Mindfulness Meditation for Reducing Anxiety in Young Adults

Intervention Protocol

Yesenia Watt

RECTH 5360-001
Program Title

Mindfulness Meditation for Reducing Anxiety in Younger Adults

General Program Purpose

The mindfulness meditation program is designed for individuals who experience anxiety and

stress. The purpose for this program is to alleviate stress or anxiety-like symptoms through

breathing exercises, guided visualization, and heart-rhythm meditation.

Program Description

It is a group-based, mindfulness therapy program that is facilitated by a certified

recreational therapist twice a week for a fourteen-week period. Clients will learn skills that

include: T’ai Chi, yoga, guided visualization, and specific breathing techniques to help clients in

stress-inducing environments. This program will also allow clients to focus on the present, rather

than the past or future, and will help the clients act on decisions in an effective manner before

they begin to question what their decision will do to their past or future.

Population

The program is designed for young adults, ages 18-34, who experience anxiety-like symptoms.

Outcomes Expected

● Patients will demonstrate focusing on the present moment.

● Patients will learn a new technique in mitigating stressful environments.

● Patients will be able to define mindfulness and understand its meaning.

Techniques or approaches

● Quiet, cool setting.

● Clients participate in a circle for breathing exercises.

● Setting expectations for the group.

 ● Allowing the clients to find somewhere comfortable for them to sit during guided

visualization/ meditation.

Client Problems to be Addressed

● Low Mood

○ Clients with anxiety often show irritability. Relaxation helps ease annoyance and

anger.

● Poor Mental Health

○ Common comorbidities of anxiety include: depression, social anxiety, and

substance abuse disorder.

Referral Criteria

Voluntarily through self-referral.

Contraindicated Criteria

Guided visualization could evoke hallucinations in populations with diagnoses that are prone to

those experiences and if the intervention is contraindicated by the treatment team.

RT Intervention Activities or Techniques

● Guided Visualization

● Yoga

● Ta’i Chi

● Journaling

● Painting/Drawing/Collage

Staff Training/ Certification/ Licensure Requirements

 ● State licensure of Therapeutic Recreation Specialist or Master Therapeutic Recreation

Specialist.

● National certification of Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist

● Registered Yoga Instructor

● Certified Meditation Instructor

● Optional:

○ Seated yoga certification

○ Seated T’ai Chi certification

Risk Management Considerations

● Having a client with schizophrenia and doing a guided imagery modality.

● Awareness of each client's background.

○ Knowledge of possible triggers.

○ Knowledge of previous trauma.

○ Knowledge of strengths and disadvantages.

● Accounting for any items being used.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Considerations

● Offering seated versions of T’ai Chi and Yoga for those in wheelchairs and those who

have limited strength in their lower extremities.

Program Evaluation

● Client satisfaction surveys

○ Comparing client reviews to their learned outcomes

○ Keeping records of group participation

● Evaluation of client goals

○ Comparing client goals to notes taken by members of the treatment team

○ Checking to see if goals were met and have been maintained.

 Bibliography/References

Jacobs, E. E., Schimmel, C.J., Masson, R.L., & Havill, R.L. (2016). Group counseling strategies

and skills (8th Ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage.

Porter, H.R. (2015). Recreation therapy basics, techniques, and interventions. Enumclaw, WA:

Idyll Arbor, Inc.

Stumbo, N.J. & Peterson C.A. (2021). Therapeutic recreation program design (6th Ed.). Boston,

MA: Allyn and Bacon

Porter, H. R. (Ed.) (2015). Recreational therapy for specific diagnoses and conditions.

Enumclaw, WA: Idyll Arbor, Inc.

Y. Watt, RT Student

October 18, 2022