Creative meditation is an effective, innovative and safe psychotherapeutic intervention that may improve psychological health and well-being during the Covid 19 pandemic. Creative meditation creates a safe place for self-awareness and self-expression, allowing the discovery and development of personal resources, converting vulnerabilities into resources and facilitating personal development. The aim of the present study is to investigate the immediate effect of creative meditation on emotional distress and awareness capacity (acceptance and mindfulness). 22 students participated in a short experiment of a single online creative meditation session with pre and post surveys. An immediate significant variation in the participants’ emotional experience was observed. Creative meditation helped participants to feel a positive affective state which facilitated awareness and creative emotional and cognitive expression. Statistical results revealed a decrease of general affective distress, and a lower level of negative emotions (sadness, anxiety, frightened, concerned). The personal resources could be first actualized through this emotional experience and then it could be invested into meaningful actions.
This article discusses the complexity of proactive coping strategies in the light of the research of the psychological constructs of compassion and nature connectedness. The proactive coping process was conceptualized as a positively-focused striving for goal. It is regarded as future-oriented, goal management and positive motivated. The dynamic of this process involves resources accumulation, preventing resource depletion and mobilizing resources when needed. The present study aims to explore the link among compassion (towards the humans as well as towards the environment), nature connectedness (as a basic human psychological need) and proactive coping strategies. It is expected that if someone is compassionate and has a psychological/emotional connection with nature, it is more likely to deal successfully with present and future threats to personal goals, health or well-being. Statistical results confirmed this hypothesis. The results of the present research could be used to design personal optimization and development interventions to promote proactive coping strategies in the field of counseling and psychotherapy.
The age of adolescence represents few years of uncertainties and unknown in the development and evolution of a young people. In the search of his own identity, the adolescent needs symbols in order to access the unconscious personal resources. Working with metaphors in the process of counselling and psychotherapy facilitates new signification and sense for the adolescent that experience the most provocative period of his life. This article focuses on the benefits of using metaphorical techniques to improve emotional health in adolescents. We supposed that using a brief experiential metaphoric exercise (My own relaxation and recreation place) would allow the group members to improve their present emotional anxiety experience. The adolescents became more aware of their inner resources (such as tranquillity, calm, trust and hope) and needs. Present finding indicate the effects of expressive-creative methods on anxiety state. Using metaphor in the therapy of adolescents could be an important method to reduce the anxiety and to help them understand the role of their emotions in the process of personal development.
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