Today, I am taking some time to reflect on one of the most powerful mindfulness practices I have ever encountered…the process of orientation.

It’s a very simple practice, and it’s often the way I start a counseling session.  I invite clients to ground themselves in the space by noticing the room around them.  I encourage them to take in the room, using their senses.  Often, this has to do with taking in visual stimuli.  Clients may find something in the room that calls to them, like the sunlight outside the window or the colors of the leaves.  Tactile orientation can also be useful.  Some people are very touch-oriented, and may be drawn to the texture of a cushion or the warmth of a tea cup in their hand.

I encourage clients to attend to pleasurable things, and notice how they feel in their bodies, when they pay attention.  People often report a release of tension or sense of ease.  This tends to get a counseling session off to a good start.  If therapy begins from a place of relaxation, clients are more likely to have the resources to handle difficult material.

Dissociation often leaves people feeling “stuck” in their own inner world, isolated from others and the world around them.  The inner world may be a stagnant and constricted place. At the same time, it can seem preferable to focusing outward, especially if a client’s outside world was once a threatening place.

One key to healing is developing a felt sense that the world is not always threatening, and that we do not have to be on guard all the time.  Attending to pleasurable stimuli can allow people to encounter safety, and get a break from the traumatic memories that may be running in circles around their minds. Some people have been dissociated so much, for so long, that the simple act of noticing their surroundings in the presence of a supportive person can be transformative.  Sometimes, this alone can contribute to noticeable healing progress in a short period of time.

Spring is coming.  It will soon be time for opportunities to walk with clients by the creek in Boulder, and notice the sound of the rushing water.  I am really enjoying the new Denver space, especially the loft at People House.  It’s full of comfortable pillows and plenty of space to explore.

2014 has been a great year, so far.  I am looking forward to the coming spring with hope and curiosity.