Mindfulness Based Therapy

1. Mindfulness Based Therapy Mindfulness-Based Therapies From Psychotherapy Partners Mindfulness-based therapy encompasses a range of activities and processes that are designed to provide insights into internal states and emotional reactions. This can offer help with a wide range of issues, including stress, chronic pain, depression and anxiety by giving patients the tools they need to manage these problems in the most effective and proactive ways possible. At Psychotherapy Partners, many of our therapists have training and experience with mindfulness-based therapy methods. Denise Tromblay, Connie Cohen, Joanne Garlich, Laurie Koltes, Miriam Zachary and Emy Everhart can provide the most effective and practical therapeutic solutions to help you integrate mindfulness into your daily routine. Our team is committed to helping you feel your best and to providing you with the tools and strategies necessary to take on the challenges of everyday life. Mindfulness-based therapy modalities combine a variety of different approaches to achieve the desired results. Many of the practices used in mindfulness therapies originally came from the East and may incorporate breathing exercises, creative visualization, meditation and contemplation. Yoga exercises may also be incorporated to help patients be more aware of their own physical processes. This can provide a sense of calm and tranquility for patients even during the most stressful times. The approach used by mindfulness-based therapies incorporates stress reduction and cognitive therapy. In fact, mindfulness therapy has its roots in cognitive therapy. It is often combined with elements of Cognitive Based Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy to create a customized and effective plan suited to individual patients. Mindfulness meditation is at the heart of most approaches to this therapy. During these sessions at home or in our office, patients will focus on the present moment and on their own thoughts and

2. experiences. If their thoughts begin to stray to other topics, patients should try to take note of the topics to which their mind wanders. This can provide patients with real assistance in identifying negative thoughts and patterns that could cause issues for them during their daily routine. By learning meditation techniques, patients with Psychotherapy Partners can achieve a greater sense of calm and well-being that will help them manage stress more effectively. Another focal point for mindfulness therapy is decreasing judgment and increasing acceptance of one’s self and of the world as it is. This process can be difficult to initiate and requires the assistance of an experienced therapist to achieve greater success during the first stages of treatment. As patients become more proficient with monitoring their own physical and emotional states, they can more effectively achieve greater control over negative thought patterns that could impact their ability to function optimally. Techniques Used in Mindfulness-Based Therapeutic Approaches Mindfulness meditation, as previously indicated, is usually the most important part of the process for patients. Patients usually begin with short meditations of only a few minutes and work their way up to longer periods of self-monitoring and reflection. Meditative states of self-awareness can also be achieved by walking or through body scanning, which requires the patient to focus sequentially on every part of the body starting from the feet and working up to the head. By taking note of any discomfort, tension or pain, patients can often achieve a heightened state of awareness regarding their own body and of any conditions that could be causing added stress physically and emotionally. Your therapist may also recommend creative visualization as a part of your mindfulness therapy. This technique entails creating images to accompany the words you hear. This can help you to become more mindful of the world around you and your interactions with others, which can allow you to relate to events and people in a more appropriate and positive way. Breathing exercises are also useful in managing situations in which you feel stressed or anxious. By taking deep breaths that fill your lungs and then exhaling slowly, you can increase the oxygen flowing through your lungs and into your body. This can help you to achieve a state of calm relaxation that will assist you in dealing with stressful situations. Yoga may be part of your mindfulness-based therapy plan. It increases flexibility, encourages greater awareness of your body and can reduce anxiety and chronic pain issues. By caring for your body through yoga and other exercises, you and your therapist can create the holistic treatment plan needed to ensure the best results for you. The Goals of Mindfulness-Based Therapies Mindfulness-based therapeutic methods are designed specifically to assist patients in achieving the following goals:     Breaking away from negative thoughts and patterns Focusing on the present moment Practicing greater compassion towards one’s self Accessing one’s own wisdom

3.  Increasing curiosity and decreasing judgment By first identifying negative thoughts and patterns, therapists and patients together can achieve these goals to create greater stability and an improved outlook on oneself and on the outside world. Who Can Benefit From Mindfulness-Based Therapies? Mindfulness exercises are useful for patients with a wide range of issues:  Mindfulness-based stress reduction therapies are often used to address chronic pain, anxiety, depression, stress and other issues. The exercises used in these therapy modalities can provide ongoing support and help for patients. Dialectical Behavior Therapy is also used in conjunction with and as part of mindfulness-based therapies to treat patients with borderline personality disorders, addiction, eating disorders, suicidal thoughts and self-harm and post-traumatic stress disorders. Acceptance and commitment therapies work together with mindfulness-based exercises to improve adjustment and to provide support for patients with chronic pain, substance abuse and dependence, anxiety and depression. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapies are useful in addressing issues with anxiety and panic disorders, post-traumatic stress, recurring depression, eating disorders and attention deficit hyperactive disorders.    It can also be used to help healthy individuals to cope with stressful situations and to promote greater emotional and mental stability even during difficult times. The skills and tools acquired by working with a skilled therapist can be used by patients in all areas of their lives. The Best Help for Your Situation At Psychotherapy Partners, we serve patients throughout the Minneapolis-St. Paul area and the surrounding communities. Our team offers caring and compassionate therapy options customized to suit your needs and your situation. Along with mindfulness-based therapies, we offer a comprehensive range of options for patients coping with adjustment and transition, trauma recovery, self-esteem issues

4. and questions about gender and sexual identity. To learn more about the therapies we can provide, give Psychotherapy Partners a call today at 612-886-6112to request an appointment with our therapists. We are here to help. For more info, Log on to https://psychotherapypartnersmn.com/mindfulness/ Contact Us: 3507 Lyndale Ave S. Minneapolis, Minnesota 55408, USA Email: info@ptpmn.org Phone No.: 6128866112