Insecure Attachment and Lack of Regret for Committed Crimes: A Precursor to Lack of Remorse?
In a sample of incarcerated Lebanese men, insecure attachment was associated with lower mentalizing capacities. Furthermore, these deficits in mentalizing capacity predicted lack of regret about the crime committed. This is the bottom line of a recently published article in the International Journal of Forensic Mental Health. Below is a summary of the research and […]
Mindfulness Activity #99
Self-Soothing with Scent Good Morning. I’m not sure about each of you, but aside from mindfulness practices, this week has been anything but relaxing! That’s why this week’s practices are so important. When your life is stressful, busy, or difficult self-care, even if it is just 30 quiet minutes to yourself makes a difference. These […]
Mindfulness Activity #98
Brief Guided Practice for Relaxation Good morning. This morning I thought I would make a quick teaching point about mindfulness practices. It is easy to make a distinction between guided practices (those in which someone speak to you and guides you with prompts throughout the practice) and those which are silent. While sometimes we might […]
Mindfulness Activity #97
Take a Mini-Vacation We often equate summer with the seashore. For many of us, the beaches are closed. We have been inside much of the time. We might have Zoom and FaceTime fatigue. In keeping of our relaxation theme, today’s practice is restorative. It provides an escape from whatever is bothering you. For this practice […]
Mindfulness Activity #96
Guided Progressive Muscle Relaxation Good Morning. This week we will be practicing a series of mindfulness exercises designed to provide stress relief and relaxation. These exercises can be used at any time, but if you are able to practice twice daily this week —in the morning and in the evening, that would be ideal. Completing […]
Mindfulness in Prisons – Does it work?
Mindfulness-based therapies have grown in popularity over recent years. Evidence shows that they have a particular and effective application to target psychological outcomes and reduce recidivism in forensic populations, especially in groups that are older, female, and/or increase treatment length. This is the bottom line of a recently published article in Criminal Justice and Behavior. […]
Mindfulness Activity #95
Relaxation Week-Day 1 Good Morning. Today I wanted to talk about the importance of following instructions in mindfulness practice. I’ve often had the experience of giving an instruction about what to pay attention to in a mindfulness practice and a participant will say something like, “I found it easier to imagine I was at the […]
Mindfulness Activity #94
Today’s brief mindfulness involves using strong sensations to connect to present experience. Many people can’t wake up until that first cup of coffee. You have the first sip and feel…alive. The caffeine has not kicked in yet, so what is it? Well, if you have had coffee with caffeine in the past, your body knows […]
Mindfulness Activity #93
Juneteenth Good Morning. Today is Juneteenth, the day we celebrate the final emancipation of slaves in the United States. On June 19, 1865, in Galveston, Texas, Gordon Granger announced orders from the federal government officially proclaiming the freedom of all enslaved people in Texas. By the letter of the law, slaves had been free for over […]
The Impact of Extralegal Bias in Assignment to Anger Management
Being African American, Hispanic, or male significantly increases the likelihood of being required to complete anger management therapy as a condition of probation, beyond what would be expected considering their crime, county of jurisdiction, and judge presiding over the case. This is the bottom line of a recently published article in Law and Human Behavior. […]
Mindfulness Activity #92
States of Mind Good Morning. Today is cloudy, grey and cool. It is starkly different from yesterday’s bright sunshine and warmth. The difference is striking and offers an opportunity for learning. Zen teaches that all of reality is temporary. It does not mean that nothing lasts, rather that everything evolves and changes moment to moment. […]
Mindfulness Activity #91
Quick Mindfulness for Stress or Fatigue Good Morning. I’m not sure about you, but this morning I’m feeling a little stressed and a little fatigued at anticipating the day. I’m tired of ELA and Spanish, and as much as I like it, I’m tired of Khan Academy. I’m tired of piles of laundry. I’m tired […]