How do mindfulness and therapy work together?
Mindfulness and therapy together can be a valuable approach to boosting your mental wellbeing. These practices support a better understanding of thoughts and emotions, making it easier to navigate everyday challenges. Here, we’ll explore how mindfulness and therapy work together as accessible tools for a healthier mind.
What are mindfulness and therapy?
Mindfulness is about bringing awareness to the present moment, often through techniques like meditation. By focusing on “right now,” what is arising in the moment, and letting it be, mindfulness can help you nullify distracting or distressing thoughts and build more balance in your life.
Therapy, particularly cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), provides structured support to explore the links between thoughts, feelings and actions. CBT, for example, works well with mindfulness since it helps people notice and manage unhelpful patterns in their thoughts. Integrating mindfulness with therapy combines both tools, which can help with a variety of mental health challenges.
Common Questions:
Is mindfulness the same as therapy?
No, while mindfulness can feel therapeutic, therapy is a formal process where you work with a trained professional to build personal insights.
How is mindfulness used in therapy?
Therapists often include mindfulness techniques to help people build awareness, improve emotional balance, and stay grounded in the present moment.
What are the benefits of integrating mindfulness with therapy
Practising mindfulness while undergoing therapy offers various benefits, especially for those dealing with depression, anxiety and even chronic pain. Mindfulness helps people manage emotions by focusing on the present rather than getting stuck in past regrets or future worries. Techniques like mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) and CBT show positive effects on stress and mental health.
Together, mindfulness and therapy can provide a better understanding of thoughts and feelings as they come up in everyday life. When these techniques are combined, therapy sessions can feel more productive as clients approach their thoughts with less judgement and more openness. This combination is especially helpful for managing symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Types of therapy that use mindfulness training
Many types of therapy now incorporate mindfulness practices. Here are a few examples:
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
MBCT aims to prevent relapse for those who have struggled with depression. By blending mindfulness and cognitive approaches, MBCT helps to teach people to notice their thoughts without getting overwhelmed.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Though traditionally separate, many CBT practitioners now use mindfulness techniques to help people stay present, which is particularly helpful for managing anxious thoughts.
Research supports mindfulness-based interventions as effective tools for reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression. Studies show that methods like MBCT help build resilience, making it easier to handle challenges in both therapy and daily life.
Mindfulness practices you might try in therapy
Therapists often guide clients through mindfulness exercises that help with emotional balance and staying present.
Here are a few practices you might find helpful:
Mindfulness Meditation: This involves focusing on your breath, noticing when the mind wanders, and gently bringing your attention back. It’s a useful way to feel more grounded and calm.
Body Scanning: This practice involves slowly focusing on different parts of your body and noticing areas of tension without judgement. Body scanning can reduce physical stress and improve awareness of how emotions show up physically.
Mindful Observation: Noticing small details - like textures or sounds - can increase your ability to stay present and help ease anxiety.
Practising these exercises regularly strengthens the mind’s ability to focus and manage stress. Using these techniques both in and outside of therapy sessions can help improve emotional balance over time.
Debunking myths about mindfulness and therapy
There are a few misunderstandings about mindfulness and therapy that are worth clearing up:
Is mindfulness better than CBT?
Instead of one being “better,” they can actually work well together. Each approach has its own benefits, but they’re strongest when combined.
Do I need to choose between mindfulness and therapy?
Absolutely not. Mindfulness and therapy work hand-in-hand. Therapy provides guidance and support, while mindfulness training helps you reduce stress and anxiety, feel grounded, appreciate things you might take for granted, and feel more in control of your everyday life.
Both mindfulness and therapy offer support for mental health. When they’re used together, they create a well-rounded approach that helps you handle life’s ups and downs with greater ease.
Consider mindfulness and therapy for a positive change
Mindfulness and therapy can support each other in creating positive mental health changes. Together, these tools help us understand ourselves better and manage the challenges life throws at us with more resilience.
To learn more, explore other articles in this blog or come to an online taster session.
Mindful Surrey is grateful to Buick Hamblin for writing this article. Click the link below to find out more about the therapy she offers in Grantham and online. Please get in touch if you would like help finding a therapist in Surrey or to discuss any aspects of this article.
Author
Buick Hamblin is an experienced counsellor and psychotherapist with over 20 years in the field. Specialising in person-centred therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), she offers compassionate, non-judgmental support to clients dealing with a range of issues, including depression and relationship problems. Accredited by the BACP since 2007, Buick provides flexible counselling options both in Grantham and online.
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