Have you ever followed your gut feeling…felt sick to your stomach after hearing bad news…or sensed butterflies in your stomach before a big event or walking out on stage? Many think that all those feelings are just in your head. I beg to differ! They are in your head, yes, but they are also in […]
“Doing” Mindfulness – One App at a time
So, maybe you have read or heard a bit about mindfulness, and have become curious. Not just, “What is it?” but also “How is meditation done?” Seeing yogis on the news or in movies or t.v. shows, sitting cross-legged, eyes closed, in total silence—you can’t help but think that’s what the goal is. But, truthfully, […]
What’s all this “mindfulness” stuff about? Part II by Sharon Cannon, PhD
To be skilled at “mindfulness” is to be less distracted by our thoughts and stories, and more focused on being present with the experiences upon which we generate our PICTURES of “reality”. The fundamental reality is really just the connection we have with our senses—sights, sounds, smells, tastes, tactile, and visceral (internal to the […]
What’s all this “mindfulness” stuff about?
So much lately has appeared in both the professional and popular literature about the mindfulness movement in mental health treatment. At first glance, the term itself tends to strike people as pretty “new-agey”, “woo-woo”, or the latest fad in a desperate search for happiness. However, the ideas and activities central to mindfulness have been around […]
The Power of Mandalas in Therapy
The word “mandala” means “circle” and comes from the ancient language of Sanskrit. It’s traditionally a circle that contains a symmetrical, geometrical pattern, much like a kaleidoscope design. Each mandala is unique to the person who creates it, and represents the spiritual facet of human experience. Spiritual paths such as Hinduism and Buddhism […]
Yoga in Psychotherapy
Though I’m not a certified yoga instructor, I’ve had some formal training with using yoga in therapy as well as many years of personal practice and experience. More and more, I’m finding it useful to integrate yoga into therapy sessions with clients. If you’ve never done yoga, you might have some ideas about what it […]