Caraphort Resource Centre - Leona McDonnell Mindfulness and Wellness

Mindfulness for Teenagers

Leona McDonnell — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 21:03:41 +0000

Welcome to Mindfulness for Teenagers

This programme has been created, designed and recorded by Leona McDonnell, IMMA Internationally Accredited Creative Mindfulness for Children Practictioner, for Cara Phort Family Resource Centre and Longford, Westmeath CYPSC Partner Agencies.

What is the aim of this programme?

The aim of this programme is to bring Mindfulness, Meditation, Wellness and Emotional Resilience to teenagers and to enhance their daily lives with ‘forever’ coping tools and techniques to use during the daily demands and struggles of life that they face.

This programme fuels teenagers with the knowledge that ‘Everything we NEED is already WITHIN us’, we just need to learn how to use these internal, built in tools!

In this programme, Leona helps teenagers to realise, learn and use their internal strength and internal resources to build their confidence, mental, emotional and physical resilience and self belief.

Leona teaches teenagers using the Mindfulness, Kindness, Compassion, Self-Compassion and Resilience practices she uses daily in her own life to help her to live a calm, happy, peaceful and confident life.

This 8 lesson video recorded programme is suitable for children aged 13yrs-17yrs. This programme contains adapted methods from the works of Louise Shanagher and Dr Christopher Willard. Please click into the Curriculum tab for further information on the programme structure.

Meet Leona!

Leona is an Irish based IMMA Accredited Creative Mindfulness Kids Practitioner and she lives in Co Meath, Ireland with her 3 children and her husband.

She specialises in Clinical Hypnotherapy & Psychotherapy and is also an Internationally Accredited IMMA Mindfulness Rooted Ecotherapy Practitioner, a Rainbow Yoga Teacher for children, a Mindful Heart Accredited Practitioner and a Mindset Life Coach.

Leona also published a Mindfulness and Nature Connection book for children in Dec 2022, called ‘Lucy’s Mindful Life, when lucy meets arden’!

She loves everything that is trees, nature and animals!

How is the Programme Structured?

There are 8 Lesson’s in the programme, which are structured as follows:

Lesson 1: The Mind Storm
Lesson 2: Monkey Mind
Lesson 3: Mindfulness and the Brain
Lesson 4: Ruminating Thoughts and Thoughts like Clouds
Lesson 5: Compassion and Self-Compassion
Lesson 6: Building Resilience and Building on your Strengths
Lesson 7: Gratitude and Appreciation
Lesson 8: Affirmations and Positive Mind Body Relationship

Each lesson includes the following elements:

Lesson introduction and explanation from Leona
A breathing exercise
A talk on the lesson theme
A guided meditation practice
Reflective Questions
Journaling / Colouring Exercise
External supporting Mindfulness video’s

** Leona has designed this programme in a way that enables participants to move through each lesson at their own pace. The programme can be completed in their own time frame. **

What will Teenagers learn from this Programme?

Leona has devised this programme in a way to help teenagers to learn and understand that they don’t have to be afraid of their thoughts and emotions, that they don’t have to believe what their thoughts tell them, that they are not their thoughts, that they are so much bigger than their thoughts.

Each lesson will help teenagers to realise that it is ok to experience different thoughts, emotions, feelings and the physical sensations that these can create in their body.

Teenagers will feel empowered that they now have mindful tools in their ‘Mindful Tool Box’ to help them to self-regulate their breathing, their thoughts and their emotions.

Teenagers will learn the importance of accepting each emotion as they experience it, learn to be-friend themselves and these emotions and cultivate a knowing that all emotions and feelings are ok and that they all belong in our body and heart, they are a part of us too.

Teenagers will be equipped with a set of ‘forever’ coping tools and techniques to use in their daily lives, which will enable them to live comfortably alongside their anxieties, fears and stressors.

Creative Mindfulness for Children (4yrs-7yrs)

Leona McDonnell — Sun, 21 Mar 2021 16:16:19 +0000

Welcome to Creative Mindfulness for Children aged 4yrs-7yrs

This programme has been created, designed and recorded by Leona McDonnell, IMMA Internationally Accredited Creative Mindfulness for Children Practitioner, for Cara Phort Family Resource Centre and Longford, Westmeath CYPSC Partner Agencies.

What is the aim of this programme?

The aim of this programme is to bring Mindfulness, Meditation, Wellness and Emotional Resilience to children and to enhance their daily lives with ‘forever’ coping tools and techniques to use during the daily demands and struggles of life that they face.

Having suffered with anxiety, fear and worry as a young child and into her teenage years and early adulthood, Leona has devised this 8 lesson programme in a way to teach and empower children ‘from the inside out’. This programme fuels children with the knowledge that ‘Everything we NEED is already WITHIN us‘, we just need to learn how to use these internal, built in tools!

In this programme, Leona helps children to realise, learn and use their internal strength and internal resources to build their confidence, mental, emotional and physical resilience and self belief. Leona teaches children using the Mindfulness, Kindness, Compassion, Self-Compassion and Resilience practices she uses daily in her own life to help her to live a calm, happy, peaceful and confident life.

This 8 lesson video programme is suitable for children aged 4yrs-7yrs. This programme contains adapted methods from the works of Louise Shanagher. Please click into the Curriculum tab for further information on the programme structure.

Meet Leona!

Leona is an Irish based IMMA Internationally Accredited Creative Mindfulness for Children Practitioner and she lives in Co Meath, Ireland with her 3 children and her husband.

She specialises in Clinical Hypnotherapy & Psychotherapy, and is also an IMMA Internationally Accredited Mindfulness Rooted Ecotherapy Practitioner, a Rainbow Yoga Teacher for children, a Mindful Heart Accredited Practitioner and a Mindset Life Coach.

Leona also published a Mindfulness and Nature Connection book for children in Dec 2022, called ‘Lucy’s Mindful Life, when lucy meets arden’!

She loves everything that is trees, nature and animals!

How is the Programme structured?

There are 8 Lesson’s in the programme, which are structured as follows:

Lesson 1: Our Stormy Minds of Thoughts and Emotions (The Mind Jar)
Lesson 2: Calming and Taming our busy Monkey Minds
Lesson 3: All of my Emotions and Feelings are OK, Everything Belongs in my Heart
Lesson 4: My Worries and Me
Lesson 5: Sky Like Mind – Thoughts passing like Clouds
Lesson 6: My Thoughts and Emotions in the Here and Now – Thought Trains
Lesson 7: Being a Kind Friend to Myself
Lesson 8: Gratitude – What makes me who I am and what I am grateful for in my life

Each lesson includes the following elements:

Lesson introduction and explanation from Leona
A breathing practice
A talk on the lesson theme
A meditation practice
An activity practice
External supporting Mindfulness video’s

** Leona has designed this programme in a way that enables children to move through each lesson at their own pace. The programme can be completed in their own time frame. **

What will Children learn from this Programme?

Leona has devised this programme in a way to help children to learn and understand that they don’t have to be afraid of their thoughts and emotions, that they don’t have to believe what their thoughts tell them, that they are not their thoughts, that they are so much bigger than their thoughts.

Each lesson will help children to realise that it is ok to experience different thoughts, emotions, feelings and the physical sensations that these can create in their body.

Children will feel empowered that they now have mindful tools in their ‘Mindful Tool Box’ to help them to self-regulate their breathing, their thoughts and their emotions.

Children will learn the importance of welcoming each emotion as they experience it, learn to be-friend themselves and each emotional visitor and also learn how to help the emotions leave their minds and body when the time is right.

Children will be equipped with a set of ‘forever’ coping tools and techniques to use in their daily lives.

Parent / Guardian Support Programme – Creative Mindfulness for Children

Leona McDonnell — Fri, 05 Mar 2021 21:28:39 +0000

Welcome! This Parent / Guardian Support Programme has been created, designed and recorded by Leona McDonnell, IMMA Internationally Accredited Creative Mindfulness for Children Practitioner, for Cara Phort Family Resource Centre and Longford, Westmeath CYPSC Partner Agencies.

What is the aim of this Programme?

This is an 8 lesson video recorded programme suitable for parents/guardians of children/wards who are undertaking / have undertaken the Creative Mindfulness for Children Programme.

The aim of the children’s Creative Mindfulness Programme is to bring Mindfulness, Meditation, Wellness and Emotional Resilience to children and to enhance their daily lives with ‘forever’ coping tools and techniques to use during the daily demands and struggles of life that they face.

The aim of this Parent Support Programme is to provide support and guidance to parents on each lesson of the Creative Mindfulness for Children Programme. In this Parent Support Programme, Leona describes and explains each lesson of the children’s programme. Leona provides advice, support and guidance on how to deal with any emotions, fears or anxieties that may arise for the children while undertaking the Creative Mindfulness for Children Programme.

Having suffered with anxiety, fear and worry as a young child and into her teenage years and early adulthood, Leona has devised the 8 lesson Creative Mindfulness for Children Programme in a way to teach and empower children ‘from the inside out’. The programme fuels children with the knowledge that ‘Everything we NEED is already WITHIN us’, we just need to learn how to use these internal, built in tools!

In the Creative Mindfulness for Children Programme, Leona helps children to realise, learn and use their internal strength and internal resources to build their confidence, mental, emotional and physical resilience and self belief. Leona teaches children using the Mindfulness, Kindness, Compassion, Self-Compassion and Resilience practices she uses daily in her own life to help her to live a calm, happy, peaceful and confident life.

This 8 lesson video programme contains adapted methods from the works of Louise Shanagher. Please click into the Curriculum tab for further information on the programme structure.

Meet Leona!

Leona is an Irish based IMMA Accredited Creative Mindfulness for Children Practitioner and she lives in Co Meath, Ireland with her 3 children and her husband.

She specialises in Clinical Hypnotherapy & Psychotherapy and is also an IMMA Internationally Accredited Mindfulness Rooted Ecotherapy Practitioner, a Rainbow Yoga Teacher for children, a Mindful Heart Accredited Practitioner and a Mindset Life Coach.

Leona also published a Mindfulness and Nature Connection book for children in Dec 2022, called ‘Lucy’s Mindful Life, when lucy meets arden’!

She loves everything that is trees, nature and animals!

How is the Programme Structured?

There are 8 support lesson’s in this Parent Support Programme, which are structured as follows:

Lesson 1: Our Stormy Minds of Thoughts and Emotions (The Mind Jar)
Lesson 2: Calming and Taming our busy Monkey Minds
Lesson 3: All of my Emotions and Feelings are OK, Everything Belongs in my Heart
Lesson 4: My Worries and Me
Lesson 5: Sky Like Mind – Thoughts passing like Clouds
Lesson 6: My Thoughts and Emotions in the Here and Now – Thought Trains
Lesson 7: Being a Kind Friend to Myself
Lesson 8: Gratitude – What makes me who I am and what I am grateful for in my life

Each lesson includes the following element:

A supportive and guiding talk to support parents/guardians on each lesson theme.

** Leona has designed this programme in a way that enables parents to move through each lesson at their own pace. The programme can be completed in their own time frame. **

What will Parents / Guardians learn from this Programme?

Parents/guardians will gain an understanding of the importance of encouraging their child/children that it is OK to experience different thoughts, emotions and feelings.

Parents/guardians will better understand that each thought can give rise to an emotion and each emotion can in turn give rise to a physical sensation in the body.

Parents/guardians will be better able to recognise when their child/children is struggling with difficult thoughts, emotions and feelings and they will be able to encourage their child/children to use their natural built in coping tools and techniques as learned in the Creative Mindfulness for Children Programme.

Parents/guardians will be better equipped to help to co-regulate their child/children and they will also be able to encourage their child/children to self-regulate using their new Mindfulness skills.

Parents/guardians will be able to help their child/children to realise that their thoughts are not always true and that they have a choice of which type of thoughts they want to allow to visit them.

Parents/guardians will also learn how to help their child/children to let their thoughts come and go and that their thoughts will pass over just like passing clouds in the bright blue sky.

Creative Mindfulness for Children (7yrs-12yrs)

Leona McDonnell — Wed, 17 Feb 2021 21:44:08 +0000

Welcome to Creative Mindfulness for Children aged 7yrs-12yrs

The programme has been created, designed and recorded by Leona McDonnell, IMMA Internationally Accredited Creative Mindfulness for Children Practitioner, for Cara Phort Family Resource Centre and Longford, Westmeath CYPSC Partner Agencies.

What is the aim of this Programme?

The aim of this programme is to bring Mindfulness, Meditation, Wellness and Emotional Resilience to children and to enhance their daily lives with ‘forever’ coping tools and techniques to use during the daily demands and struggles of life that they face.

Having suffered with anxiety, fear and worry as a young child and into her teenage years and early adulthood, Leona has devised this 8 lesson programme in a way to teach and empower children ‘from the inside out’. This programme fuels children with the knowledge that ‘Everything we NEED is already WITHIN us’, we just need to learn how to use these internal, built in tools!

This 8 lesson video recorded programme is suitable for children aged 7yrs-12yrs. This programme contains adapted methods from the works of Louise Shanagher. Please click into the Curriculum tab for further information on the programme structure.

Meet Leona!

Leona is an Irish based IMMA Internationally Accredited Creative Mindfulness for Children Practitioner and she lives in Co Meath, Ireland with her 3 children and husband.

Leona also published a Mindfulness and Nature Connection book for children in Dec 2022, called ‘Lucy’s Mindful Life, when lucy meets arden’!

She loves everything that is trees, nature and animals!

How is the Programme structured?

There are 8 Lesson’s in the programme, which are structured as follows:

Lesson 1: Our Stormy Minds of Thoughts and Emotions (The Mind Jar)
Lesson 2: Calming and Taming our busy Monkey Minds
Lesson 3: All of my Emotions and Feelings are OK, Everything Belongs in my Heart
Lesson 4: My Worries and Me
Lesson 5: Sky Like Mind – Thoughts passing like Clouds
Lesson 6: My Thoughts and Emotions in the Here and Now – Thought Trains
Lesson 7: Being a Kind Friend to Myself
Lesson 8: Gratitude – What makes me who I am and what I am grateful for in my life

Each lesson includes the following elements:

Lesson introduction and explanation from Leona
A breathing practice
A talk on the lesson theme
A meditation practice
An activity practice
External supporting Mindfulness video’s

** Leona has designed this programme in a way that enables children to move through each lesson at their own pace. The programme can be completed in their own time frame. **

What will Children learn from this Programme?

Leona has devised this programme in a way to help children to learn and understand that they don’t have to be afraid of their thoughts and emotions, that they don’t have to believe what their thoughts tell them, that they are not their thoughts, that they are so much bigger than their thoughts.

Each lesson will help children to realise that it is ok to experience different thoughts, emotions, feelings and the physical sensations that these can create in their body.

Children will feel empowered that they now have mindful tools in their ‘Mindful Tool Box’ to help them to self-regulate their breathing, their thoughts and their emotions.

Children will learn the importance of welcoming each emotion as they experience it, learn to be-friend themselves and each emotional visitor and also learn how to help the emotions leave their minds and body when the time is right.

Children will be equipped with a set of ‘forever’ coping tools and techniques to use in their daily lives.