In search of inner wisdom: guided mindfulness meditation in the context of suicide.
Liora Birnbaum, Aiton Birnbaum
TheScientificWorldJournal March 18, 2004 DOI: 10.1100/tsw.2004.17 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case study with group intervention Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Suicide survivors and mental health professionals |
| Interventions | Guided meditation Relaxation Mindfulness meditation |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Many participants in the group intervention reported significant positive experiences, including connections to knowledge highly relevant to their current life state. The authors suggest that guided meditation can be a powerful resource for therapists and clients, whether insights are experienced as coming from within or from an external source. |
Abstract
Spiritual concerns are highly relevant, but often ignored, in psychotherapy in general and in suicide in particular. This article presents Internet data and clinical case material bearing on the topic, and describes an innovative therapeutic intervention administered in a group-workshop format with suicide survivors and mental health professionals. The technique incorporates relaxation and mindfulness meditation, with the addition of guided meditation in search of inner wisdom. Results of the group intervention are described and illustrated. Many participants reported a significant positive experience including connection to knowledge that was highly relevant to them in their current state of life. Whether such insights were experienced as coming from within (a deeper part of the self) or from an external source (a guiding figure or presence), indications are that guided meditation can be a powerful resource for therapists and their clients, suicidal and otherwise. Possible applications in diverse populations and settings, as well as the need for further research, are discussed.