The Light Stream exercise

When I work with people who are distressed, I offer as many tools as possible.  These are tools you can use outside of our psychotherapy sessions so you are able to calm, soothe and ground yourself without my help. 

The Light Stream is just one example of those tools.  Set out below is a step-by-step guide to this exercise.  If you would prefer to watch a video version of this, you can find it here.

Step by Step

• Take a deep, cleansing breath in through your nose, and then out through your mouth.
• Just notice your body for a moment.  Guide your attention from the top of your head down to the tips of your toes.  Whatever you experience, just notice it for a moment.
• If you notice any tension or unusual sensations, just notice it.  Don’t try to do anything different for a moment.
• Then notice if you are aware of any unhelpful thoughts or emotions.  If you identify any, just notice them.
• Now think of a colour that you believe to be healing.  (Mine changes, but today mine is a lilac colour.)
• Once you have chosen that colour, imagine a ray of light that has that healing colour.  The ray of light will shine through the top of your head.
• Direct the healing light through every part of your body including - 
  • Your head and face 
  • Your neck and shoulders
  • Your left arm, all the way down to your hand and fingers
  • Your right arm, all the way down to your hand and fingers
  • Your chest
  • Your stomach
  • Your back
  • Your waist
  • Your right leg, all the way down to your foot and toes
  • Your left leg, all the way down to your foot and toes
• Adopt a curiosity towards the light as it is directed to each part of your body. Does it change in anyway?  They may change in shape or colour or size, for example.
• There is an infinite supply of this healing light, so each time you breath in you can imagine drawing more and more of that light in.  if you are directing the healing light towards a distressing thought or emotion or bodily sensation, keep drawing more and more healing light into that thought or emotion or bodily sensation, until the distress has subsided.  The distress might even disappear altogether. 
• When the distress has subsided, you can then think of a positive statement to accompany this healing experience.  For example, I like a warm pale light, and I call this ‘peace and calm lilac’.
• Then redirect your attention to other parts of your body, or other distressing thoughts or emotions, and repeat the process using this infinite supply of healing light.
• When you are ready to end the exercise, gently bring your attention in the present moment by focusing on your breathing and noticing three things that are in the room.
• You are now ready to end the exercise and go about your day.

​I hope you found this useful.
​
Chris Warren-Dickins LLB MA LPC
Psychotherapist specializing in anxiety, depression, relationship, and men’s therapy. 
Chris also offers EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy). 
www.exploretransform.com
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