Introduction to Mindfulness - Dean Amory

was for them to simply be in the present: As one member put it “I
want to be more aware of where my head’s going. Just to be where I
am.”
Many also reported feeling anxious, driven, unable to relax. This
made it hard for them to be present to people they cared about and
to whom they wanted to learn to be more present: “ I want to be
present when I’m doing things with my sons”.
Others hoped that this course would help them be more at ease with
themselves, “To learn to relax a bit, I’m very driven as a person”, “to
get to know my feelings, to be comfortable in myself”.
2. Ground rules
In terms of ground rules for the group, we clearly agreed that it
should be a safe place for its members and that whatever was said
would never be repeated outside of the group in any way that might
identify a particular member.
Concern was expressed by some members that they might cry. This
was discussed and it was accepted that it was a real possibility for
many of them, and that it could be a very positive and important
experience.
The team discussed writing notes during the group on group process
and publishing an account of the group when it was over, along with
some kind of formal evaluation of its impact on the members.
It was important to achieve a clear understanding about the research
aspect of this pilot in MBRP and to be given permission by the group
(also signed earlier by each of them) to report on the experience to
the Deora staff team, and to others working in similar drug projects.
All reporting would be done in a completely anonymous manner and
no personal details would be disclosed to anyone outside the group
program.
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