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If you’ve been researching your options for starting therapy, you may have noticed that many therapists promote the use of mindfulness for improving your mental well-being. Some therapists even incorporate mindfulness in their treatment approach. But what is mindfulness exactly, and how can it help you both inside and outside of the therapy room?
Mindfulness is essentially the practice of being fully present in the moment. It involves paying attention to your thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations without judgment.
If that’s hard to conceptualize, here’s an example. Imagine you're sitting in a park. You might be thinking about work you forgot to do (in other words, thinking about the past) or worrying about an upcoming meeting (the future), all while missing the chirping birds and the warmth of the sun on your skin (the present). Mindfulness helps you tune into that present-moment experience.
Two key components in practicing mindfulness involve:
Focus and observation
Training your attention to be on your thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations without judgment. It's like watching a movie of your own mind, noticing thoughts come and go without getting caught up in them.
Acceptance
Acknowledging your present experience, good or bad, without trying to change it. It's about allowing what is, to be.
Mindfulness isn't about achieving a state of perfect calmness or becoming emotionless. It's about cultivating a more skillful way of relating to your inner world, allowing you to choose how to respond to situations rather than react impulsively.
Makes sense? Now, how does mindfulness look in therapy sessions?
Mindfulness and therapy
Your therapist might practice mindfulness techniques with you in a few ways:
Breathwork exercises: Focusing on your breath can help you anchor yourself in the present moment and calm your nervous system
Body scan meditation: Paying attention to different parts of your body and any physical sensations you're experiencing
Mindful communication: Practicing active listening and expressing yourself clearly in the moment
Identifying unhelpful thought patterns: Becoming aware of negative thought spirals and learning to detach from them
Mindfulness beyond therapy
As you continue to practice mindfulness techniques with your therapist, you will likely find yourself getting benefits that extend beyond your therapy sessions. Here are some outcomes clients frequently report:
Increased Self-Awareness: By paying attention to their internal experience, clients gain a better understanding of their emotions, thoughts, and physical sensations.
Improved Focus and Concentration: Mindfulness helps train your attention to stay on the current task, reducing mind-wandering and boosting concentration.
Improved Emotional Regulation: Mindfulness allows clients to observe their emotions without judgment, fostering healthier coping mechanisms and reducing reactivity.
Reduced Stress and Anxiety: Focusing on the present moment helps clients detach from worries about the future or regrets about the past, which are major sources of stress.
Greater Self-Compassion: With increased self-awareness, clients learn to be kinder to themselves, accepting their flaws and imperfections.
Of course, mindfulness is a practice, not a destination. It takes intention and repetition to develop these skills, but the great thing about therapy is that your therapist can support you in a safe and encouraging environment. Our qualified therapists here at Salt River Therapy are experienced in supporting clients using mindfulness skills — consider giving it a try! Click the button below and schedule a free phone consultation now.
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