What are mindfulness-based interventions?

The definition of mindfulness is being fully present at the moment and being aware of and fully conscious of one’s thoughts, feelings, and what is taking place around them also through the use of and being aware of all five of their senses.  Mindfulness can be difficult because oftentimes, we are focused on or thinking of other things, sometimes we are aware we are doing that, and sometimes we are not.

Mindfulness-based interventions allow a person to focus on the present without being judged by themselves or others; mindfulness-based interventions are non-judgmental.  These interventions are most often used and aimed at relieving stress, mental health concerns, and other physical pain.  Mindfulness-based interventions can be done either in individual therapy or a group setting. A person can use those same interventions on themselves as well when they are in a non-therapeutic setting.

Mindfulness is using all five of one’s senses to be in the present moment and being aware of what is being thought of and what is being felt.  It also includes what is being seen, heard, felt, smelt, and tasted.

Mindfulness-based interventions can be very effective; these techniques help people modify their own thoughts and emotions that contribute to their own negative self-beliefs.  Mindfulness-based interventions include but are not limited to meditation, guided imagery, and deep breathing exercises.  Meditation is defined as a practice where a person focuses on a particular thought, object, or activity and can achieve a clear and stable state.

Guided imagery can be done in several different ways; it can be done by someone telling you what to do, what to think of, and when to breathe in real-time, or it can be done via listening to a recorded message.  Guided meditations often instruct a person to imagine certain types of calming scenery, instruct them when and how to breathe, and focus on different body parts at different times throughout the guided imagery.

Deep breathing is beneficial in many ways; it can help lower a person’s blood pressure and heart rate, which helps decrease the amount of cortisol (stress hormone) that is released into a person’s body.