Meditation Groups

On autopilot…

The endless mind chatter that narrates your day and pulls you into worry and fear is exhausting.

At times you feel like you’re on autopilot: wake up, go to work, eat dinner, work some more, watch a show, rinse, and repeat – sometimes, it’s hard to remember how to enjoy life.

You act out in anger and fear in ways that you later feel ashamed about, but you can’t seem to change.

You wish you could be more present with your family and loved ones, but you feel so depleted that you just want to numb things away with scrolling, Netflix, and alcohol.

If only there were something that could help quiet your mind, give you some sense of calm in a hectic world, and allow you to feel more presence and joy in your life.

Actually…

Yea, yea, meditation is great, but…

I’m not good at it – my brain doesn’t turn off.

My life is too chaotic to find quiet time to sit with a candle and some woo music.

It’s just not for me.

Perhaps you’ve said one (or all of these things) about meditation in the past. I get it… I’ve said all those things myself.

Let’s talk benefits…

As you probably know (and why you’re reading this page), meditation is an excellent tool for relieving stress, increasing patience and tolerance, enhancing self-awareness, and improving mood. Here are some other surprising research-based facts about meditation:

It can reduce pain intensity and unpleasantness more effectively than morphine.

Regular meditators live longer.

It can be more effective at reducing blood pressure than medication.

It can be better than sleeping to replenish alertness and attention.

Decision-making becomes easier with meditation.

Sounds good, right? So… what’s getting in your way?

I know… a lot of things! I’ve been there, too.

Maybe you’ve tried it before, but it just didn’t feel right – like it was too hard… or you weren’t “doing it right,”… or your brain just kept thinking and thinking.

Or perhaps you’re exhausted after work and just want to “numb it all away” with Netflix, YouTube, food, or other substances.

Or you don’t have a space to yourself where small children aren’t constantly intruding.

Or maybe you feel like you don’t have the discipline to start one more thing.

You need some accountability and support.

It can just be easier to learn new things with other people.

Sure, some people are driven to learn and practice things on their own, but if you’re like me, having a place to “go” with others creates accountability, enhanced learning, and a more positive experience overall.

Plus, it’s an opportunity to connect with other people with similar interests. After all, the world has been a kind of isolated place lately…

Here’s what it looks like…

In the group setting…

Groups generally have 4-8 people. People come from all walks of life, genders, ages, ethnicities, etc. Generally, my groups are for beginners and people who are relatively new to meditation, so don’t worry about feeling like you won’t know what you’re doing. Everyone will be relatively new to this.

Right now, we meet online (but looking for an in-person option soon, so if this is of interest to you, please reach out!). An online option offers convenience and flexibility and allows you to create a space within your home to practice meditation regularly. My online platform is HIPPA compliant, and all group members sign documents about confidentiality within a group context.

We’ll begin by discussing your wins and challenges from the week. You only have to share what you feel comfortable sharing here, but this is a way of developing group cohesion, gaining inspiration from others, and feeling accountable for your practice.

Next, I’ll introduce a new type of meditation. This will begin with a brief description of the meditation, its benefits, and how to practice it. Examples include breath anchoring, body scans, and meditation to develop increased compassion.

We’ll then practice for 15-30 minutes. Here, everyone will have their cameras and microphones turned off while I guide you through the meditation. I may have some gentle music playing in the background. You may sit, lie down, have your eyes open or closed (whatever feels best for you – no one will be able to see you!), and simply relax and take in the words. I will record the meditation and send it out to the group, so you may then have it to practice over the week.

Finally, we’ll take some time for personal reflection and group sharing. You don’t have to share here, but some people find it helpful to share what worked or did not work for them, ask any questions they might have, and hear what other people experienced.

We will meet weekly for eight weeks. At the end of the group, you will have eight recorded meditations, understand how to better incorporate meditation in your life, and have resources for further exploration.

In individual sessions…

We will start with a very short grounding/meditative exercise in each session that helps you get out of your mind and into your breath and body.

Then, depending on what you want to focus on, we might do a specific meditation in session that I will record and send to you to practice on your own.

While meditation won’t be 100% of our sessions, I will help point out how it might be helpful for specific issues you are experiencing and give you tips on how to better integrate it into your life.

We can also incorporate homework assignments that involve regular meditation practices.

A calmer, more relaxed life can be yours…

Meditation practices are helpful for a multitude of issues, including anxiety, trauma, depression, ADHD, stress, and unhappiness.

Whether you would like to learn more about meditation in individual therapy, incorporate it into your daily life, or join one of my meditation groups as a dedicated space to learn and share with other like-minded individuals, I promise…

Meditation can be an accessible and helpful tool in your life!

Reach out to me today for a free 15-minute consultation to see how I can help you live your best life: agarrattcounseling@gmail.com.