Mindfulness-Based Therapy

Mindfulness-based therapy is an umbrella term to describe therapeutic approaches grounded in mindfulness. Mindfulness is often incorporated as an adjunct into other therapeutic approaches to help manage concerns such as depression and anxiety. Mindfulness is defined as the state in which one becomes aware of one’s physical, mental, and emotional experience in the present moment, without judgement.  

The average person has more than 6000 words per day. It’s likely that at least one, if not more, of these thoughts could be more negative in nature with the potential to accumulate and spiral into a pathway of more unhelpful thoughts. This can often lead to concerns such as depression and anxiety. Mindfulness is an effective skill to use to help one separate themselves from negative thoughts, emotions, and bodily sensations, often before they become too overwhelming.  

There are a variety of mindfulness-based techniques that are used in therapy. The most commonly known mindfulness practice is meditation. Meditation can be delivered in session, whereby the therapist guides the client to direct their focus to their present moment experience (e.g., body scan of physical and/or emotional sensations), or through a guided imagery meditation. Meditation can also be practiced at home similarly through guided imagery meditation recordings and body scans, or the use of a single word (e.g., mantra) or phrase to promote focus and bring oneself back to the present. Another commonly used mindfulness technique is breathing. Breath work is a powerful tool to help alleviate stress and anxiety, and overall promote relaxation.