A Guiding Path, LLC

          Increasingly popularized lately in the media, meditation & mindfulness are natural tools that anyone can learn.  The latest neuroscience research is proving what eastern cultures have known for thousands of years.  Mindfulness can literally heal and re-wire the brain, aiding in the treatment of depression, stress, anxiety, chronic pain, emotional grief, and has numerous other benefits.  It's real, it’s accessible, and it works.

 

          The words mindfulness and meditation are tossed around so much that it can be confusing due to overlapping meanings.  There is "mindfulness" by itself - simply having awareness of the present moment and noticing what is happening; and there are various forms of meditation - an intentional focus on something specific, be it the breath, compassion, love, sewing,  or rock climbing. There's even "mindfulness meditation" - a distinct form of meditation where the original confusion probably comes from.

 

          Mindfulness and meditation isn't about trying to control one's own thoughts, escaping painful material, or even reaching enlightenment.  It isn't some new-age occult either.  If we do it to gain something expectedly, we miss the point.  

 

          Simply put, mindfulness is a form of concentration or intentional focus on what's happening right now.  It is the practice of continually returning one's awareness to the present moment and experiencing it as it is without judgment or labeling it as bad or good. 

 

          Thoughts come and go, emotions too, but with practicing mindfulness, we can learn to be an observer of our experience and to what is happening vs. reacting to it or being controlled by it.  This leads to a reduction in anxiety, improved relational capacities, and increased feelings of grounded-ness and connection to the body.  As the mind and body align, further healing and accurate self-understanding unfold.

 

          Individuals who work with me will have the opportunity to get first hand training in mindfulness and meditation.  Sessions will be spent developing these skills in a therapeutic way to further promote self-growth, understanding, healing, and well-being.