Visual Mindfulness in Counseling.

(Image by Gordon Johnson from Pixabay)

Visual mindfulness involves directing attention to visual elements, either within the environment or through curated visual aids. This could range from seeing the interplay of light and shadow in a room to focusing on intricate patterns in a piece of art. The practice fosters a deepened awareness and presence, channeling attention away from distressing thoughts and into the visual moment (Kabat-Zinn, 1994). Some of these practices you may have heard of, for example, a lowered guise focusing on a candle, or looking/examining something slowly, like a rapper of a candy, which you might then also turn into a mindful experience. Visual-based mindfulness interventions off counselors one more intervention that may help them to better offer client-centered services.

Beholding

Beholding is a kind of visual mindfulness experience where you work to hold your vision and slowly explore a painting or image. The process is about bringing your attention to the present moment and noticing your present-moment awareness and how it is linked to your visual experiences. Directing attention to visual stimuli can anchor clients, reducing distractibility and promoting a heightened sense of focus. This can be especially valuable for clients who struggle with anxiety or intrusive thoughts (Desbordes et al., 2015). The image to behold can be a part of the counseling and relationship-building process. Visual mindfulness can act as a grounding technique, offering relief from overwhelming emotions. For instance, focusing on a calming visual scene can induce a sense of tranquility, aiding emotional regulation (Siegel, 2010). Studies into hospital patients who had a picture of nature in their rooms had better health outcomes than those who had stayed in a hospital room with no windows or art displayed.

As clients see visual stimuli, they become more attuned to their thoughts. Recognizing these patterns is often the first step toward meaningful cognitive shifts (Hayes & Lillis, 2014). Visual aids in mindfulness exercises can foster shared experiences between counselor and client, strengthening the therapeutic relationship (Goldin & Gross, 2010). Depending on the image under study, counselors can explore qualities of the client’s lived experience using the artistic medium as a metaphor to extend and deepen the counseling process.

Applications in counseling

Engaging with art, whether through creation or observation, allows clients to delve into visual mindfulness. By directing attention to colors, textures, and patterns, clients can momentarily distance themselves from distressing cognitions (Kapitan, 2018). Guiding clients to focus on natural elements — like the rustling of leaves or the gentle flow of water — can evoke a profound sense of presence and connectedness (Jordan & Hinds, 2016). Aspects of mindfulness practice can be integrated with visual meditation, such as noticing textures, colors, shadows, and light. With advancements in technology, digital visual aids, such as calming animations or guided visual meditation apps, can be incorporated into sessions, or recommended for personal use. Adding rituals of connecting through art-making that might become part of the client’s visual mindfulness process to counseling sessions can further support connection and a sense of mastery for the client.

Visual mindfulness, with its emphasis on grounding through visual stimuli, offers a powerful tool for counselors. It helps focus, emotional regulation, and cognitive awareness — all crucial elements in the therapeutic process. By weaving visual mindfulness practices into counseling sessions, therapists can offer clients an enriching and holistic path toward healing, connection, and self-awareness.

References

Kabat-Zinn, J. (1994). Wherever you go, there you are: Mindfulness meditation in everyday life. Hyperion.

Desbordes, G., Negi, L. T., Pace, T. W., Wallace, B. A., Raison, C. L., & Schwartz, E. L. (2015). Effects of mindful-attention and compassion meditation training on amygdala response to emotional stimuli in an ordinary, non-meditative state. Frontiers in human neuroscience, 6, 292.

Siegel, D. J. (2010). The mindful therapist: A clinician’s guide to mindsight and neural integration. Norton & Company.

Hayes, S. C., & Lillis, J. (2014). Acceptance and commitment therapy. American Psychological Association.

Goldin, P. R., & Gross, J. J. (2010). Effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) on emotion regulation in social anxiety disorder. Emotion, 10(1), 83.

Kapitan, L. (2018). Introduction to art therapy research. Routledge.

Jordan, M., & Hinds, J. (Eds.). (2016). Ecotherapy: Theory, research and practice. Macmillan International Higher Education.