About this resource
Gentle body awareness can help people feel more grounded. This script is written to be read aloud slowly or recorded as audio. It offers choices throughout, such as keeping eyes open, moving and skipping any part of the body, and returns attention to the room at the end.
Purpose
To provide a ready-to-use script for a short, choice-based body awareness practice.
Who it is for
Primary profession: Counsellors and therapists. Also relevant for psychologists, youth workers.
Client or participant group: Adolescents and adults learning grounding and relaxation skills.
Practice setting: Counselling sessions, or recorded for practice at home.
Suggested uses
- Grounding in sessions
- Recording for home practice
- Group programs
- Relaxation skills
Instructions for practitioners
- Read slowly with pauses where marked.
- Offer choices and remind clients they can stop at any time.
- For clients with trauma histories, start with external grounding and short practices.
- Ask afterwards what it was like.
Instructions for clients or participants
- Find a comfortable position.
- Follow along, choosing what feels okay.
- Stop at any time.
Accessibility considerations
Can be recorded as audio. Offer a written copy.
Scope and limitations
A practice script for use within counselling. Body-focused practices can be distressing for some people.
Research basis
Mindfulness-based approaches show moderate benefits for anxiety, depression and stress across many groups. Trauma-informed practice prioritises safety, trust, choice, collaboration and empowerment, and avoids re-traumatising people.
- Kezelman, C., & Stavropoulos, P. (2012). Practice guidelines for treatment of complex trauma and trauma informed care and service delivery. Adults Surviving Child Abuse (now Blue Knot Foundation). https://professionals.blueknot.org.au/resources/publications/practice-guidelines/
- Khoury, B., Lecomte, T., Fortin, G., Masse, M., Therien, P., Bouchard, V., Chapleau, M. A., Paquin, K., & Hofmann, S. G. (2013). Mindfulness-based therapy: A comprehensive meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology Review, 33(6), 763–771. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2013.05.005
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2014). SAMHSA's concept of trauma and guidance for a trauma-informed approach (HHS Publication No. SMA 14-4884). SAMHSA. https://store.samhsa.gov/product/samhsas-concept-trauma-and-guidance-trauma-informed-approach/sma14-4884
What is included
A 2-page printable A4 PDF, including a practitioner notes page with the research basis (version 1.0).
Originality
Original Practitioner Plus content: wording, activity structure, layout and icons were created for this resource. No third-party worksheets, illustrations or text were reproduced.
