As we become more trauma aware in our society, whether it’s in the wake of the pandemic, a growing awareness of racial, gender, or identity based trauma, a deeper understanding of the nervous system, or an awareness of adverse childhood events, many practitioners and facilitators of mindfulness have grown more nervous about teaching, fearful that they may trigger students. As a therapist and mindfulness teacher, I’ve been studying the science of mindfulness, and the practice of it, with clients and students, and want to offer some guidance and even scripts for when words may fail us in challenging moments. While these ideas are just a starting point, I hope these tips and scripts can help you and your students feel more empowered and safe in your practice.
8 Tips and Scripts for Trauma-Informed Mindfulness Teaching 1. Pre-orient Beforehand:Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms can arise from scenarios that are unpredictable. When we make our lessons as predictable as possible, this helps students feel safe because they know what’s coming next.
Try: “I’ll invite you to join me in this activity. We’re going to focus on breathing in for seven and out to 11 for the next…
