- Mindfulness means learning to be fully aware in the present moment with non-judgmental awareness. This means that I bring mindful attention to the issues you discuss, AND I teach you to be more mindful of your own thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. This non-judgmental awareness provides a strong and necessary foundation for effectively having new choices for how you respond to your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Mindful-awareness can be healing, in itself, and provides a foundation for further growth.
- Relationship refers to the fact that, rarely does healing occur in isolation. This type of therapy honors and strengthens your relationship to yourself, other people, and your life experiences. As part of this process, we also honor and respect the relationship that develops between you and me (the therapist).
- Implicit in this type of counseling is the Buddhist belief in Interconnection. That is, not only do your internal experiences connect to your external behavior, but all human beings are interconnected. Therefore, your personal growth not only benefits your level of happiness, but positively affects the lives of those around you. This therapy is offered as a service to you and those lives that you touch.
- One tool that you can use to practice Mindfulness and relaxation is learning Mindfulness meditation. Mindfulness meditation comes from the Buddhist traditions, but is not religious. Learning simple meditation is an optional part of therapy, but can benefit you by giving you a tool you can use between sessions. I have 9 years of formal meditation training and a graduate degree in Contemplative Psychotherapy from the nation's only Buddhist University and am qualified to teach this. I also provide meditation resources from reputable meditation teachers to guide you.