Mindfulness is the awareness that emerges in the present moment as we pay attention, without judgement, to our experience. Developing mindfulness can help us to create space for making helpful choices when thoughts and negative emotions feel overwhelming. If you are living with depression, anxiety, family issues, sexuality and/or identity issues, high levels of stress, or any other trauma-related condition, mindfulness can be helpful.
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), and Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) are evidence based approaches which can reduce stress and help people to break away from unhelpful thought patterns that have become habitual. Both approaches can be provided on an individual basis or as an eight-week group based course. Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy for Cancer (MBCT-Ca) helps people living with a diagnosis or with a family member or friend with a diagnosis to live kindly with cancer. I am committed to anti- discriminatory practice and will work alongside you to build a sense of solidarity to resist injustice and discrimination based on appearance, disability, race, culture sexuality and sexual orientation and other signifiers of difference.
Get in touch with me directly for more information on psychology, psychotherapy, supervision, training and consultation in Kingston upon Thames and online.
I also offer a specialised form of MBCT for those who are living with cancer or have loved ones who has cancer (MBCT-Ca). This is a dedicated eight-week course, which combines mindfulness, CBT, and my personal and professional experience of living and working with cancer patients and their families. It has been developed over a decade, gathering a track record in reducing the negative psychological impact that cancer diagnosis and treatment can have. One of the unique aspects of this approach are the brief practices, which can take just a few minutes and which can be easily incorporated into your day. These techniques that keep you aware of the present moment, along with managing the difficult thought patterns associated with cancer, have been shown to have a considerable effect on the client’s wellbeing. An adapted version of this course can also be helpful for people living with other long term health conditions including long Covid.
Along with MBCT for people living with cancer, I also offer MBSR and MBCT for individuals experiencing a range of issues such as depression, anxiety, and stress. Please see my Therapy page to read more.
Many people find it a very helpful introduction to mindfulness to join a group, either in person or online. Practising together can be a rich and powerful experience, connecting with others, sharing common experiences and exploring what it means to be human living in this world. Mindfulness courses usually run for eight weekly sessions with an all-day retreat where you can explore your experience, with others, in more depth. There are also regular Mindfulness Spaces for regular sitting practice.
Please contact me for more information of current groups.