New Youth Mindfulness Retreats
These practices can be useful to ev-
by Joe klein
eryone. They are cornerstones of good
Our relationship with ourself, possibly the most important relationship of all, is
mental health, and experience proves
often neglected in our stressful world. With today’s teens feeling pressured by
that teens do better when their parents
the demands of school, parents, jobs and peers, it can be difficult to find the time
provide positive role models.
and space to go inside and listen to their inner voice.
In 2009, a new series of mindful retreats will offer a community of accep-
Act Today
tance, support and kindness, where guided activities and meditation open up
If we think that a teen is troubled by
young people to come into alignment with themselves and the ways they interact
anxieties, we shouldn’t hesitate to
with others.
seek professional advice. A physician
or psychologist can help determine
Teen Retreats Young Adult Retreats (ages 18-31)
whether a teen’s worries are typical of
Earthsong Organic Farm and Retreat in Earthsong Organic Farm and Retreat /
their age or are symptoms of a disorder
Stuart, Virginia Selu Retreat Center in Radford, Virginia
that needs treatment. It is worth noting
April 24-26 / July 11-18 / October 9-11 March 7-12 Spring Break at Radford
that anxiety disorders are commonly
Contact: joklein@swva.net or 540-239-2838 University
Contact aforrest@radford.edu
seen in combination with other prob-
Hidden Villa in Los Altos, California
or 540-831-5487
lems, ranging from depression, eating
April 24-26
disorders and attention deficit disorders
Contact: april.teen@bpf.org Padmasambhava Peace Institute in
to drug abuse.
Cazadero, California
Padmasambhava Peace Institute in
June 28-July 4th
The good news is that therapists
Cazadero, California
Contact: june.ya@bpf.org
have made great strides in treating
June 21-27 / October dates to come
anxiety disorders, usually using a type
Contact: june.teen@bpf.org
of psychotherapy called cognitive
or oct.teen@bpf.org
behavior modification, combined with
Insight Meditation Society Retreat Center
relaxation training. If a teen’s anxiety
in Barre, Massachusetts
problems are affecting her school work
July 5-9
or school attendance, then the school
Contact: rc@dharma.org
psychologist should also be involved. If
anxiety problems are affecting a teen’s
social life, then social skills training
may be advisable.
Talk with a loved teen about any
suspected problems today. Even though
g g Steps to manage Panic Attacks g g
he may shrug his shoulders, stare us
down or even slam the door in our
Use Your Mind
face, smart parents understand that
• Remind yourself that you are not taking long, deep breaths. Remember
adolescence is a time to step closer to a
in danger. You are just having an that breathing deeply will bring need-
child, not away from them.
exaggerated experience of a normal ed oxygen back into your body, stop
Although teens may resist our ef-
reaction to stress. your heart from racing and eliminate
forts and remind us that they are “not
• Remind yourself that you can
any tingling or dizzy feelings.
kids anymore,” our role as a parent
does not change. Teens continue to
manage the uncomfortable feelings. • Look around and notice all the
need structure and support as much as • Instead of thinking thoughts like,
normal things going on around you.
they do in childhood; when they are “Oh gosh, this is awful. What’s go-
Focus on that normalcy as you allow
worried and anxious, they need it—and ing to happen to me?” think, “Okay,
the fearful symptoms to pass.
us—even more. I recognize these feelings. I know • Do other things that feel comfort-
exactly what to do to release them ing to you and help relieve anxiety.
Lawrence Shapiro, Ph.D., is a national- and I’ll do it now.” Some people sip cool water, some
ly recognized parenting expert, author lie down and close their eyes and
and editor of the Instant Help series of
Use Your Body
some put a cool cloth on the base of
workbooks, published by New Harbin-
• Find a place where you can sit
their neck.
ger Publications. The Anxiety Work-
down. If you are outside, lean
Adapted excerpt from The Anxiety
book for Teens, by Lisa Schab, one of
against something solid.
Workbook for Teens by Lisa M.
the most popular, provides a practical,
• Begin to slow your breathing by Schab. Used with permission.
step-by-step program for teens.
February 2009 41
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