Mindfulness

Oftentimes we find ourselves ruminating about the past or worrying about the future, but how often do we take time to be present in the moment? This is where the therapeutic intervention of Mindfulness can come in. Mindfulness refers to a variety of meditative ideas and practices that involve observing our thoughts and increasing our awareness of our inner world. A very important aspect of mindfulness is being attentive to the present moment with a non-judgmental perspective. When we are able to be present in situations, we can better manage our response. Mindfulness includes a variety of techniques including: 

• Meditation 
• Grounding Techniques 
• Noticing sensations in your body 
• Mindful eating 
• Yoga 

Mindfulness based therapy can involve learning these practices and how they can be beneficial as well as learning how to better cope in times of distress. Benefits associated with mindfulness may include increased focus, reduced emotional reactivity, improvement in interpersonal relationships, reduced stress, and increased self-esteem. 

Mindfulness strategies can be used on their own in treatment but are also often used within a variety of different treatment approaches including Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT).