Mind-Body Medicine Success: Stephanie Whiting, MS

Stephanie Whiting, MSLast night I completed a mind-body skills group at the county jail. In 1998 I ran a group there as part of my graduate research in expressive writing. In addition to writing, we did relaxation breathing, Safe Place, autogenics, body scan, Wise Spirit and other more didactic forms of stress management. This occurred before I took the Center's trainings; as a result, the group sessions and atmosphere were not nearly as transformative as we know they can be using the Center's model. Following that initial group, I led a couple meditation groups through the year 2000 and from my experiences, grew accustomed to the exigencies of running groups at the jail.

The first impetus for my returning to leading jail groups was a training I went to in February on working with combat veterans who have PTSD. The instructor, a VA psychologist, focused on the large numbers of vets (including Vietnam era vets) who are presenting outside of the VA system. These combat vets return to the civilian world of work and later encounter difficulties. They then present through EAP programs or use their insurance to gain mental health and/or AODA treatment. Alternatively, some veterans wind up in the criminal justice system due to violence, road rage, altercations and/or drug usage.

In my previous work with incarcerated people, I knew that many came from a background of abuse and trauma. The social worker at the jail also recognized that inmates he called "frequent fliers" had a history of trauma and abuse. Here’s where the second idea turned on a light bulb for me — The valuable work of the Center in helping people of all backgrounds and ages who have suffered trauma and who may have gone on to develop PTSD. The social worker was enthused about the mind-body skills group, he ended up participating in the sessions. There were no veterans in this particular group, it was comprised of women who had gotten into legal trouble due to drug usage, theft (to support their habit), drug trafficking, etc. They all had previous incarcerations.

The sessions went well, and I was inspired by the work, as always. The room did not lend itself to ease of learning breathing and other practices. There are large observation windows along one wall, where everyone (inmates, staff, people being arrested or released) who needed to walk anywhere could look in. The garage was on the other side of one wall, leading to loud and regular vehicle noises. The members, however, learned that they could accept these interruptions and do their work. I believe it was good practice for them.

One participant said that the sessions helped her with her anger. She used to get angry right away about most things; after the training she said, “I can breathe now and not respond.” Another participant said that with the practice in group, relaxation became easier. She said the practice “helped me to access my emotions in a different way.” Another member used breathing to help with sleep problems and back pain.

From my point of view, the group members experienced a different way of being with themselves. They learned different ways to articulate and express what was going on for them. By being in group they opened up the possibility of managing their emotions in a beneficial way, rather than using drugs.