Therapeutic Dream Catchers!

I had to share this! I have done activities with dream catchers in session before so my eye was drawn to this one that I saw someone else post.  So, I decided to try it in session! Anyhow, I did make an alteration or two, mainly to personalize things a little more for my client.  Also, we used real feathers as well as drawing them (we drew some on as seen in the picture above and we also attached string to the pic and had a couple hanging off the picture from the string).

You could alter this activity depending on your specific client scenario.  See below for this activity idea ...





Directions:  

1) Draw/pattern of dream catcher
2) Decorate dream catcher 
3)  Have the client/patient write out negative emotions, triggers, or experiences. (This would either be accompanying a discussion or follow up to discussion.  Depending on the client, he/she may want to jot these things down during discussion, then transfer over to the dream catcher page).
4) "TRAP" the negative thoughts/triggers/emotions (You could even take a few moments to have the client close his/her eyes and visualize this).  
5) Have the client/patient surround the dream catcher with strengths, positive traits, activities, and other things/people the client loves.  (Again, you may want to take moments to visualize that all those positive "wanted" things are floating free for him/her to have).  

I used quiet music which featured a Native American wood flute and nature sounds in the background.  

Enjoy!

Jessica Daisi

a different perspective

There is an AA saying/prayer that I think is beneficial to anyone and everyone, regardless of circumstance.  It's a saying I have heard a thousand times before (both from having a family member in AA when I was a child AND through my profession when I worked in substance abuse).  However, today, I thought of it in a manner that I never have before, and my eyes were opened to something I never saw before.  Here is the saying/prayer that I am sure you have most likely heard at one time or another:

God, grant me the
Serenity to accept things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can, and
Wisdom to know the difference.

I never really paid much attention to the word "serenity" in this.  I always heard it/processed sort of like this:

God, grant me the serenity to
ACCEPT the things I CANNOT CHANGE
COURAGE to CHANGE the THINGS I CAN, and
WISDOM to KNOW THE DIFFERENCE.

That beautiful, hopeful, peaceful word never stood out to me until now.  I always focused more on the other points, mainly, wisdom to know the difference between what can be changed and what cannot.

But there it is ... there it has always been.  The potential for SERENITY in these difficult moments in our lives where we have to accept difficult things.  It seems almost odd to pick such a word for this, but what a huge sigh of relief.  And what a great reminder that we can choose how much power and hold we give to these things that can consume us. 

I just wanted to share that,
Jessica

Recording Thoughts

When I was a little girl, the only thing appealing to me about writing in a diary was the lock and key on the diary. It seemed more of a chore to me, really. However, by the time I was in high school I adored writing in/on my journals, hands, and/or scrap pieces of paper. This has followed me on into adulthood. Well, except the only times that I ever write on my hands anymore is to occasionally draw on a tattoo (always the same thing ... " steadfast <3 "). Something I've been 'warming up to' since ... well ... forever ;)

Anyhow, the art of writing is an amazing thing. It allows us to record our thoughts, emotions, opinions, life lessons, amusements, dreams, and questions. I, personally, have many journals dedicated to various things (one that I use to record memories/special moments with my son, one for jotting down lyrics/songs I've written, one to write down quotes/bible verses/poems, and so on). As with music, writing can often times allow us to express things we typically aren't able to with the spoken word. I often find that I can write my feelings, thoughts, etc. much better than I am able to verbalize them. Sometimes there are things we would like to express, things we need to say to someone, but (for whatever reason) can't. Writing these things down often offers some relief to the situation.

Yesterday I started a page in one of my journals entitled, "These things and what I have learned from them". So often I've been taught something through things (often things in nature), and the result is a deeper understanding and wisdom of life itself. Often times these can be a metaphor or provide a parallel to other things in life. Yesterday, as I was walking to my front door I passed my tea olive tree in bloom. It always strikes me how few flowers this tree has (and how tiny the flowers), and how much fragrance that tree releases. I just love it!

This was my journal entry on the lesson a tree taught me (a tree!?!):

tea olive tree - with it's tiny flowers that are so surprisingly fragrant ... sometimes we overlook the potency of the little things.


So today my hope for you is that you not overlook what the little things have to offer.

Also, I am thankful for writing. I'm thankful for the opportunity to record life lessons that I so often need to learn (or at least be reminded of) more than once in a lifetime.

Jessica