Counseling and psychotherapy for individuals, couples and families.
Counseling and psychotherapy for individuals and couples.

Mindfulness

Clint McKnight • May 13, 2022

What is Mindfulness?

What is mindfulness?  Well to try to define it I would say that Mindfulness is a state of being in which you are focused on the here and now. You notice your present-moment thoughts and more fully experience the sensations of your body. This way of experiencing life brings many benefits, physically, mentally, and emotionally.


When you first begin mindfulness therapy, you might wonder, "What does this have to do with why I'm here?" What you have to remember is that mindfulness is a technique you have to learn. Your therapist will likely guide you through mindfulness exercises that are very basic. However, as mindfulness becomes more familiar to you, your therapist will take you beyond what seems mundane to you and on to your negative and positive thoughts and sensations. This progression allows you to get the most from the therapy and enjoy greater success with it.


A part of mindfulness is being aware of the thoughts that come to you in the present moment. Your therapist may instruct you to talk about your thoughts concerning your hands, for example. The subjects will move closer and closer to the depressed or anxious thoughts that are contributing to your mental state. You'll also spend time sharing positive thoughts that come to you in these moments, so you can learn to notice the good things in life more.


Mindfulness therapy isn't just a fad based on some airy notion dreamed up by a few isolated scientists. It has become a well-established, proven way to overcome depression, anxiety, and mental illnesses of many different types. What's more, it's based on scientific research about the brain, how it functions, and how effective mindfulness is in correcting imbalances in the brain.


Both young and old, men and women, and anyone with the ability to follow the therapist's directions can find benefits from mindfulness practice. Even if you don't have a diagnosed condition or problem, this training can be valuable in helping you experience life more fully and make decisions that will benefit you. 

Holiday Stress

By Clint McKnight • 28 Nov, 2022
Tips for when the Holidays become stressful

Depression or anxiety?

By Clint McKnight • 22 Apr, 2022
A concerning issue I am seeing in society right now is the blending of anxiety and depression. The past couple of years have been pretty traumatic for a lot of people and even if it wasn't it most likely still represented a time of change. Anxiety ramped up and self-care and mental health wellness seemed to drop to new lows. In this type of situation many people don't even know how to describe what they are going through - they feel that something is off or want to make a change in their life but can't describe or even pinpoint where to start. They have laid a foundation of anxiety and lived with it for so long that the anxiety has led to walls of depression going up around them. Anxiety that goes unresolved seems to follow the pattern a lot - first the intrusive thoughts pop up and won't go away, perhaps physical symptoms or panic attacks follow, then people begin to have anxiety about their anxiety. That is almost always when depression sets in at the moment when you start to worry about the anxiety that is going on in your life. Taking steps to manage anxiety and improve your self care are as important as ever and perhaps even more so now.

Anxiety

By Clint McKnight • 22 Apr, 2022
One of the most problematic issues for people right now is anxiety that seemingly comes out of nowhere. Anxiety almost always has roots and sources in a person's past or as a part of trauma that a person has experienced but when triggered it the brain doesn't recognized or analyze a logical response it simply seeks to protect and anxiety can surface and impact daily life to the point that tension and stress become the norm instead of a temporary. fleeting moment. So what does one do with the issue? How do you discover the root cause and not just address the symptom? The answer is almost always two-fold, you need to address the symptoms and manage it in the here and now and work in a safe space and slowly peel back the layers to find the source. You cannot find the root without having the tools to manage the current symptoms or you will quickly become overwhelmed and perhaps end up right where you started or even in a worse situation. Working on this is concurrent - learn the tools to manage the symptoms day to day and work with a qualified individual to explore causes and triggers. Be open and honest and don't let shame or guilt hold you back from improving your daily life.
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