Simple bodily or verbal experiments in mindfulness: try a posture, a movement, a phrase — and observe the reaction. A safe way of exploring.
Step-by-step guide
- From your observation, offer an experiment: "Shall we try something?"
- Phrase it simply: "Try saying: No, I won't. And notice what happens"
- Or a bodily one: "Try clenching your fists. Now release. What shifts?"
- The client does it in mindfulness — observing themselves
- "What happened? What did you notice?"
- Explore the reaction together. It is material for the work
When to use
- When there is a hypothesis that wants to be tested
- For a soft entry into a theme, when the client is not yet ready for direct work with core material
Key phrases
Shall we try a small experiment? I'll suggest a movement or a phrase — you try it once, slowly, and we watch what happens inside. Not to prove anything. Just to see.
Follow-up questions
What did you notice when you did that?
Was there a moment you didn't want to continue?
What would change if we did it slower, or louder, or softer?
What would another version of this experiment be?
Alternative phrasings
If the experiment feels off, we invent a different one — you know better than I do.
Refusing the experiment is also information. We can stay there.
Warnings
- ⚠️ An experiment is not an assignment. The client may refuse — that too is information.
- ⚠️ Do not evaluate the "correctness" of the execution. The reaction matters, not the performance.
Source: Kurtz, 1990; Johanson, 2006
Materials are informational and educational and summarize publicly available scientific sources. They are not medical or psychological advice, are not intended for self-diagnosis or self-treatment, and do not replace consultation with a qualified professional.