Mindfulness-Based Psychotherapy
“The bad news is you are falling through the air and there is no parachute. The good news is there is no ground” – Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche
In this approach to therapy, we work together to investigate your present moment experience. Awareness is just like a muscle that can be built through exercise. Mindfulness-based psychotherapy involves bringing attention to what is happening right now – thoughts, feelings, physical sensations – with an attitude of friendliness rather than judgment.
Many people find themselves operating within their default mode network or “auto-pilot” throughout the day, still suffering from experiences that have happened in the past or from experiences that are being anticipating in the future. MBP is not interested in pushing away these painful experiences, but rather changing our relationship to them. Mindfulness is a skill that allows you to respond rather than react to difficult situations and emotions. This therapeutic approach does not only work to reduce overall suffering, it works to increase overall well being. When our habitual reactions are held in our awareness with an attitude of loving-kindness, we begin to have more choice about whether we want to continue engaging in these patterns of emotion and behavior. As this happens, a sense of confidence, freedom and joy begins to emerge.
Mindfulness practice actually rewires the neural connections in your brain and can interrupt the cycle of nervous system overactivation that is common for survivors of acute or developmental trauma. While mindfulness exercises and techniques will occasionally be used and taught explicitly in this approach, the emphasis is on relational mindfulness: the cultivation of awakened presence in the engaged context of relationship. That means that we are often practicing mindfulness in action during our sessions together.
In addition to a nuanced understanding of our psychological and neurobiological composition, our implementation of MBP is also informed by extensive study and practice of Buddhist wisdom traditions. These lineages hold the paradox that we already have everything that we need and we can use a little bit of help. There are no prerequisites for doing this kind of work. We look forward to meeting you, just as you are right now.
Potential skills that you will learn in mindfulness-based psychotherapy:
-Distress Tolerance
-Emotion Regulation
-Attention Regulation
-Body Awareness
-Relaxation
-Mental Flexibility
-Self-Acceptance
-Patience
Potential benefits of mindfulness-based psychotherapy include:
-Increased self-compassion
-Unraveling of old patterns
-Improved relationships
-Higher levels of responsibility
-Greater experience of control
-Increased clarity of mind
-Reduced stress, tension, or physical pain
-Reduced symptomology of depression and anxiety
If you are specifically hoping to explore MBP, please be sure to mention this when you schedule your appointment so that we can schedule you with the right clinician.
