How are some ways I can be more present?

With my background in client-centered therapy and expressive arts, I notice when people laugh, when any body language is present that tells me about what they are feeling and why. I see from my side, that the body never lies. (Which reminds me of the book The Body Keeps The Score). I tell people that laughter itself is a way of staying present, neither concerned about the past or future, but staying focused on what is.

I use guided meditations, but specifically choose ones that involve a body-scan, where the client focuses on one part of the body, relaxes it with breath and attention and then move to another area of the body. As I guide them along, I'm witnessing a progressive relaxation and a centered groundedness that slowly emerges as one quieted area joins another until the entire body is still. Then, the mind relents and stills itself too.

Another practice I integrate into my sessions is making time for silence, stillness, because that in and of itself, is a practice in "being". In that beautiful quiet, the questions of "Who am I" "What is my purpose" hold the possibility for being quietly answered by the questioner themselves. In those moments, I see my clients self-empowered, hearing their own unique "AHA". 

While I could structure the sessions, I find that many of them bring with them an innate need for ritual, order, closure. In some sessions, I ask clients which scent they'd like to have in the diffuser, if they want a candle lit, what soft music they'd like as they draw/paint/sculpt or journal. Rather than distract them, the multiple sense perceptions appear to enhance and deepen their sense of sacredness in the purpose of the activity. They are drawn in, focused and singular in their intent. This ritual often takes the shape of an opening and a closing that helps them reflect upon their goals. It could be something as simple as "I want to have more openings to communicate with my partner. Every interaction is negative." or it could be "I want to have moments in my day where I am appreciated and can take in love from my family, my children". Their wounded vulnerability becomes their offering and the session has a much fuller openness with a healing impulse behind it. One could say this is very ethereal and not concrete enough, but I beg to differ. Here, the client is bringing forth their intent for session, the therapist is creating a sacred space, not just with listening, but with many more tools that honor the vulnerabilities of the client. And most importantly, the ritual allows for reflection, positive thinking and growth-centered accountability to take root.