“Hakomi practically invented mindfulness in psychotherapy.”
– Babette Rothschild, author of The Body Remembers
Mindfulness is a term borrowed from Buddhism. It is a state of consciousness in which internal events are observed without judgment. By increasing our awareness of the present experience, we surrender the need to resist it. This attitude of acceptance is an act of kindness toward ourselves. It helps to lower the noise of the inner critic, creating more space for the expression of compassion and joy.
One of the cornerstones of experiential psychotherapy is that is uses mindfulness as a means of turning inward. This is usually done with your eyes closed. In doing so, we notice whatever is going on within without preference or judgment. This is a collaboration between the client and the therapist to incorporate wisdom of your mind, body and spirit for more balanced healing and integration of self.
Mindfulness brings vivid awareness to your behavior, your being and your past. It give you a chance to rework the beliefs, feelings and images that help determine who you are and provides a grounded yet spacious container for deeper self-understanding.
The goal of therapy is to create a safe environment for change to occur that is spontaneous, experiential, mindful and creative. This style of therapy allows you to articulate new beliefs, experiment with new choices, and then take that learning out into your daily life.