Mindfulness Techniques
Introduction
Mindfulness Techniques are used to help clients focus on the present through meditative approach. As an Eastern technique it was originally used as Buddhist meditation. Mindfulness Techniques focus on strategies that turn an individual's attention away from negative experiences. Some of these thoughts may pertain to worries and result in anxiety. These strategies allow an individual to accept the present and appreciate it for what it is. The approach revolves around cognitive therapy and using stress reduction techniques to accept the present regardless of whether or not it is a calm environment. This type of therapy helps relieve many psychological symptoms that are the result of distant thoughts and worries. Using these techniques does take practice. Once it is adopted the client has the potential to remain calm in a given environment and control their emotions.
Goals of Mindfulness Techniques
The goal of mindfulness techniques is to experience relaxation and control in circumstances that may seem chaotic and difficult to deal with. Mindful meditation is used to make the clients aware of what is happening currently which creates a current thought process. This awareness is used without judgment and it allows them to use their attention to focus on the present which can help progress future incidents. The therapist focuses on working with the client to help them become aware of their own emotions and anxieties. They will also become aware of how this anxiety affects their physical wellbeing.
When is Mindfulness Techniques Used?
Mindfulness Techniques are used as a contemplative approach that focuses on helping the patient deal with their physical symptoms that are the result of anxious or worrisome thinking. It is used often when people have difficulty under pressure or in social situations. The distant thinking may take them away from current opportunities or relationships. Mindfulness techniques are used when a client has difficulty controlling their breathing or responses because of their thoughts. When the individual learns to practice this form of thinking daily it will become automatic and help them deal with good or bad situations. When the client can observe their surroundings in a neutral manner and explore their own abilities harmoniously they also have the ability to control the future for the better.
How Mindfulness Techniques Work
When the therapist is training and explaining mindfulness techniques to the client they are using MBCT or mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. The patient may receive tapes that help them practice the behavior at home or before events that may increase their worrisome thoughts. The therapist teaches the client how they can use the breathing meditations and physical stretches to become more aware of their current being instead of the future or past. The foundation of this requires solid education on the behalf of the patient and full understanding how this will help them with cognitive thoughts and physical symptoms. The patient will learn about depression, mental exercises and how the exercises can promote feelings of adequacy. MBCT works by helping the patients use patterns within their mind and recognize how that affects their physical reality.
Mindfulness techniques also help people stop using a negative approach toward decision making and relationships. The patient learns how to disengage themselves from stressful situations and stay in touch with what is happening in their current environment. This therapy is based around enhancing one's life by taking advantage of present situations and relationships. The therapist teaches the individual how to use the techniques and this in turn can help them in dealing with depression.
The therapy may consist of a week of classes or sessions taught to the patient over a period of two months. There are online sessions that can be taken as well and practiced at home with the given material. The individual learning these techniques does not need any spiritual beliefs. It is only associated with the mind and how it can be used to enjoy life. These techniques will teach the patient how to deal with stress within a given environment such as at work or home. When the client has learned how to prevent anxiety from setting in it will improve their level of concentration and energy. Using this as a tool benefits them by making every experience a positive one even if it feels chaotic and unbearable at the time. This will have a positive effect on their body by promoting muscle relaxation.
References
Bloom, L. (n.d.). Stronger at the broken places. Retrieved from http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/stronger-the-broken-places/201206/thinking-about-getting-marriage-counseling
Kilpatrick, J. (n.d.). What are the benefits of couples counseling before marriage?. Retrieved from http://everydaylife.globalpost.com/benefits-couples-counseling-before-marriage-4334.html
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