Mindfulness

"When clouds cover the sun, does that mean the sun has stopped shining?"

-The Art and Science of Mindfulness

For clients that are interested, I offer a mindfulness-informed approach to therapy. While many of the concepts stem from Buddhism, religion is not a factor as the skills are universally applicable for the relief of suffering. Mindfulness is the concept of moment-to-moment, non-judgemental awareness. It is helpful in a variety of contexts from depression and anxiety to anger and immune function. Through mindfulness, one learns to pay honest attention and respond, rather than react, to circumstances that arise. This brings a fresh quality of intentionality to one's relationship with self and others. Qualities of freedom, compassion, and spaciousness are associated with these practices. The image of the sitting Buddha serves as a reminder of the internal stillness and tranquility that all human beings embody. For many, these qualities seem unavailable or hidden beneath many layers of conditioning and the constant activity of the mind. My approach involves helping clients nurture a fresh relationship with the mind so they may open to the calmness, clarity, and wisdom of their deepest, most natural sense of self.

Learning to watch and understand the mind at work can profoundly benefit one's quality of life. With the knowledge that we suffer because we do not see clearly, a mindful approach supports one to see things as they truly are without adding unnecessary layers of judgements and assumptions. Instead of pushing difficult emotions away, which often complicates matters, one learns to accept and experience their emotions in a conscious, gentle way that helps clarify what lies beneath that needs tending. By discovering that the root causes of personal suffering often lie in our attachments and aversions, one becomes more aware of their choices, and thereby the unintentional role we often play in our own suffering. Mindfulness supports people to begin witnessing their thoughts, rather than feeling controlled by them. It also supports one to let go of the past, cease unhelpful worrying about the future, and begin to live wholly in the present moment, which is the only time we are truly alive and can achieve health, healing, and happiness.