Session 2: Creative Hopelessness

1. Ask “what stuck” from the last session. Describe influential ideas jumped out and what is the client’s understanding of what we covered.
2. Review home practice.
3. Mindfulness.

Describe what mindfulness is. Mindfulness vs mindlessness. Former = paying attention on purpose, in the present moment without judgment. Latter = being so cought up in our heads or in our emotions that we don’t notice what is happening.

Benefits of mindfulness. Noticing what is going on around us with our 5 senses; allows us to respond to what is actually happening instead of “reacting” to what our mind tells us is happening.

Start with a brief mindfulness meditation to start the session.

Filling in the Matrix and discovering the DOTS.

1. DOTS with Paddles exercise. (p.64)
2. The Acetate Exercise. (p.66): Observing through the acetate; Conversing through the acetate.
3. Our Mind’s Job: The Comparison Machine & The Fix-It Machine. (p70)
4. 6 Illusion of Control exercises: Purple Gorilla; I Want Candy; Cutting Off Your Leg; Beach Ball; Falling in Love; Thoughts Are Inevitable

Back to the Matrix (p75)

The Tissue Box

Quicksand Metaphor

1. The “Story” (p.77): The Story About Me!
2. Mindfulness

Mindfulness of Breath 

Mindful Writing (p79)

Assignment of Home Practice (p.80)