In my time as a psychologist, one of the common questions I receive from clients is with regard to mindfulness and meditation. While some may see meditation as a strange practice from some other culture or time, the art of mindfulness has made strides in helping a variety of individuals reclaim peace of mind in a hectic world.
When combined with psychotherapy, mindfulness can be a great way to center oneself and build resilience amid the noise all around. However, before some clients are comfortable practicing mindfulness, it is helpful for them to understand what the practice is, and how it can help them work through their therapy experience.
Table of Contents
What is Mindfulness Therapy?
In the world of therapeutics, mindfulness is often described as a “conscious awareness of one’s present moment.” By quieting yourself and spending intentional time drawing toward the center of one’s mental and physical being, the ability for healing to occur can come in a non-judgemental environment.
While mindfulness can lead to a state of relaxation, that is not the main goal of mindfulness therapy. Rather than emptying your mind of all thoughts, mindfulness in therapy focuses the individual’s awareness on their inner thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations to bring to light any conscious or unconscious beliefs or experiences that can hinder understanding of oneself in a deeper way.
When done consistently and with compassion, a daily mindfulness practice can help you to gain deeper insight into your inner-thought patterns and unlock the ability for therapy to work even more effectively.
Mindfulness Therapy In Action
So what does a typical mindfulness psychotherapy session look like? Often, when working with a client to increase their mindfulness, they will work through a guided meditation that helps them to focus on the present moment noticing what arises in the body, feelings, and thoughts.
Often, those working with a mindfulness practice will find that their mind wanders, and will have to work to bring their thoughts back to a central anchor such as the breath. At first, this guided meditation practice can seem difficult, but with time those who become accustomed to mindfulness can bring themselves peace during moments that trigger their anxieties, addictions, and more. Should the client become worked up or stressed by the therapy, their mindfulness practice helps them to calm themselves so that they can continue pressing forward toward healing.
Experience The Power Of Mindfulness With A Trained Berkeley Psychologist
Practical and applied mindfulness practices are one of my favorite ways to help clients find hope and healing from a variety of issues that keep them from living a healthy, thriving life. If you would like to learn more about mindfulness practice in psychotherapy sessions, I would love to talk with you! Contact me today to learn more about my approach to therapy , and to discover how you can begin using mindfulness techniques to reduce your stress, increase your productivity, and help you overcome years of trauma and abuse issues.
Take steps toward hope and healing today. Contact me today to learn more about my Berkeley Psychologist services.
