Mindfulness Therapy: The Power of Living in The Moment

Sometimes, it’s easy to get caught up in the frenzy of life. We always seem to be multitasking and juggling different responsibilities, which leaves us feeling tired and overwhelmed. We often wish there was a better way to manage the responsibilities of life while still being able to live in the moment.

Fortunately, that’s where mindfulness therapy comes in.

What is Mindfulness Therapy?

Mindfulness is the practice of intentionally being fully present in the moment, without judgment or distraction. It involves paying close attention to our thoughts, feelings and bodily sensations. It involves accepting and acknowledging the moment, without trying to change or control it.

Practicing mindfulness has helped people better cope with stress, regulate emotions and gain a greater sense of clarity and calmness. It can help people develop more empathy for both themselves and others.

By extension, mindfulness therapy, also known as mindfulness-based therapy, is a form of psychotherapy that incorporates mindfulness techniques into other therapeutic practices. It can be used to treat mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, stress and even chronic pain.

The History of Mindfulness Therapy

While the concept of mindfulness has been around for thousands of years, with roots in Buddhist meditation practices, it wasn’t until the 1970s that mindfulness gained popularity in Western psychology. It was first introduced by scientist and writer Jon Kabat-Zinn, who developed the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program.

Since then, mindfulness therapy has expanded and been incorporated into different forms of therapy, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT).

Types of Mindfulness Therapy

There are different types of mindfulness therapy. They include:

• Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT)
• Mindfulness-based stress reduction programs (MBSR)

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT)

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) is an evidence-based form of therapy that combines mindfulness techniques with cognitive-behavioral practices. Its goal is to help people recognize patterns of negative thoughts and beliefs and learn how to respond to them in healthier ways. This type of mindfulness therapy teaches patients to cultivate non-judgmental and present-focused awareness, giving them the skills to prevent relapse and increase mental well-being.

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy has been shown to help those with depression or other mood disorders.

Mindfulness-based stress reduction programs (MBSR)

Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MSBR) is a program that combines mindfulness, medication, yoga and body awareness practices. It teaches people to develop moment-to-moment awareness and cultivate greater thought, feeling and bodily acceptance, without judgment.

This type of mindfulness therapy helps people achieve greater sense of clarity, resilience and emotional regulation.

Mindfulness-based stress reduction programs have been shown to help people affected by stress and anxiety. In some cases, it can even help alleviate physical symptoms associated with other health conditions.

The Benefits of Mindfulness Therapy

Mindfulness therapy can be an effective therapeutic solution for those struggling with being fully present in their realities. Benefits of mindfulness therapy include:

Reducing stress and anxiety

Mindfulness therapy helps people focus on the present moment and enables them to let go of their worries about the past or future. As a result, it can help alleviate symptoms of stress and anxiety and promote a sense of calm, acceptance and relaxation.

Improving emotional regulation

Another benefit of mindfulness therapy is that it helps people with emotional regulation. Mindfulness enables people to become more in touch with their thoughts and feelings. In doing so, people learn how to identify difficult emotions early on and learn how to manage them in healthy and constructive ways.

Increasing self-awareness

Mindfulness therapy can also help develop deeper self-awareness, as it teaches people better understand themselves, the way they think and the way they behave.

Increasing self-awareness via mindfulness therapy can help people make positive changes in themselves and break free from negative thought/behavior patterns.

How to Incorporate Mindfulness into Your Daily Life

As mindfulness practices gain more popularity, you may be wondering how to incorporate mindfulness into your life and daily routine. While there is no specific correct approach to incorporating mindfulness into your life, there are some steps you can take to get started.

Start Small

Incorporating mindfulness into your life may seem overwhelming at first, but it does not have to be a big task. Take your time and start small before working your way up into more rigorous mindfulness routines.

For example, start by setting aside a few minutes each day to practice mindfulness. Consider doing exercises such as deep breathing, going for a mindful walk, journaling or doing a short meditation.

In time, these steps will no longer seem like extra tasks but simply part of your routine, leading to mindful living.

Be Patient with Yourself

As with any other exercise, it takes time, practice and patience to incorporate mindfulness into your life.

Don’t get discouraged if you find your mind wandering or if you struggle to stay present in the moment. Learning how to be mindful is all part of the process, so be patient with yourself as you refine your skills.

Find What Works for You

One of the great things about mindfulness is that there are plenty of techniques and activities out there that can help you incorporate it into your life.

Some people may prefer guided meditations, while others may find that mindful movement or art therapy works better for them. Do research online to see what is out there and what you think may resonate with you.

You can experiment with the different kinds of mindfulness techniques and activities that you find to see what works best for you.

Seek our professional services that offer mindfulness-based therapy

Finally, you can always seek out professional mental health services that provide mindfulness therapy as part of their therapeutic practices. Professional mental health services provide extra support and resources as you start your mental health journey. They can be helpful to those who aren’t sure how to incorporate mindfulness into their lives on their own or need help keeping themselves accountable.

Help is Available at Sierra Vista Hospital

Mindfulness therapy can be a powerful tool for improved mental health outcomes. By incorporating mindfulness into your life, you can reduce stress and anxiety, improve emotional regulation and enhance self-awareness.

When managing your mental health seems too overwhelming, Sierra Vista Hospital is here to help. Located in Sacramento, California, we provide extensive psychiatric services to adults and adolescents that promote holistic healing.

Learn more about how we can help by giving us a call at 916-273-4300 or get in contact with us by using this form.