Trauma-Informed Mindfulness With Teens: A Guide for Mental Health Professionals

by Sam Himelstein

Overview

For the clinician who wishes to share the transformational practice of mindfulness with youth who’ve been adversely impacted by trauma.

Mindfulness has grown in popularity exponentially over the past two decades, and many educators, therapists, and other youth professionals are asked to teach mindfulness in a variety of public settings: schools, detention centers, and other systems of care. Many of these youths are impacted by trauma.

Through practical methods and real- world examples, Sam Himelstein offers a clear conceptual understanding for why mindfulness may help youth impacted by trauma, explanation about when and how to adapt mindfulness meditations, and practical “mini- modules” for presenting and teaching mindfulness via a trauma- informed lens.

This book presents specific guidelines about teaching mindfulness within a relationship- based framework for building the therapeutic alliance and aiding other psychotherapy interventions. Case examples illuminate common experiences that arise with trauma-impacted youth, and detailed descriptions of exercises and curricula are provided. This book is a must for therapists who wish to share mindfulness with trauma-impacted youth.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780393713442
Publisher:	Norton, W. W. & Company, Inc.
Publication date:	11/26/2019
Pages:	288
Sales rank:	477,735
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.20(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Sam Himelstein, PhD, is a licensed psychologist, public speaker, and author who specializes in working with adolescents and their families via private practice, community organizations, and in juvenile justice settings. He and travels the world offering workshops on related topics. He lives in Oakland, CA.

Table of Contents

Author's Note xi

Acknowledgments xiii

Introduction xv

Chapter 1 The Epidemic of Trauma 1

Chapter 2 Trauma-Informed Mindfulness 21

Chapter 3 Fostering Interpersonal Safety 41

Chapter 4 What to Do When Trauma-Impacted Youth Get Triggered 63

Chapter 5 Mindfulness Beyond Meditation 79

Chapter 6 Teaching Meditation to Trauma-Impacted Youth 99

Chapter 7 Facilitating Mindfulness-Based Groups 123

Chapter 8 Mindfulness-Based Mini-Modules 143

Chapter 9 Resistance and Traumatic Adaptations 165

Chapter 10 The Trauma-Informed Therapist: Self-Care and Personal Practice 177

References 189

Appendix: Mindfulness Meditation Samples 195

Index 207

Editorial Reviews

"Sam Himelstein has woven together lessons learned from his own challenging adolescence with his wealth of clinical experience and years of personal mindfulness practice— all into one accessible guide for teaching mindfulness to teens from a trauma- informed perspective. He writes clearly and offers a wide variety of mindfulness activities and sample scripts that are seasoned with real- life case vignettes. Trauma- Informed Mindfulness with Teens is a valuable, user- friendly addition to the library of any mental health professional who works with adolescents."

Randye J. Semple

"This is a ground- breaking resource for anyone teaching mindfulness to teens. Drawing upon years of hard- won insight, Himelstein illuminates why mindfulness can help youth who are struggling with trauma, including powerful adaptations that ensure meditations are trauma- informed. It’s a book I’ve been waiting for and am thrilled to recommend."

David Treleaven

"Sam Himelstein has written more than a skillful methodology for supporting mindfulness in troubled youth. He has developed an integrated approach that includes culturally sensitive psychotherapy, various types of meditation practices, and specifically- focused mindfulness activities, all of which are highly relevant to the experience of adolescents struggling with social marginalization, discrimination, and daily micro/macro aggressions. This book represents the next step in our field: teaching inward attention, mindful awareness, and self- acceptance, but also focusing on ‘outside’ challenges and harsh social phenomena that add to the client’s suffering."

John Briere