Mindfulness is a form of meditation that involves bringing your full attention to the present moment without judgment or analysis. Practicing mindfulness creates a heightened awareness of your sensations and emotions. This practice utilizes techniques such as focused breathing, guided imagery, and relaxation exercises to promote a sense of calmness and alleviate stress.

When your mind is consumed with excessive planning, problem-solving, daydreaming, or negative thoughts, it can be mentally draining and contribute to stress, anxiety, and symptoms of depression. Mindfulness exercises can redirect your focus away from these unproductive thought patterns and encourage you to actively engage with your surroundings and experiences. By doing so, mindfulness helps restore a sense of balance and presence in your life.

How does Mindfulness work in therapy?

At its core, mindfulness aims to foster a deeper understanding and awareness of one's consciousness and sense of self, leading to enhanced mental well-being and improved relationships. By cultivating a mindful perspective, clients can experience greater peace within themselves and in their interactions with others.

Therapy often involves painful and confusing aspects of experience that have yet to be fully explored. By increasing awareness through mindfulness in a therapy session, clients often become more directly in touch with issues that can benefit from their attention, which leads to greater self-care, self-understanding, and acceptance.

Who can Mindfulness help?

Anyone interested in nurturing their awareness and deepening their ability to relax into the present moment. Especially valuable for clients doing insight-based work.

References: Mayo Clinic, Greater Good, NIH News in Health, The Harvard Gazette

Marcus Berley is a Self Space Seattle therapist who works with high-achieving people who want to access the deeper areas of their lived experience, including individuals who struggle to fully enjoy their success and couples who struggle to address conflict and cultivate a more intimate connection.