Journal of Meditation based Psychological Counseling (J Medit Psychol Couns)
Indexed in KCI
OPEN ACCESS, PEER REVIEWED
pISSN 2289-0823
eISSN 2671-6119
Research Article

Exploring the Applicability of Reflected Image Meditation in Adolescent Counseling

Adjunct Professor in the Department of Counseling Psychology, Graduate School of Konyang University

Correspondence to Lee, Bomi, E-mail: leeahncounsel@naver.com

Volume 32, Pages 125-135, December 2024.
Journal of Meditation Based Psychological Counseling 2024, 32, 125-135. https://doi.org/10.12972/mpca.20240018
Received on November 15, 2024, Revised on December 26, 2024, Accepted on December 31, 2024, Published on December 31, 2024.
Copyright © 2024 Meditation based Psychological Counseling Association.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0).

Abstract

This study explored the applicability of Reflected Image Meditation in adolescent counseling. The participants were 15 graduate students majoring in psychotherapy, enrolled in the course Adolescent Counseling. After conducting group Reflected Image Meditation sessions, six of these students voluntarily submitted written reflections on (1) their experiences with Reflected Image Meditation and (2) the potential applicability of this meditation in adolescent counseling. These reflections were analyzed using the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) method. The analysis revealed four main themes for (1) experiences with Reflected Image Meditation: ① emotional insight and acceptance, ② self-awareness and the beginning of change, ③ emotional relaxation and stability, and ④ challenges and progress in emotion regulation. Additionally, four main themes emerged for (2) the applicability of Reflected Image Meditation in adolescent counseling: ① self-awareness and confronting emotions, ② enhanced emotional regulation and coping skills, ③ improved understanding of relationships and contextual awareness, and ④ exploration and correction of cognitive distortions. Each main theme was further divided into several subthemes. Based on these findings, the study discusses the positive potential of Reflected Image Meditation in adolescent counseling and suggests its use as a new counseling approach. The implications and directions for future research are also discussed.The results of the study showed that Welwood and Boorstein’s transpersonal psychotherapy commonly applied the assessment methods of existing psychotherapy and used meditation as the main transpersonal psychotherapy technique. However, the two psychotherapists had different opinions on spiritual practice and growth. While Welwood carefully examined spiritual detours, Boorstein actively used spiritual practice as a tool to resolve psychological disorders. Welwood warned of the damage that transpersonal therapy can cause by introducing a method to deal with spiritual detours. Boorstein is positive about meditation groups, but Wellwood warns against the reinforcement of defenses that meditation groups can provide to clients. This study can be used as a resource to provide specific methods and treatment principles of transpersonal psychotherapy in a reality where there is a lack of specific and detailed theoretical explanations for the assessment and treatment of transpersonal psychotherapy.

Keywords

Reflected image meditation, Meditation based psychological counseling, Mindfulness, Adolescent counseling, Interpretive Phenomenological analysis (IPA)

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