Practicing Mindfulness in Nature by Linda Cammarata, RN, RYT
December 11, 2013 at 12:23 pm | Posted in Mind Body Medicine, Mindfulness, Self-Regulation, Stress Management | Leave a comment
A very natural and simple way to experience mindfulness is to spend time in nature on a daily basis. Learning to take the time to listen to falling rain, observe the colors of nature as they appear to your eyes, and smell the air, sea, or earth are opportunities for cultivating your ability to relax into the present moment. Being in the moment allows you to become aware of the many beautiful changes occurring during every moment of your precious life.
Observing the light as it changes from daylight to dusk can influence and balance your natural biological rhythms. Exploring your own internal nature can teach you how your energy changes with your moods, activities, what you focus upon, and with your intentions. Being in nature can profoundly drop you right back into the present moment when you’re paying close attention.
The high stimulation of modern culture has impaired our ability to self-regulate, connect to nature, and create the space needed to learn the art of being in the present moment. We are overly stimulated by excessive light, food, sugar, caffeine, noise, and technology. This can be depleting, leaving us feeling empty, and needing to nourish ourselves. As we engage our senses, we return to the nature of our own human body, the internal natural environment that is always here for us; we learn that self-regulation can occur without excessive external stimulation. Taking the time to reconnect with nature may help us relieve our stress, inspire hope, balance our energy, and infuse joy into our life. I invite you to go outside today for a breath of fresh air to relax and take a look into the natural world that surrounds you and is also always there, inside of you.
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(with contributing editors Heather Butts, JD, MPH, MA, Larry Cammarata, Ph.D., and Ed Glauser, M.Ed., N.C.C., LPC)
Stopping, Calming, Resting, and Healing by Larry Cammarata, Ph.D. ©2013
December 2, 2013 at 11:48 am | Posted in Mind Body Medicine, Mindfulness | 1 Comment
Photo by Larry Cammarata, Ph.D., Bali
For healing to occur, the conditions for healing need to be present. What are these conditions for healing? The teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh tell us that healing requires, “stopping, calming, and resting” (Hanh, 1999).
Stopping
Stopping involves dropping activity and making contact with your pain, distress, or suffering by focusing upon it. Focusing upon what stresses you might seem like the last thing you would ever want to do; many people have been conditioned to try to control or avoid what is distressing to them. In the context of mindfulness practice, the distress can become an object of meditation. However, this process is not about analysis or formulating a strategy to make the pain go away. Rather, this is about establishing an open, kind, and aware connection to your body-mind with acceptance, and without expectation or striving.
Calming
Calming first requires the recognition that you are suffering, in pain, or otherwise distressed. If you can’t see it and acknowledge it, there will be nothing to calm.
Recognition is supported by courage and openness, which are antidotes to denial and constriction. Once you have recognized the object of your distress, the next step is accepting it, which is different than being resigned to it or liking it. Acceptance is about being with reality on reality’s terms, without pushing a painful reality away by attempting to avoid or control your situation. To deepen the process of calming, Thich Nhat Hanh recommends embracing pain, as a loving mother would attend to a crying infant in distress. He further encourages, “looking deeply” into the nature of our distress, so that we may develop understanding and insight about its origins (Hanh, 1999). For example, while recognizing and even calming a sense of irritability might be easily possible for many individuals, understanding the causes and conditions associated with the irritability may not be possible without creating the space needed for looking deeply into it. Looking deeply may reveal that your irritability has its roots in worry over financial concerns, grief over the loss of a loved one, or some other condition that is unique to your life situation.
Resting
Resting in a state of present-centered awareness and acceptance is the essential mindfulness orientation that supports health and wellbeing. Once our distress or pain has been calmed and understood, we can rest without being so preoccupied by the past or future. Mindfulness meditation provides such a restful wakefulness, which can be accomplished while seated, walking, standing, or lying down. Relaxing the body by softening the belly and breathing in a steady, slow way can support the process of resting. To illustrate the significance of resting, Thich Nhat Hanh uses an example of a wounded animal in a forest that is likely to rest for days to restore its health and vitality (Hanh, 1999). This wisdom also resides within human beings, although we are often too distracted and swept away by the pace of our lives to fully appreciate it.
Healing
While resting is a precondition for healing to occur, we must first stop and calm ourselves before we can attain a deep rest. Healing is not necessarily about a specific outcome such as a cure for an illness. In this context, healing is about embracing the wholeness, acceptance, and kindness that is always available to us whether we are angry, fearful, grieving, or facing a life threatening illness. We don’t have to look for wholeness, acceptance, and kindness. When we are open and attentive, these states of being often find us!
Healing touches others
Your willingness to take the time to stop, calm, and rest in support of your own healing will touch others in unseen ways. The need for healing in the world is undeniable. Engaging in this healing process is like planting a seed for more healing to grow in your family, workplace, close relationships, and beyond. I encourage you to tend to that seed with love, the universal nourishment that is a life affirming natural resource that cannot be depleted.
Reference
Hanh, T. N. (1999). The heart of the buddha’s teaching: Transforming suffering into peace, joy, and liberation. New York, NY: Broadway Books.
Larry Cammarata, Ph.D.
Photo of Larry Cammarata, Ph.D. by Emily Nichols Photography at http://emilynicholsphotography.com
For more information about Dr. Larry Cammarata go to www.Mind-BodyWellness.org.
To receive our Mind Body Medicine Network, LLC newsletters and future blogs: http://bit.ly/13J8D4V
(with contributing editors, Heather Butts, J.D., MPH, MA, Linda Cammarata, RN, RYT, and Ed Glauser, M.Ed., N.C.C., LPC)
Suchness and Mindfulness by Ed Glauser, M.Ed., N.C.C., LPC
November 21, 2013 at 6:33 pm | Posted in Adolescents, Insomnia, Migraine Headaches, Mind Body Medicine, Mindfulness, Pain Management, Pain Relief, Self-Regulation, Sleep Health, Stress Management, Trauma, Underserved Youth | 1 CommentThe word “suchness” has become one of the most helpful words I have used to deepen the practice of mindfulness and to heal areas of distress not only for myself but also in my clinical psychotherapy practice with clients. Saying the word, “suchness” immediately takes the edge off the pain and suffering I may be feeling at the time, and allows for a kinder, accepting approach to any distress I may be encountering.
I have found that saying, “this is the suchness of my present moment experience” creates ease and peace, which are useful resources to draw upon when I feel any kind of mental or physical distress. Suchness goes to the very root of mindfulness practice. The essence of mindfulness is being in the present moment, accepting what is in the present moment, knowing it is temporary, and that we are much more than our present moment experience. It is an experience of non-judgment, acceptance, kindness, compassion, and allowing for what is to come next.
Suchness creates an ideal space to just experience what Martin Buber calls the, “I and Thou,” or in more Buddhist terms, the experience of “equanimity,” where we can be in relationship to the present moment with an experience of fullness, awe, appreciation, and gratitude.
When I am counseling my clients, I do my very best to accept the suchness of their way of being, their unique experience of their issues of concern, and engender acceptance, ease, and warmth with them in each moment. The energy of suchness then creates the conditions for healing, space, and freedom for my clients to tap into their own self-healing resources.
So the next time you are aware of a mental or physical distress, you may consider saying, “this is the suchness of my present moment experience.” You may then want to breathe in and out while being aware of all the temporary mental and physical formations for a few minutes, returning to each moment with the experience of the suchness of the present moment, and allowing the healing to begin anew. In this way, we are bringing a refreshingly open attitude to the infinite creative and healing possibilities of the present moment in service of our highest good.
To receive our Mind Body Medicine Network, LLC newsletters and future blogs: http://bit.ly/13J8D4V
(with contributing editors Heather Butts, JD, MPH, MA, Larry Cammarata, Ph.D., and Linda Cammarata, RN, RYT)
Self-Soothing, Part 2: A Mindful Practice for Health & Wellness Linda Cammarata, RN, RYT Consultant, Contributing Editor
November 13, 2013 at 12:53 am | Posted in Insomnia, Mind Body Medicine, Mindfulness, Pain Management, Self-Regulation, Sleep Health, Stress Management | 4 Comments 
Self-soothing practices to consider:
- Maintain an attitude of gentleness in your communication. Practice this gentle manner of communication with yourself and especially with those you are closest to in your life. This is a method of emotional regulation, which supports and balances your moods.
- Participate in mindful movement classes like yoga and qigong. Learn how slow movements can help you to self-soothe and enhance your health and energy.
- Along with movement classes, if possible, receive regular therapeutic massages.
- Ventilate your thoughts, emotions, and actions by taking a 20-30 minute walk everyday. Walk by yourself or with another person who embodies compassion. A compassionate, caring presence (internally or in relationship to another) can create conditions for greater ease and acceptance that support self-soothing.
- After taking a shower or bath, take time to rub your entire body with a favorite natural oil or cream. You can add your favorite soothing aromatherapy to the oil or cream to deepen your relaxation. Feel and enjoy the texture of your skin, notice the contours of your body, and relax into this ritual with slow deep breaths.
- Nourish your body with healthy foods. Over time, you will begin to notice your body’s response to healthier food choices. Eat a fresh green salad loaded with your favorite vegetables and notice how soothing this feels to your body. Look at the colors and textures, taking time to experience the scent of your food prior to ingesting.
- Take time out to connect with others by rubbing the back of your child, spouse, partner, or friend. As you relax, notice how the other person begins to relax. This practice is especially necessary if you have not grown up with healthy, safe touch as part of your daily life. We need more of this connection in life to enhance self-soothing. Why wait when you can begin self-soothing today!
References:
- Dr. Anne Namnoum http://www.annenamnoum.com
- http://www.annenamnoum.com/self-soothing-vs-self-medicating
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emotional_self-regulation
- http://www.healingtouchinternational.org/?option=com_content&task=view&id=11&Itemid=40
- http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/manualhealingandphysicaltouch/therapeutic-touch
- http://dharmawisdom.org/teachings/articles/self-soothing-during-difficult-times
To receive our Mind Body Medicine Network, LLC newsletters and future blogs: http://bit.ly/13J8D4V
(with contributing editors Heather Butts, JD, MPH, MA, Larry Cammarata, Ph.D., and Ed Glauser, M.Ed., N.C.C., LPC)
Mindfulness and Adolescents, Part 2 in a 4-Part Series By Heather M. Butts, JD, MPH, MA
November 7, 2013 at 3:27 pm | Posted in Adolescents, Mind Body Medicine, Mindfulness, Self-Regulation, Sleep Health, Underserved Youth | Leave a comment
Heather Butts, J.D., MPH, MA
As I stated in Part 1 of this 4-part series, I spend a great deal of time working with at-risk youth in New York City. Much of my time is spent trying to think of inventive ways to keep these young people engaged given all of the external and internal distractions that they face. Most of the young people that I work with come from very difficult home lives, do not have an intact family, or have environmental influences that make their ability to lead healthy, productive lives quite challenging. In an age where bullying, depression, anxiety, and suicide are major health issues for all young adults, but particularly at-risk, underserved youth, there is an increasing focus by the medical and healthcare community on finding solutions to what ails this population. One of the culprits, especially for young adults, may be a lack of mindfulness coupled with dwelling on the “negative.” This blog post will address that through looking at the work of clinical psychologist and mindfulness educator Larry Cammarata, Ph.D. According to author Stephen S. Ilardi, Ph.D., in his book The Depression Cure, “rumination appears to be an instinctive human response when something goes wrong. It is as if we’re hard wired to replay our recent trials and tribulations over and over again in the mind’s eye. But some people stay at it long past the point when enough is enough” (pp. 92-93). According to Ilardi, this can make individuals less active, depressed, and ultimately withdrawn. This is key as we think about mindfulness as a potential solution to some of the mental health issues plaguing young adults.
In a recent panel discussion on the L.E.A.R.N for Life Consulting, LLC radio show entitled Stable, Focused, and Open: Mindfulness for Teens (http://www.blogtalkradio.com/learnforlife/2013/09/19/stable-focused-and-open-mindfulness-for-teens), Larry Cammarata, Ph.D. spoke to the role mindfulness can play with youth ages 15-24 who are at risk for mental health issues, stating, “mindfulness can be a skill that can reduce depression, isolation, and self-denigration.” Referencing psychologist Daniel Goleman, Cammarata spoke about how mindfulness can support emotional intelligence, “…meaning empathy and motivation, self-awareness and self-regulation.” Cammarata quoted Jon Kabat-Zinn’s (1994) definition of mindfulness as, “…paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally” (p. 4), and stated that for adolescents, the, “ABCs of mindfulness” – attitude (patience, openness, intellectual curiosity), body awareness, and concentration, are particularly important.
Cammarata expanded on his thoughts with me in a one-on-one discussion talking about why he finds mindfulness such an effective tool for young people. Those working with adolescents were reminded to take note of the wide range of focusing ability in this population. Cammarata encouraged practitioners to “start really slowly” utilizing “small chunks of times” in the beginning but to watch for adolescents with “excellent concentration skills.”
With respect to at-risk youth who come from challenging home environments, Cammarata suggests such young people connect their breath with something calming like music or a pet. He specifically suggests that mindful movement practices such as qigong, tai chi, or yoga may be of particular use with these adolescents. Ultimately, according to Cammarata, all of us deserve to be, “kinder to ourselves… mindfulness can be an important way to integrate positive attitudes that are healthy for the body and mind.”
To receive our Mind Body Medicine Network, LLC newsletters and future blogs: http://bit.ly/13J8D4V
(with contributing editors, Larry Cammarata, Ph.D., Linda Cammarata, RN, RYT, and Ed Glauser, M.Ed., N.C.C., LPC)
Embodying the Mind of Love, Joy, Compassion, and Equanimity by Larry Cammarata, Ph.D. © 2013
October 22, 2013 at 12:12 pm | Posted in Adolescents, Mind Body Medicine, Mindfulness, Self-Regulation, Stress Management, Trauma | Leave a commentLarry Cammarata, Ph.D.
Mindfulness, Love, Joy, Compassion, and Equanimity
Mindfulness has been defined as, “…awareness…of present experience…with acceptance” (Germer, 2005, p. 7). Although mindfulness seems to refer only to the mind, it also involves the body as well as the heart. Your body is a vehicle for the experience of present-centered awareness, and without it, some of the most elevated heart-centered expressions of mindfulness practice—love, joy, compassion, and equanimity—cannot become manifest. Love in this context is about unity, the absence of separation, which provides a pathway to peace, harmony, and healthy living. A loving attitude is one that supports the wish for the happiness of others. There are many interpretations of joy. Joy can be a consequence of resonantly rejoicing in the happiness of others. I like to view joy as the result of connecting with the energy of life with full acceptance, without the distorting filter of thoughts, beliefs, and perceptions. Compassion is about recognizing the suffering of self and others with an intention and effort to relieve it. Equanimity allows you to be stable and composed in the face of changing external conditions. Equanimity is most tested when people and situations are not operating in accordance with our wishes or liking. When the mind, heart, and body are relating to self and others with equanimity, there is no hostility or reactive stress, even when others intent on pushing our buttons provoke us!
Practice, Ideas, and Embodiment
Without practicing mindfulness, the ability to focus upon and cultivate qualities of love, joy, compassion, and equanimity are limited. Mindfulness allows you to know how aligned your thoughts, speech, and actions are with those qualities, as well as the values and intentions that you uphold.
Through the practices described below, I invite you to experiment with embodying love, joy, compassion, and equanimity. Embodiment is about bringing a mental concept into physical form. For example, the idea of love is different than the embodied expression of love. Although the idea of love (e.g., through the written word) can touch others in unseen ways, the embodied expression of love can literally touch others through a reassuring, gentle grasp of a hand or a soft tone of voice.
Practice I: Imagining Embodiment
First choose a mental quality of love, joy, compassion, or equanimity. You may also consider another quality such as kindness or optimism if that is more relevant for you. Then, write a brief description of how a person who strongly embodied one of those qualities would speak, act, think, feel, and relate to others. Create a mini-script that describes how such a person would appear in your everyday life. If it helps, you might imagine the person to be someone that you admire, like a spiritual or religious figure who clearly exudes love, joy, compassion, and/or equanimity.
Practice II: Embodiment in the Real World
After you have developed a sense of the “script” that such an individual might follow, allow yourself to step into the role of being like that individual, although this time, transitioning from imagining the embodiment to practicing the embodiment of love, joy, compassion, and/or equanimity in relation to self and the others in your everyday life. How do you speak? What thoughts do you cultivate? What feelings are embraced? How do you relate to yourself during stressful times? How do you relate to the people who challenge you? How do you relate to the people that you love and care for? How does your posture express the quality that you are cultivating? How does the eye contact you make with others embody this quality? How does your body feel when you are aligned with love, joy, compassion, and/or equanimity?
Questions for Exploration
What did you learn from this practice? How can this practice help to relieve the suffering and distress of self and others? In what other ways can this practice be applied to your work, family, close relationships, or relationship with self?
An Open Invitation
Intentional embodiment is like a vessel that holds the nourishing liquid of your choice. Your thoughts, speech, and actions can give form to your highest values, mental qualities, and aspirations. The invitation is to continue the practice of embodiment in your everyday life, the place where it can truly make a meaningful difference.
Reference
Germer, C.K. 2005. Mindfulness. In C.K. Germer, R.D. Siegel, & P.R. Fulton (Eds.), Mindfulness and psychotherapy (pp. 3-27). New York: Guilford Press.
For more information about Dr. Larry Cammarata go to www.Mind-BodyWellness.org. To receive our Mind Body Medicine Network, LLC newsletters and future blogs: http://bit.ly/13J8D4V
(with contributing editors, Heather Butts, J.D., MPH, MA, Linda Cammarata, RN, RYT, and Ed Glauser, M.Ed., N.C.C., LPC)
Photo by Emily Nichols Photography at http://emilynicholsphotography.com
Self-Soothing: A Mindful Practice for Health & Wellness by Linda Cammarata, RN, RYT Consultant, Contributing Editor
October 3, 2013 at 11:58 am | Posted in Mind Body Medicine, Mindfulness, Pain Management, Pain Relief, Self-Regulation, Sleep Health, Stress Management, Trauma | 2 Comments
A soothing backrub was a nightly ritual for my sister and I. Those backrubs warmed us during the cold winter nights and helped us doze quietly off into a deep sleep. Thoughts of my nightly backrubs have created a sweet, soothing childhood memory for my sister and myself.
Has our increasingly busy lifestyle contributed to the lost art of self-soothing? I wonder; if we engaged in more self-soothing, would we have less anxiety, restlessness, and insomnia? Does our health and wellbeing suffer as we become more disconnected from the practice of self-soothing? Has technology displaced our deeply rooted need for touch, connection, and feeling soothed? How does the rise of using medications for stress, anxiety, and pain reflect our diminished relationship to self-soothing?
Atlanta-based physician Anne Namnoum, M.D. has written an excellent article entitled Self-Soothing vs. Self-Medicating. In her article, she explores the importance of self-soothing in the face of today’s anxiety, stress, and discomfort. She makes the distinction between the health benefits found in self-soothing and the challenges found in self-medicating. She points out that self-medicating includes numbing and avoidance, whereas self-soothing promotes acceptance and the decision to do something that will become helpful for our wellbeing in the long-term. She also shares that the hazards of self-medicating vs. self-soothing can result in addiction, obesity, emotional disorders, physical complications, plus a variety of other potential health risks.
The attitude of acceptance that Dr. Namnoum shares in her article reminds me of the mental attitudes found in the practice of mindfulness. Mindfulness helps us to stay in the present moment. Mindfulness promotes a mental attitude of curiosity, gentleness, and flexibility, with a willingness to face reality on reality’s terms. There is something quite soothing about the idea of letting go and accepting each moment as it unfolds before us. We can learn to relax and cherish every moment and every breath.
Today, there is an active movement of nurses providing hands-on-therapies for their patients. Medicine is returning to the healing power found within therapeutic touch. I recall the nightly backrubs we provided to our patients when I first began my career as a nurse. Providing soothing touch was an integral aspect of our healing work. Self-soothing can relax the nervous system, reducing pain, anxiety and stress. It is an expression of our human need for connection.
References:
· Dr. Anne Namnoum http://www.annenamnoum.com
· http://www.annenamnoum.com/self-soothing-vs-self-medicating
· http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emotional_self-regulation
· http://www.healingtouchinternational.org/?option=com_content&task=view&id=11&Itemid=40
· http://dharmawisdom.org/teachings/articles/self-soothing-during-difficult-times
To receive our Mind Body Medicine Network, LLC newsletters and future blogs: http://bit.ly/13J8D4V
(with contributing editors Heather Butts, JD, MPH, MA, Larry Cammarata, Ph.D., and Ed Glauser, M.Ed., N.C.C., LPC)
Mindfulness and Adolescents by Heather Butts, JD, MPH, MA
September 18, 2013 at 11:55 pm | Posted in Adolescents, Mind Body Medicine, Mindfulness, Self-Regulation, Stress Management, Trauma, Underserved Youth | 1 Comment 
For over a decade I have worked with at-risk, underserved adolescents, assisting them in transitioning from high school to college, but also ensuring that they learn functional ways to develop and grow as individuals. While I am a lawyer by training, my focus and life’s work has revolved around adolescent education and mental health. My M.A. is in psychology in education, focusing on young adults. Over the course of my years working with adolescents, it has become clear to me that there is a segment of that population that have experienced very traumatic episodes in their young lives, but do not have sufficient coping mechanisms and tools to effectively deal with such events.
There is literature in existence looking at mindfulness and its efficacy in dealing with trauma and anxiety in adolescents. Researchers such as Susan Bogels have looked at the utility of mindfulness for the adolescent population. There appears to be interesting possibilities for utilizing mindfulness with adolescents who have suffered from traumatic events, and specifically at risk, underserved adolescents who have been exposed to violence and other life-threatening stressors. This blog series will examine various mindfulness techniques and their efficacy with this population.
To receive our Mind Body Medicine Network, LLC newsletters and future blogs: http://bit.ly/13J8D4V
(with contributing editors, Larry Cammarata, Ph.D., Linda Cammarata, RN, RYT, and Ed Glauser, M.Ed., N.C.C., LPC)
Slow is a Fast Route to Health and Wellness by Larry Cammarata, Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist Copyright September 11, 2013
September 11, 2013 at 12:23 am | Posted in Mind Body Medicine, Mindfulness, Self-Regulation, Stress Management, Uncategorized | 4 Comments
The other day, I observed a man walking hurriedly on a downtown street. With his cell phone to his ear and an eye on his watch, he seemed to be late to an appointment. His brow was furrowed, his body tense, and if I had to make a quick assessment, I would say that he was stressed! Have you ever noticed how you feel when you are rushing about your house, impatient, or simply feeling pressed for time? In that sort of situation, chances are that your heart rate is elevated, your breathing is shallow, and more of the stress hormone cortisol is flowing through your bloodstream.
From time to time, everyone experiences stress, and that’s not necessarily a problem. However, when stress is chronic or uncontrollable, we become vulnerable to physical illnesses and emotional problems. The good news is that there are easily learnable mind-body practices that can reverse this pattern. In addition to being healthy for you, these activities are also extremely enjoyable.
Research shows that slow movement practices such as Tai Chi, Yoga, and Qigong can have numerous physical and emotional benefits that support mood, sleep, and cardiovascular health, while also reducing stress and pain. The article at the link below by Psychology Professor Alan Fogel, Ph.D. describes the benefits of slow movement with awareness. I encourage you to read it slowly, with a relaxed body, and while taking long, slow, deep breaths. Enjoy!
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/body-sense/201007/slow-movement-awareness-better-exercise
For more information about Dr. Larry Cammarata: www.Mind-BodyWellness.org. To receive our Mind Body Medicine Network, LLC newsletters and future blogs: http://bit.ly/13J8D4V
(with contributing editors, Heather Butts, J.D., MPH, MA, Linda Cammarata, RN, RYT, and Ed Glauser, M.Ed., N.C.C., LPC)
A Brief Introduction to the Practice of Integral Ethics for Healthcare Professionals: Honoring the Ken Wilber Model
July 19, 2013 at 2:32 am | Posted in Mind Body Medicine, Mindfulness, Self-Regulation, Stress Management | Leave a commentTags: Durwin Foster, Ethics, Integral Ethics, Ken Wilber, Tim Black
(The author, Durwin Foster, M.A. is a Canadian Certified Counselor, Researcher and Professional Presenter who has worked directly with Ken Wilber, a pioneer of integral theory)
In this article, I will provide a brief introduction to the practice of integral ethics for healthcare professionals.
One way to define the word “integral” is as “comprehensive.” Therefore, the benefit of taking an integral approach to the ethical dilemmas we may face as healthcare professionals is that an integral approach allows us to honor the complexity of the situations we face. When we make decisions that embrace and honor complexity, we are more likely to experience positive outcomes for both us and our clients.
The integral ethical-decision making model and process that Dr. Tim Black and I developed, with guidance from Ken Wilber, facilitates the wise embrace of complexity by parsing ethics into four key domains that correlate to the interior and exterior of reality, as well as its individual and collective aspects. Analyzing ethics in this way gives us ethics itself, as well as morals, behaviors and laws. The relationship between these four domains is perhaps best understood with the assistance of visuals, as follows:
The integral ethical-decision making process then guides you through the four domains using four different lenses in order to make an optimal decision in resolution of any ethical quandary you may be facing. Here are the lenses:
Here is an illustrative example:
I am at my workplace as an Employee Assistance Counsellor where the context requires me to keep in mind multiple clients, not only including my immediate client who is the person sitting in front of me, but also the client’s employer is a client of my employer. This creates a complex stakeholder arrangement which can lead to tricky ethical decision-making.
Then let us say I have a client who brings up a case of bullying by her manager. This client is regularly being “put down” in a way that she experiences as demeaning. She has become depressed and her health is suffering as she is eating less and sleeping more fitfully. She wants to speak up for herself in a straightforward way, but fears that doing so may jeopardize her job. The situation is serious enough that she has started looking for other work, but has not yet been successful in finding alternative employment.
Trained in social justice and advocacy work, my first desire — coming from the moral virtues view — is to do what is right. The client ought to be able to go to her Human Resources department, file a complaint, and something should be done by Human Resources to reprimand the manager. Right?
However, in looking through the systems-regulatory view that both she and I are members of, the reality becomes clear of how difficult this could be to enact without putting both of us at considerable risk. By working through all four lenses, I decide to focus on the power of relationship — the “relational-contextual view” — to assist this client. I surmise that by building a strong relationship of mutual trust, unconditional positive regard, and “mattering”, I can support her to maintain her self-esteem in this challenging situation. Also, I can support her by giving her specific behaviors — called the “video-camera view” because behavior is observable — to try out around assertiveness and non-violent communication that she can use to “test the waters” with her manager.
I trust the above overview of two of the main components of the integral ethical-decision making model, as well as an example of the model being applied, helps to wet your appetite for learning more about how this model can help you serve your clients and patients in the most ethical manner possible. You can participate in “the rest of the story” by registering for my Mind Body Medicine Network’s webinar on Sunday, August 25th from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.. on “Integral Ethics for Health and Helping Professionals.” The webinar will be interactive and participants are welcome to share any hypothetical ethics situations that can be processed through the integral ethics model. 1.5 Ethics CE’s will be awarded to Psychologists, Licensed Professional Counselors and Social Workers by either participating in the live webinar or watching the webinar recording and taking the post-test. For more information and to register for the webinar, please click on: http:///www.mindbodymedicinenetwork.com/Webinars.html. The cost is $30.
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