The word “mindfulness” has become more popular than ever before. Mindfulness therapy has broken into the mainstream cultural consciousness, appearing in movies and TV shows. There’s a reason that more people are talking about mindfulness: it works. Mindfulness somatic treatment has exploded in popularity due to the results patients have seen. Here at Trauma and Beyond Center ®, our therapists have successfully integrated mindfulness into our treatment. In this blog, we’ll explain how somatic mindfulness works to help you to determine if it is right for you.
Mindfulness Explained
You have probably heard someone advising you to “be in the moment.” A definition of mindfulness is “awareness of thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations and the surrounding area through a gentle nurturing lens.” That last part is crucial: often, when we think about ourselves and what’s around us, we begin to judge. That judgement often comes from past experiences, trauma, coping strategies and more. Learning to view things without judgement thru a gentle, nurturing lens allows you to stay in acceptance of what is without the increased burden of harsh self – judgement.
Our Somatic Mindfulness Treatment
Mindfulness, in and of itself, isn’t something terribly complicated or complex. Truly, it’s just the capacity to notice your thoughts, your feelings, your beliefs, behaviors and bodily sensations in a given moment. On top of that, mindfulness is about being able to better “notice,” which can give you the ability to breathe when you might not, pause when you might act, or better consider your next action. Your body may feel or sense something in a given moment and mindfulness can give you the space to wonder: “am I feeling this because of the moment I’m in, or am I feeling this because of some experience I had in the past?”
What Mindfulness Helps With
So often, we feel something and don’t realize exactly why we may feel it. Sure, we think we’re feeling it because it’s appropriate, given the context of our situation. However, sometimes, we’re really reacting to something that we felt a long time ago. That’s why mindfulness has been so effective in dealing with anxiety and depression. Instead of immediately going into a negative spiral or depressed thinking, mindfulness allows the mind and body to realize what’s truly going on in any moment. Additionally, mindfulness is highly effective in helping people to be better focused and have improved mood consistently.
Our Mindfulness Therapy
At the Trauma and Beyond Center, mindfulness can take many forms. It could certainly include a therapist taking a patient through various guided meditations. It could also include breathing exercises, learning how to scan your body for feedback and learning how to ground yourself in the present. A major part of what makes mindfulness so successful is that patients have opportunities to practice it outside of therapy. You don’t need a therapist to work through it. In fact, a majority of our therapists encourage patients to practice mindfulness in their day to day life. To schedule a free complimentary phone consultation, give us a call at (818) 651-0725.
