One of the distinguishing features of our practice at Lotus Speech & Wellness is that we incorporate principles of mindfulness into our speech therapy sessions. This may sound interesting in theory, but what exactly does that mean? Working to achieve functional gains is one of the primary goals of therapy, however we as therapists must slow down to ensure we are fully present with the client in that moment. If we are always caught up in taking data or directing an exercise, we may miss those in-between moments that can be equally as valuable.
There are certainly structured mindfulness exercises we will lead during sessions (one example is a seated body scan), but there are also many more subtle ways we weave the threads of mindfulness into the overall time spent with our clients.
Here are a few points that may shed some light on what this means:
Listen. There are some days when a client may be highly motivated to engage in an exercise or work on refining a strategy they are using. But there are also the days when they may need to release their frustrations and feelings about their current situation, and it can be equally as healing for us to provide the space for them to do just that.
Acknowledge. Often after a stroke or brain injury, or with a diagnosis of a degenerative condition like Parkinson’s or dementia, the client may be experiencing a sense of loss. Speech therapists do a wonderful job of motivating their clients by remaining positive, however taking the time to acknowledge the changes they are going through and the emotions associated with those changes can be incredibly validating for them. Of course, we always refer to a psychologist or mental health counselor for full psychological services; collaboration is key!
Ground. Katherine and I are both trained in various mindfulness meditation and yoga techniques that help clients ground in the present moment by focusing on breath and physical sensation. We built Lotus Speech & Wellness to create a space to combine these principles with our backgrounds in providing skilled speech therapy to work with you in a holistic, person-centered environment.
I hope these ideas helped clarify what we mean by incorporating mindfulness into our practice, and if any of these thoughts resonate with you, please feel free to contact us to chat further.