On my journey to becoming a professional
counselor, I have learned a lot about myself as a person and a professional.
One of the main things I have worked on throughout the last two and a half
years is learning to trust myself, to believe that my voice is worth listening
to.
In the past, I have struggled with meditation and
guided imagery because it forces me to sit in silence with myself. Now that I
have become more comfortable sitting with myself, I am beginning to enjoy it.
Recently, Kaitlyn introduced me to a meditation called the "Wise Woman.”
It has inspired me to more deeply explore what holds me back, and has been a
great tool to help my clients who struggle with self-esteem, anxiety, lack of
confidence, and negative self-talk.
A meditation like this can be used in many
different ways. You can read it to yourself, out loud or in your head. You
could have someone else read it to you (like a counselor or friend). You could
even record yourself reading it and listen to it. The version I use is below,
and you can feel free to adapt it however you would like. For instance, you can
change the gender of the wise person so it aligns with you.
Begin by settling in your chair, finding a comfortable
position that allows you to take deep, calming breaths. If you feel
comfortable, close your eyes and focus on your breath. As you breathe, begin
imagining a place in nature that you find peace. It can be a forest, a beach, a
mountain trail, or any other place that you feel connected to.
Imagine yourself sitting in a room, looking down over this
place of calmness and serenity. Take in everything. What do you see? What do
you smell? What do you hear?
You decide to go outside, so you leave the room and find a
path. As you begin to walk, continue to notice what your senses pick up on. Are
there birds singing? Children laughing? Is there a breeze? What do your
surroundings look like? Try to imagine them in as much detail as possible. The
path widens and curves as you continue to follow it. Go slowly and take your time.
Up ahead, you notice a house. Something about the home
beckons to you, and draws you in. What does the house look like? What makes it
so appealing?
As you approach the house, a woman opens the door. It is
as if she has been waiting for you all along, like she knew you would be
coming. Somehow, you know she is a wise woman. What does she look like? How is
she dressed? Try to picture her as clearly as you can. She smiles, and invites
you in.
Inside her house, she shows you to a room, and you
instantly feel at home. What does the room look like? What about it makes you
so comfortable? Are there pictures on the walls? Comfy furniture? A fireplace?
Maybe she offers you something to eat, or to drink. You sit down, and for a
minute, there is simply comfortable silence.
While you are in her presence, you recognize how it makes
you feel. You feel at peace, accepted, and loved for exactly who you are in
this moment. Somehow, you know the wise woman cares for you unconditionally.
After some time, she says something to you. What does she
say? You turn to her and respond. What do you say? You have a conversation for
a while. What is said?
Eventually, you notice she has colors surrounding her. You
had not noticed this before. What colors are there?
As you think about the colors, you notice the sun is
setting. You say you are going and you thank each other for the time
together. You say goodbye. As you are
leaving, the wise woman gives you something. What is it?
You walk back down the path and watch the colors of the
sky. Take your time walking back, and notice what is different. Is it quieter?
Does the path look different in the fading daylight?
You see the place you began, so you head towards it. You
walk up the path. When you are there,
you will begin to come back to an awareness of this room. Feel your feet on the
floor, and your body in the chair. When you are ready, open your eyes.
I will let you in on a
little secret. The wise woman you met? She is you. You can call her up whenever
you feel alone or in need of some wisdom in your life.
The color and the item she
gave you are things that can remind you of the wise woman. When you see them in
your daily life, they can serve as reminders that the wise woman is always
inside of you, and available when you need her.
Nicki
Phillips is a counseling intern at Esprit and a graduate student at UW Oshkosh
working towards a degree in clinical mental health counseling. She brings a fresh perspective to
her work along with a vibrant personality. She believes everyone is
inherently worthy of respect and compassion, and strives to create those
qualities in her relationships with clients. She sees clients who are
uninsured, underinsured, have a high deductible, or prefer to pay out-of-pocket
for a reduced cost. She particularly enjoys working with adolescents and young
adults, and has also worked with children (ages 6 and up) and adults. She has
immediate openings for new clients! Please schedule online at espritcounseling.com. She can also be reached via
email at nicki@espritcounseling.com or by phone at (920)
383-1287.
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