Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Four-Week Foundational Mindfulness Curriculum For Small Businesses, Madeleine Pizey

Mindfulness Studies Theses

Abstract

This creative thesis is for trained mindfulness instructors and facilitators to offer small businesses a curriculum to reduce burnout among their employees and strengthen their inner-resilience through a four-week mindfulness training in the workplace or virtually. This thesis contains a rationale paper which includes a literature review. The focus of this thesis is on offering a four-week foundational mindfulness training for small businesses of twenty-five or fewer employees. It will include the purpose of having this type of training and how it will be of service, the benefits of this type of training, the current epidemic of burnout occurring …

Moving Through Depression: Development Of A Dance/Movement Therapy Method In Psychiatric Inpatient Care, Melissa Olmedo

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Short-term psychiatric hospitalization is a challenging health care model due to its short duration of care, treating the highest risk psychiatric population. Priority care within a short-term psychiatric hospitalization involves monitoring a patient’s safety for stabilization by decreasing acute mental health symptoms. Holistic psychotherapy treatment options are needed to meet the severity of patients’ symptoms for effective stabilization within a short-term model of care. This paper investigates the first implementation of a dance/movement therapy (DMT) method within two short-term units in a notable Boston hospital. The DMT group called Mindful Movement was facilitated weekly as single sessions to adults ranging …

Considerations For Introducing, Facilitating, And Expanding Mindfulness Training In The Workplace, Laura H. Saher

Mindfulness Studies Theses

This creative thesis is designed to further the understanding of the considerations for offering mindfulness training in the workplace and to offer mindfulness practitioners a guide for introducing and facilitating mindfulness training into their workplaces. This thesis consists of two primary components: 1) a rationale paper and 2) a creative component. The rationale paper includes a literature review that focuses on the benefits and risks of offering mindfulness training in the workplace; these form the business case for bringing mindfulness to the workforce and identify the gaps in the research that prompted the questions underlying this thesis. These gaps were …

Addressing The Midlife Happiness ‘Dip’: An Evidence-Informed, Mindfulness-Based Approach To Support & Promote Women’S Well-Being, Shelby Wayte

Mindfulness Studies Theses

This work articulates the need for and introduces a novel model of supportive care: a mindfulness-based wellness intervention that holistically addresses the unique implications and stressors of middle-aged women. Midlife remains the most poorly understood and understudied period of the lifespan. Research suggests that not only are middle-aged people less happy, they have the lowest levels of life satisfaction and experience the most anxiety and stress compared to both younger and older age groups. This marks a trend currently being analyzed: Happiness dips gradually in early adult life until it reaches its lowest point, approximately around a person’s mid-40s to …

The Development Of An Expressive Arts Method To Promote Emotional Regulation Through The Use Of Breath In A Cbat Facility, Ages 4 - 17, Jenna Tremblay

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Arts-based practices can support individuals in groups to stay centered, aligned, present, and alert in the moment. Expressive Arts Therapies serve as an opportunity to create a therapeutic attunement or alliance. This thesis explores the development of an expressive arts-based method that promotes emotional regulation through the use of breath for ages 4-17 in a Community Based Acute Treatment (CBAT) facility. The techniques in this thesis reflect the lens of theory and practice through play, attunement, mindfulness, meditation, all centering around the importance of breathing to promote emotional regulation in a CBAT population age 4 – 17. As anticipated, the …

Labyrinth Meditation As A Foundation For Photography With Adolescents, Corrie Vanderbrug

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Abstract

This capstone thesis paper analyzes how the use of meditation, finger labyrinths, and photography intertwine to strengthen reflection for the adolescent population. To further this community engagement project, the researcher observed two male adolescents in in their work with meditation and photography. Results revealed that after the use of labyrinth meditation, participants felt calm and quiet. The photo-taking portion of this study was different than what they had previously experienced while taking images. Results also showed that meditation before photo-taking allowed for reflection, awareness, and personal empowerment to increase during the art making process. This study emphasizes the need …

Enhancing Creative Thinking Through Open Awareness Walking Meditation, Oliver Carmack

Mindfulness Studies Theses

A documentary which follows 8 novice meditators as they engage in a 20-minute walking open awareness meditation practice for 6 weeks. The goal of the documentary is to explore if open awareness walking meditation enhances creative thinking. This project is important because it brings together several budding research fields: creativity, mindfulness, and walking. The topic of the documentary is inspired by several studies that demonstrate a positive correlation between walking, open awareness meditation, and increased divergent thinking ability—a key element in creative thinking. The participants report many positive experiences and some surprising benefits for doing this practice. Participants report that …