Module 6: Mindfulness Practice and Application
Purpose
The purpose of this assignment is to gain some experience with mindfulness meditation so that you are better equipped to integrate it into your repertoire of interventions.
Course Objectives
· CO6: Integrate non-Western healing methods and wellness approaches into psychosocial interventions with individuals and groups.
Total Points: 150
Due Date
You are to submit a written paper by Sunday, 11:59 p.m. MT, at the end of this module.
Requirements
The Mindfulness Meditation and Application Assignment is worth 150 points and will be graded on the completion of all journal entries, the level of self-awareness in reflecting on your practice, and the thoughtfulness with which you apply mindfulness practice to individual work. For the application section of your paper, you will also be graded on your use of citations, use of Standard English grammar, sentence structure, and overall organization/effectiveness based on the required components as summarized in the directions and grading criteria/rubric.
1. Create your paper using Microsoft Word (a part of Microsoft Office), which is the required format for all Chamberlain College documents. You can tell that the document is saved as a MS Word document because it will end in “ x”
2. Follow the directions and grading criteria closely. Any questions about your assignment may be posted under the Q & A Forum.
3. The length of the paper is to be no less than 4 pages and no greater than 6 pages excluding title page and reference pages.
4. APA format is required with both a title page and reference page. Use the required components of the review as Level 1 headings (upper and lower case, centered, boldface): Note: Introduction – Write an introduction but do not use “Introduction” as a heading in accordance with the rules put forth in the Publication manual of the American Psychological Association.
Guidelines
Practice mindfulness meditation for four days for
20
to 30 minutes per day and keep a structured journal about your experiences during and in between meditation sessions. Afterward, complete a brief reflection summarizing what you learned from the practice. Apply your observations to a discussion of three ways you would apply mindfulness meditation to social work practice with individuals from a specific population or having a specific problem, and support your recommendations with research findings.
Download the
journal template (Links to an external site.)
to get started.
Tips for mindfulness meditation:
Posture: Sit cross-legged or in a chair. Keep a straight but relaxed spine. Tuck chin slightly and rest tip of tongue on roof of mouth. Close eyes or gaze without focus on floor in front of you. Rest hands on knees or in lap. If you feel an itch or a pain, try to let it be, but if sensations become too intense, move.
Awareness: Start with awareness of sounds in environment. Practice not judging them as pleasant or unpleasant. Shift to focus on the sensations of breathing. Do not try to control breathing. When thoughts, feelings, or sensations come, don’t try to suppress them, but don’t follow them either.
Mindfulness: When you notice you are no longer paying attention to your breathing, this is a moment of mindfulness. Gently guide yourself back to the breath. This may happen many, many times and is part of meditation.
Feeling: You may experience painful memories or anxiety about the future. Try to treat this as a passing thought. If you need to stop, be kind to yourself but come back later. If you feel nothing and are simply bored, that’s okay too. The need for distraction may be deeply ingrained.
Insight: One goal of mindfulness meditation is to befriend your mind, to get to know it and be compassionate with its suffering. If you are seeking a goal like peace or enlightenment, then you will get seeking as your experience. See if you can allow the process as it is to be enough.
Grading Criteria
Criteria |
Points |
Description |
||
Mindfulness Meditation and Structured Journal |
40 |
Includes entries for all four practice sessions responds thoughtfully to ………all three cues each time. Practice sessions last least 20 minutes. |
||
Summary Reflection |
Describes insights of habitual patterns of thinking,acting,realizations about mind or mindfulness, as well as positive and challenging experiences while meditating. |
|||
Application to Practice |
Describes the nature of the problems faced by this population, …….the ways that mindfulness meditation would be integrated into social work practice and applied to these problems,an the research evidence for effectiveness with at least three sources. |
|||
Clarity of Writing |
20 |
Presents information using clear and concise language in an organized manner (NO errors in English grammar, spelling, syntax, and punctuation). |
||
APA/page length |
10 |
All sources are credited using APA formatting Paper is between 4 to 6 pages excluding title and reference pages. |
||
Total |
150 |
A quality assignment will meet or exceed all of the above requirements. |
M6 Rubric
M6 Rubric | ||||
Ratings |
Pts |
|||
This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Mindfulness Meditation and Structured Journal |
40 pts |
|||
This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Summary Reflection |
40 pts Highest Level of performance 34 pts Very Good or High Level of Performance 30 pts Acceptable Level of Performance 0 pts No Marks |
|||
This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Application to Practice |
40 pts Highest Level of performance 34 pts Very Good or High Level of Performance 30 pts Acceptable Level of Performance 0 pts No Marks |
|||
This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Clarity of Writing |
20 pts |
|||
This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome
APA Style/Page length |
10 pts |
Date and time period
What did you notice your mind doing in response to the directions?
What changed if anything in your state of mind in the course of meditation?
What effects did you notice on your thoughts, feelings, or actions?