by Chris Bergstrom | Jan 19, 2017 | exercises
This is a fun activity that will teach your teen to pay attention to the things he or she is grateful for. Studies suggest that gratitude practice comes with amazing benefits, such as increased happiness and social intelligence and less stress. And … gratitude...
by Chris Bergstrom | Dec 14, 2016 | exercises
Does this sound remotely familiar? “I’m way too busy to practice mindfulness.” “I have so many things to do that I’ll forget about them if I pause and practice.” “Not today, but tomorrow for sure!” I often feel this way myself. As a mindfulness teacher and a parent,...
by Chris Bergstrom | Oct 24, 2016 | exercises
I was recently asked how to introduce mindfulness to a child who is not interested in meditation. Many children associate mindfulness with sitting meditation, but mindfulness is much more than that. Sitting practice is just one way to experience and train mindfulness...
by Chris Bergstrom | Sep 6, 2016 | exercises
The body scan is a quick and effective mindfulness practice to help with stress and overwhelming emotions such as anger. With children you might want to start with “Mindful Feet,” a shorter body scan exercise that can be done in a few minutes anywhere you can sit or...
by Michelle Paget | Aug 11, 2016 | exercises
As a Child and Family Therapist and Yoga and Mindfulness Instructor, I frequently get questions from parents who are at a loss for how to incorporate mindfulness into their family’s busy schedule. One of my favorite techniques to use with children is the mindfulness...
by Chris Bergstrom | Jul 27, 2016 | exercises
Loving-kindness meditation is the practice of sending well-wishes towards yourself and other people. It’s effortless. You simply sit with your eyes closed, and imagine sending love and kind thoughts. Loving-kindness meditation offers a beautiful way to connect...
by Michelle Paget | Jul 15, 2016 | exercises
As a child therapist, I am frequently asked by children how to make their big emotions go away, and I try my best to explain the difficult-to-understand fact that we all have big emotions—excitement, anger, sadness, and happiness—to name a few. The challenging task is...
by Michelle Paget | Jun 28, 2016 | exercises
Are you looking for ways to communicate with your child about feelings? Are you tired of getting the same, “I’m fine” or “I’m good” response day after day? One of my favorite parts of being a child therapist is helping children learn how to identify and express their...
by Chris Bergstrom | Jun 16, 2016 | exercises
With gratitude, you acknowledge the goodness in your life. In positive psychology research, gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Hundreds of studies have documented the social, physical, and psychological benefits of gratitude....
by Chris Bergstrom | May 23, 2016 | exercises
The “Take Five” exercise is super simple to remember and can be used on-the-spot when we’re overwhelmed, need some space to think, and when we want to calm down to make better choices. You can use it pretty much anywhere, at any time. The exercise anchors our...
