Mindfulness-Based Therapy in Brooklyn, NY

We live in a world that seems to demand our attention in a million ways, where writing ‘ability to multitask’ has become commonplace on a resume. We hear the buzz words “mindfulness,” “intention,” and “presence” all around us, as if there is some collective yearning for being here, now. And it often feels as though the harder we try to be present, the more distant we become. 

Disconnection & Disassociation

Not being present can manifest in many ways. It can look like being separated from your emotions, inattentive to others, juggling too many responsibilities, or distracted throughout daily tasks. It can impact memory and can lead to the sensation of finishing a busy day and not even knowing what you’ve accomplished.

If we are distracted and not practicing mindfulness, other people are often the first to notice it. Not being present is an insidious and creeping problem that has infiltrated most of the western world, and it impacts our mental health and our relationships.

How Therapy Can Help Develop Mindfulness

You’ve heard all the mindfulness adages:

“Take time to smell the roses.”

“Don’t forget to breathe.”

“Look up.”

Therapy is a place for you to learn how to actually apply these ideas to your life. To learn how to take control instead of helplessly floating along.

Therapy teaches you to be in touch with yourself, which in turn makes you more present in life. In therapy, you will have the opportunity to learn mindfulness techniques and emotional regulation strategies to help you tolerate discomfort and remain open to anything that might arise in the present moment.

Mindfulness-based therapy will teach you to place distance in between yourself and your emotions, to challenge fear or anxiety, to work with concepts of nonjudgement and nonattachment, and to cultivate self-compassion.

Willingness to Try

For many of us, there is vulnerability in being present. We might avoid this feeling at all costs because we sense on some level the risk that might accompany being here, now. What emotions might arise? What thoughts? What startling realizations? Many of us have discomfort with being still.

What you might learn in therapy is that you’re spending so much energy to avoid something that might not actually be that scary. Maybe you can learn to face it. Maybe you can make friends with it. Why not give it a try?