Originating in Buddhist practices, the concept of mindfulness has taken on a new life in recent years, in non-religious contexts. For example, MBSR, Mindfulness-based stress reduction, includes a range of body-based techniques to reduce stress, while MBCT adds an element of mindfulness to cognitive behavioural therapy. In practice this usually means exercises involving paying attention to your bodily state, your breathing, and/or your surroundings. The aim is a state of relaxation and being fully present, which can be a great relief as most of us are often rushing, and using technology to be in several times and places at once. Mindfulness techniques are taught in schools, workplaces and prisons, as ways of reducing stress and increasing pleasure in life as well as increasing effectiveness at work or in learning.

In a sense Person centred counselling and other kinds of humanistic counselling, such as Gestalt, always involve mindfulness – an hour of counselling is an hour of paying attention on purpose, in the present moment, nonjudgmentally, to the unfolding of your experience.

A specific, and simple, kind of 'mindfulness counselling' can be engaged in, emerging out of the practice of person centred counselling. It involves a repeated focus on returning to your experience right now as you talk over the issues that concern you. If you are getting lost in mental or emotional conflicts, this can be very useful, and the counsellor is also ready to share their own experience in the present moment.

Making a conscious shift towards being really present adds a new dimension to the issue you are talking about – and also very often a sense of calm and compassion towards yourself, which can both heal wounds from the past, and make future decisions easier. You can also work out ways to keep in touch with the flow of your breath, your body, what is actually happening for you, now, between sessions.

If you often find yourself lost in obsessive thoughts or feelings, particularly if they are self-critical ones, if you struggle with anxiety, depression, getting over a traumatic experience, intrusive memories, over-work, stress, burnout, relationship problems, low self esteem or just a nagging sense that there has to be more to life than this, mindfulness counselling could be a very helpful direction to go in. The sense of peace caused by dropping the storyline and practicing being nonjudgmental to yourself is a balm for pretty much any problem.

This post was adapted from the website of Southside Counselling, in Glasgow, where I offer Mindfulness Counselling.