and within us in the present moment, without judgment.  In therapy, Johanna may involve mindfulness skills to build awareness of various issues and to develop coping strategies to reach optimal wellness.   The exercise below is not individualized to your needs as it may be in therapy, but is rather intended as a general exercise that you may find useful.

October’s Mindfulness Exercise:

This month’s exercise focuses on the end of the work day. At the end of each workday for the next week, practice taking five deep breaths and checking in with yourself using the following questions:

What level of distress am I feeling (1 – 10, with 10 being the most intense)?

What emotions am I holding?

What am I feeling physically?

What thoughts are lingering from today?

Try to notice each of these things without judgment. Take a moment to sit with these observations without changing them before walking out the door. At the end of the week, notice if (and how) this has impacted your daily experience at work and at home.

This is intended to increase your awareness and acceptance of your own thoughts and feelings. You may also notice that this helps with the transition time between work and home.

NOTE: This is not intended to replace therapy.  Please contact Johanna at (585)406-3012 if you are interested in engaging in counseling for optimal wellness.

Using Counseling to Build an Epidemic of Connection

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In her latest Huffington Post blog, Johanna writes about how we can use counseling to help minimize the epidemic of loneliness, addressing issues of shame and isolation by challenging them with acceptance. She writes about hope for a future epidemic of connection, beginning in how we communicate with those around us.

To learn more about this or to set up your first counseling appointment, email Johanna at jbondperspectives@gmail.com or call (585)406-3012.

September’s Mindfulness Exercise

~ JB ~ Leave a comment

Mindfulness involves observing and accepting the things around and within us in the present moment, without judgment.  In therapy, Johanna may involve mindfulness skills to build awareness of various issues and to develop coping strategies.   The exercise below is not individualized to your needs as it may be in therapy, but is rather intended as a general exercise that you may find useful.

September’s mindfulness exercise:

As we head towards another changing season, take a moment to be aware of what the transition from summer to fall means for you.  Mindfulness is the nonjudgmental awareness of the present moment, so try to do this without judging the thoughts or feelings that come up for you.  What has this time of year been like for you in the past? What do you hope it will be like this year? As you notice changes in the outside world, what do you notice about yourself? Take a moment to reflect and write down your thoughts, without judging them as good or bad.

NOTE: This is not intended to replace therapy.  Please contact Johanna at (585)406-3012 if you are interested in individual or group therapy.