Background
According to Google, "Leaves on a stream is a technique used in acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) to cope with uncomfortable thoughts and feelings. This technique uses a concept called cognitive defusion, which works by creating distance from thoughts and feelings as a way to reduce the power they have over us." I had the opportunity to practice this exercise in my group therapy session and found it to be more useful than the breathing techniques I'm always asked to do--my mind always wanders and there are a lot of distractions. I hope you will also find this activity beneficial.
Step One
It is best to be alone while doing this practice. I recommend locking the door for just 5-minutes. Give yourself just 5 minutes to do this practice at least once without any distractions. This 3-minute video will guide you through this mindfulness exercise.
Step Two
Reflect on your experiences in a 175-200 word paragraph addressing the following questions:
Describe your experience doing this mindfulness exercise. Have you done this before?
Did you find this mindfulness activity helpful? If yes, explain the ways in which it was helpful. If no, explain why you think it was not helpful.
Do you plan to do "Leaves on a Stream" in the future? If yes, explain when or why you would do it. If no, explain why not.
Would you recommend this mindfulness exercise to a friend? Why? Why not?
Submission Requirements and Grading
Your paragraph needs to be MLA formatted (double-spaced, 12-point, Times New Roman font and typed). It should also be at least 175-200 words. Upload your document as a word, doc, pdf, or rtf. Remember that Canvas does not accept pages.