A counseling case study on the effects of emotion-focused reflected image meditation on depressive emotions in middle-aged women
Journal of Meditation based Psychological Counseling December 31, 2025 Poongryun Chung
A single-case study of a middle-aged woman with childhood emotional deprivation, sexual trauma, bereavement, and chronic conflict with her mother-in-law found that six sessions of emotion-focused Reflected Image Meditation (RIM) reduced depressive symptoms by 48.6% on the Burns Depression Checklist and stress-related symptoms by 31.8% on the Stress Response Inventory. Qualitative analysis of transcripts, drawings, and process notes revealed a progressive emotional shift “from suppression to integration” as the client encountered inner figures representing unmet needs and shame. The authors propose that emotion-focused RIM facilitates the release of suppressed emotions, self-compassion, and emotional integration in middle-aged women with chronic depressive affect.