Befriending death: A mindfulness-based approach to cultivating self-awareness in counselling students. Issue 1 (2nd January 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Stella, Maria
• Is Part Of: Death studies. Volume 40:Issue 1(2016)
• Page Start: 32
• Page End: 39
• Publication Date: 2016-01-02
• Subjects: Death -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; Terminal care -- Periodicals; Death -- Moral and ethical aspects -- Periodicals; 306.9
• DOI: 10.1080/07481187.2015.1056566
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0748-1187

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The importance of self-awareness in counselling education is widely recognized; however, strengthening this vital aspect is often left to educators' discretion. The author addresses this deficiency by first exploring four theoretical constructs: mindfulness, emotional regulation, death anxiety, and relationship dynamics. Then, she outlines a practical learning activity on the topic of death. The main exercise involves a guided meditation in which students imagine both a worst-case and best-case scenario of their own death, while practicing mindfulness, followed by a debriefing period and a written self-reflection. This activity can be used by educators to promote greater self-awareness in master's level counselling students.