Mindfulness
The essence of my psychotherapeutic approach, whether that’s working on a specific issue in a highly focused way or exploring the self in depth over an open-ended period of time, is underpinned by mindfulness. Mindfulness means paying attention to what is happening in the present moment in the mind, body and external environment, with an attitude of curiosity and kindness. It is typically cultivated by a range of simple meditation practices, which aim to bring awareness to thinking, feeling and behaviour patterns, and to develop the capacity to manage these with greater skill and compassion. This has been found to lead to an expansion of choice and capacity in how to meet and respond to life’s challenges, and therefore live with greater wellbeing, mental clarity and care for yourself and others. (Mindful Nation UK – Report by the Mindfulness All-Party Parliamentary Group, October 2015.)
The practice of mindfulness is foundational to Buddhist practice and Core Process Psychotherapy (CPP). The Western term is a translation of the Pali word sati, which has many nuances of meaning. Its Sanskrit root smrti has the connotation of remembering, and at its depth points to the recalling of ultimate truth – that fundamentally everything is interconnected, in constant flux, whole and indivisible. “In its widest sense, sati is a state of inclusive presence, a spacious state of wakefulness that allows a person to consciously hold the whole of an arising process and all its particulars in awareness.” (Franklin Sills, Co-founder of the Karuna Institute). As we develop the ability to be present and cultivate a non-dissociative witness consciousness, the potential for something beyond our suffering becomes possible.
“In terms of brain physiology, when a person abides in witness consciousness and initiates an embodied enquiry into their arising process, they are entering the world of the medial pre-frontal cortex. This area of the brain mediates present-time experience and has connections to all major brain centres. As one comes into present-time experience and orients to sensations and sensory experiences, the pre-frontal cortex tells the rest of the brain that there is no ‘tiger’ out there and levels of the stress response and cycling depressive and anxiety states then also have the potential for down-regulation as a shift to more fluid homeostasis takes place.”
Central London
within walking distance of Southwark, Waterloo and London Bridge stations.
South London
within walking distance of Brixton and Herne Hill stations.