“The goal of mindfulness-based counseling is to help people learn to regulate their emotions and thoughts in a healthier way.”
Mindfulness Counseling | Los Angeles, CA
Enjoy the present moment
Mindfulness is about learning to stay focused on what is really happening rather than focusing on the thoughts about what the moment might mean about us.
Learn to be present with yourself
Mindfulness is a way of making peace with your present.
The concept of mindfulness encompasses a variety of approaches. Whether it be through mindfulness meditation, yoga, breathing exercises, or simply “sitting with” yourself in a difficult moment, mindfulness is about paying attention, intentionally, to what we are experiencing in each moment rather than letting our thoughts take us on a journey entirely created by our mind.
Have you ever found yourself having an argument with someone who isn’t even there or watching a scene play out in your mind when what you’re imagining hasn’t happened? Mindfulness techniques will help you notice these moments and more quickly bring yourself back into the present moment.
What is mindfulness?
Over time, our nervous systems have become trained to react quickly to things we perceive to be threatening. Sometimes that snap reaction is exactly what we need – if a truck is barreling down the road in your direction, you better react quickly and get out of the way! However, most of the time, that quick reaction of thoughts and feelings is out of proportion to present stressors and the present situation.
Most of the time, unless we are in the middle of a traumatic event, the present moment can be “just fine.” What we tell ourselves about any given moment, including “just fine,” is a big part of how we end up feeling.
So what is mindfulness? Mindfulness is about learning to stay focused on what is really happening rather than focusing on the thoughts about what the moment might mean about us.
In a constantly changing world, we have to think about and plan for our future. Mindfulness helps us learn to stay present with our emotions while we consider and plan for our goals, our current problems, and what the future may bring.
Mindfulness is also one of the best therapeutic approaches if we need guidance through a difficult time or simply want to learn how to improve our stress management skills and lead a more balanced life.
The benefits of mindfulness meditation
Mindfulness meditation is a concentrated practice of mindfulness for a period of time, during which we are training our mind to be more present throughout our moment-to-moment experience. As an example, you might pick a point of focus and try to pay attention to that focal point, even as your mind creates thoughts that may distract you.
You will inevitably get distracted over time. However, as you practice mindfulness, the time will shorten between these distractions and the ability to return to the present moment. You can then gently steer back to present focus and achieve better emotional regulation.
Consistent practice of mindfulness increases your awareness of stories in your mind about distressing experiences and situations in your everyday life. Once you learn to use mindfulness more, you will typically experience fewer episodes of depression, anxiety, stress, and anger.
Mindfulness can also boost your immune system, improve sleep and concentration, and help you to be more productive. In other words, mindfulness is a valuable tool that teaches you how to sit with difficult emotions, potentially improving your quality of life.
How is mindfulness used in therapy?
When you work with an experienced therapist who has extensive training in mindfulness interventions, you learn to:
Manage your emotions: Mindfulness-based interventions can teach you how to be more aware of your thoughts and emotions, and how to respond to them in a more helpful way.
Using mindfulness approaches and practices, we put a greater focus on how we are experiencing our feelings, noticing how they are showing up for us physically, rather than focusing on the content of the thoughts and situations that may be causing distress.
Mindfulness teaches us that reactions are automatic, but responses are chosen. Learning to approach daily life events in a mindful way transforms us from reactors into responders and allows us to experience a greater sense of emotional health.
Enhance your relationship with yourself: Our sense of self is derived from how we respond to our experiences, relationships, and the world around us.
Mindfulness practice in therapy can help you gain an understanding of how you make sense of the world, what is important to you and what makes you uniquely you.
When you work with a mental health counselor and learn to understand and accept your unique experience of the world, you have a greater ability to be compassionate and caring for yourself as you cope with the challenges and life transitions you experience.
How do mindfulness-based approaches work?
I’m trained to use mindfulness interventions to help you change the way you think and feel about your experiences and fight off chronic depression, anxiety, as well as other mood disorders and personality disorders.
The first step in mindfulness therapy is to learn to pay attention to your thoughts and feelings in a non-judgmental way. This means that you will not try to change or get rid of your thoughts and feelings but simply observe them. You will also learn to be aware of your body sensations and the environment around you.
The second step is to learn to accept your thoughts and feelings. This does not mean that you have to like or agree with them, but simply that you recognize that they are there and see them as passing mental events rather than facts or truth. Once you have learned to accept your thoughts and feelings, you can begin to work on changing them.
Mindful counseling and mindfulness exercises can also help you learn to change your perception or meaning of your thoughts and feelings. This means that you will learn to recognize how your thoughts and feelings influence your perception and vice versa. You can then build more accurate perceptions and meaning associated with your thoughts and feelings.
How I Can Help
I can teach you how to:
- Recognize when your thoughts and feelings are not helpful
- Replace your perceptions of your thoughts and feelings with more helpful ones
- Observe your thoughts and feelings without judgment
- Allow your thoughts and feelings to come and go without trying to control them
Get in touch with me today and allow yourself to ask for help! I will be there to guide you as you explore your mindfulness path in a safe space. Schedule a free consultation and start your journey toward self-acceptance and self-love.
Flexibility
Both in-person and telehealth options available.
Free Consultation
Free initial phone consultation to determine if we're a good fit for each other.
Personalized Approach
Multiple modalities to create the best treatment plan tailored to you.