Mindfulness Articles
by Claudia Cole Do you remember the last time you felt truly relaxed? Without an overwhelming sense of guilt? Or the ongoing urge to be productive in some way? If your answer is no, you’re not alone. Many of us don’t know how to relax. What Is Relaxation? Relaxation is more than just lounging on...
by Andrea Blundell Does your life always have a conflict or two on the go? Constantly dreaming of being somewhere else? Or fighting your way forward? Accepting what is could be a tool you need. What is acceptance? In psychology, acceptance is closely linked to allowing, and to the present moment. What is happening right...
Permaculture expert Geoff Lawton said, “all the world’s problems can be solved in a garden”. Could horticultural therapy even be the answer to mental health issues? Writer Elizabeth Waddington explores. What is horticultural therapy? Steven Davis, the executive director of the American Horticultural Therapy Association, defines it as: “a process through which plants, gardening activities,...
How connected are spirituality and mental health? Connected enough that spirituality is part of several modern psychotherapies, and the Royal College of Psychiatrists now has a special interest group devoted to the subject. What is spirituality? It’s an umbrella term that seems to be applied to all sorts these days. But a close attempt to...
Mindfulness has become a trend, and like any trend it’s led to offshoots. First it was ‘mindfulness colouring books for adults’, now it is ‘mindfulness origami’. But are origami and colouring really mindfulness? Or are they just marketing trends from companies seeking to cash in? Not really sure what mindfulness really is? Mindfulness is the...
Mindfulness has become all the rage. It is a tool embraced by therapists, offered by top corporations to employees, and even trialled in parliament. Now some schools are offering mindfulness to students. What effects might it have on your child? And is mindfulness for children really the panacea they claim? Read on. Isn’t mindfulness just...
With its concept of being fully present instead of lost in your thoughts, and its tendency to make one calmer and more focused, it’s easy to see how mindfulness is now being embraced as a tool of good parenting. [Want more information on this ancient Eastern practise that even has new forms of therapy formed...
Bored of hearing about mindfulness techniques? Question if mindfulness is really a useful addition to psychotherapy session? Or sure it’s just a passing trend? Here’s why you might want to reconsider. [Not really sure what mindfulness is? Read our comprehensive Guide to Mindfulness.] 5 Reasons why mindfulness is not going anywhere fast 1. Mindfulness is...
Mindfulness is now recommended by the NHS as a route to mental wellbeing, and is an evidence-based practice for reducing stress, anxiety, and low moods. It has also been proven to be as effective as anti-depressants for depression. So why do so many of us still not do it? It’s often down to misconceptions about...
Meditation, once seen as an ancient esoteric practise, is now increasingly used by psychotherapists and counsellors to help their clients regulate moods and become more aware of their thoughts and feelings. The subject of extensive research over the last fews decades, mindfulness meditation is now seen as an evidence- based practise (proven by research to...