Mindfulness Therapy Online

Mindfulness is a word that describes a type of cognitive therapy associated with psychotherapy. This technique draws from meditation practices, cognitive therapy, and a non-judgmental attitude rooted in the present/reality. Mindfulness based cognitive therapy is incredibly effective because of the way it marries cognitive therapy and mindfulness practices. Cognitive therapy encourages individuals to interrupt their instinctual thought processes and instead work through their feelings in more healthy ways, while mindfulness urges individuals to observe and identify the feelings they are experiencing.

According to research, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy or “mindfulness therapy” can be extremely effective in treating a variety of mental health conditions, such as: 

• Bipolar disorder
• General unhappiness
• Depression, including treatment resistant depression
• Anxiety disorders
• Depression caused by medical illness
• General low mood

Mindfulness therapy can also be helpful in preventing relapses in depressive episodes. This is because, similar to cognitive therapy, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy is rooted in the belief that individuals who have a history of struggling with depression will fall back into old patterns (aka cognitive processes) when they experience distress, leading them to a dip back into depression. 

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Mindful Therapy Group Techniques 

There are various different techniques that therapists leading mindful therapy groups may teach its members. These could include:

• Body scanning exercises: Clients may be asked to lie down and become aware of different parts of their bodies, typically starting at their toes and working upwards until they reach the apex of their head.

• ‍Mindfulness stretching: This technique asks clients to stretch mindfully, raising their awareness of both their minds and bodies.

• ‍Yoga: Clients could be encouraged to practice various yoga poses that help orchestrate mindful stretching.

• ‍Meditation: Therapists may ask clients to engage in self directed or guided meditation exercises, which can help clients become more aware of their thoughts, breathing, and body.

• ‍Mindfulness practices: Mindfulness heavily relies on becoming aware of what is happening in the present moment. And while mindfulness can indeed be practiced during activities such as meditation, individuals can learn to incorporate mindfulness into other day to day activities they engage in.

• ‍Three Minute Breathing Space Technique:  This additional mindful therapy tool incorporates practicing three, one minute steps:

1. Observe your current experience and evaluate how you are doing in the present.
2. Focus on your breathing.
3. Focus on your physical and bodily sensations.

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Mindfulness based cognitive therapy can be performed in individual or group therapy settings, as well as via in person or online therapy sessions. Grouport offers group therapy that is conducted virtually, from the safety of your home.

Wondering if mindfulness based cognitive therapy is for you? If you enroll in Grouport, you will receive a brief, 20 minute virtual onboarding consultation with a trained intake coordinator who will then match you with a therapy group they feel is best suited to your particular needs.