Mindfulness
Mindfulness involves learning how to bring your attention into present moment experience in a non-judgemental way. This might be focusing through your senses (sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch), thoughts and emotions, body awareness and breath.
Its origins are from Buddhism however I teach in a secular context, meaning you don’t need to have any religious or spiritual beliefs to participate.
Mindfulness has been shown to be beneficial for helping people to manage stress, anxiety, low mood, chronic pain, and sleep difficulties.
How Mindfulness can help in Trauma and Neurodiversity
- Learning how to be in your body safely
- Increasing your ability to focus your attention
- Developing new ways of responding to your emotions
- Recognising your needs and learning ways of responding with kindness and compassion
- Deepening your connection with your own experience and the wider world
- Developing self-knowledge and understanding
I integrate Mindfulness approaches into my work with care and sensitivity. If you have a trauma history, it can be challenging to connect with the body and Mindfulness can bring up strong emotions, memories, and sensations. Working in a trauma responsive way can enable a re-establishing of safety and connection within the body, providing opportunity to listen to your body’s wisdom and needs and to practice helpful ways of responding to these.
Mindfulness For Carers
Do you care for someone either as an informal carer (family member, friend, or neighbour), or in a formal role (employed in the NHS, social work or voluntary organisation)? Maybe you’re a foster carer, kinship carer or adoptive parent?
10.5 million people in the UK are estimated to be unpaid carers, 4.87 million are worrying about the impact of caring on their physical and mental health. (Make Caring Visible, Valued and Supported: Carers Week 2022 report)
As an adoptive parent myself I’m keen to support others who have a caring role. The Mindfulness Based Approaches to Caring Course introduces Mindfulness, with an emphasis on self-care, developing helpful ways of responding at times of difficulty and finding time and space for yourself even in the most demanding of circumstances.
The course is provided online a 1:1 basis and includes an introductory session, four – one-hour sessions of course content and a follow up review session. A course booklet and CD are also provided. Cost £300.
Group courses are also available for organisations, please contact me to discuss your requirements.
For carers who are based in Mid Argyll, Kintyre, Islay & Jura I offer free Mindfulness sessions through the Dochas Carers Centre.
“Mindfulness not only makes it possible to survey our inner landscape with compassion and curiosity but can also actively steer us in the right direction for self care.”
–Bessel van der Kolk, The Body Keeps The Score