Abstract
In this chapter, we present the Soles of the Feet (SoF) meditation as an informal mindfulness practice and provide brief instructions for therapists on the use of this meditation. In addition, we suggest that therapists and their clients learn and use samatha, a physiologically calming meditation, to enhance the utility of the SOF meditation during emotionally arousing situations in their life. In the lexicon of mindfulness-based interventions, mindfulness is integral to maintaining concentration during samatha meditation, but the two terms (i.e., mindfulness and samatha) are not inter-changeable. In this chapter, samatha is understood to mean resting awareness on the chosen object of meditation (such as the breath) and using mindfulness in a regulatory capacity to ensure that concentration does not deviate from the object of meditative placement. In the second part, we present ways that therapists can support mindful engagement in individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to improve their quality of life. The core concepts of mindful engagement include response versus reaction, support versus assistance, activities versus prescribed exercises, autonomy versus independence, and engagement versus participation. Furthermore, we provide a framework of elements that therapists can use to enable caregivers to understand how to support each individual to experience an engagement opportunity. With training in meditation, caregivers of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities can provide services in a mindful manner that will enhance the quality of life of those in their care.
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Singh, N.N., Jackman, M.M. (2016). Teaching Individuals with Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities. In: McCown, D., Reibel, D., Micozzi, M. (eds) Resources for Teaching Mindfulness. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-30100-6_15
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-30100-6_15
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