At iPractice, you work with two psychologists and combine online sessions with in-person appointments at one of our locations. Want to know more? Read about the intake process and treatment options at iPractice, or learn how to find a psychologist who suits you.
Mindfulness Therapy
Mindfulness means paying conscious attention to what you’re experiencing right now — without judging it. You notice your thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations in the moment, instead of getting stuck in the past or worrying about the future.
What is Mindfulness?
Mindfulness is simply about being present in the here and now. With what is happening right now — not what happened yesterday or what you still “have to do” later. That sounds simple, but in our busy lives it often isn’t.
Still, even a short daily mindfulness exercise can improve your quality of life. This can be sitting quietly and meditating, but also something very ordinary, like folding laundry with full attention.
By practising mindfulness, you learn to observe more consciously. You become more aware of what you feel, think, and do. When you notice that you’re distracted, you gently bring your attention back to the present moment — without judging yourself. Your thoughts and feelings are still there, but they have less influence on how you feel or behave. This creates more calm and mental space.
Many people use mindfulness to deal with stress, overthinking, fatigue, or feeling overstimulated — but also simply to cope better with everyday life.
In this article, you’ll learn more about the benefits of mindfulness and how it might help you.
How Mindfulness helps
Mindfulness helps you step out of “autopilot mode.” Autopilot often wants immediate action: fixing, fighting, or avoiding problems. That can feel helpful, but often isn’t in the long run.
Mindfulness creates space to deal with what is happening — by looking at it with kindness and compassion, without judgment. For many people, mindfulness has positive effects and can help with:
- Stress: noticing triggers and choosing what is important and possible in the moment
- Strong emotions: learning to tolerate them
- Anxiety and low mood: becoming aware of anxious thoughts and feelings
- Physical complaints: acknowledging tension or pain without fighting it
- Concentration problems: guiding your attention and gently bringing it back when you’re distracted
- Sleep problems: more calm during the day and more ease when awake at night
- Enjoyment: being present in the moment and choosing what truly matters to you
You train awareness through mindfulness exercises such as meditation, breathing exercises, or a body scan. Daily life also offers many practice moments — like mindful walking or brushing your teeth with full attention. Just 10 minutes a day can already make a big difference.
When is Mindfulness suitable?
Mindfulness is suitable for everyone, even when you don’t suffer from mental illness. It’s merely a way of living that helps you to live ‘in the moment’. Mindfulness on its own is usually not reimbursed as a standalone treatment for mental health complaints. However, mindfulness is reimbursed when used as part of evidence-based therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), EMDR, exposure therapy, or schema therapy — for example in the treatment of anxiety disorders, ADHD, or PTSD.
Mindfulness can also help with burn-out, performance anxiety, concentration problems, physical complaints, stress, and sleep problems.
At iPractice, we don’t offer fixed mindfulness training programmes. Instead, we give you practical tips to practise mindfulness yourself and use mindfulness elements within therapy.
More information
Do you have questions about what mindfulness could do for you? Or are you unsure whether it’s the right time to see a psychologist?
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Mindfulness is something you can benefit from throughout your life. It takes practice, but there are many ways to do that — through courses, meditation apps, or online videos.
FAQ
What if I find it hard to sit still or “do nothing”?
That’s actually a good reason to try mindfulness. It’s not about sitting perfectly still, but about noticing what’s happening inside you. Movement, discomfort, and restlessness are all part of the practice.
Is mindfulness just meditation?
No. Mindfulness is about being more aware of your attention — during conversations, at work, or even while brushing your teeth. It’s a way of living, not just a technique.
What if I get distracted quickly during mindfulness exercises?
That’s completely normal. Getting distracted isn’t failing — it’s part of the practice. Every time you notice it and gently return your attention, you’re training your brain.
What if I want to follow a full mindfulness training?
If you’re interested in a full training, you could consider two approaches: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) or Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT).
MBSR is an attention-based training rooted in yoga, meditation, medical science, and cognitive psychology. It helps you see the difference between what you experience and what you think, so you can respond more consciously and break old patterns.
MBCT is a variation of MBSR focused on preventing relapse in depression. You learn to recognise triggers that can lead to relapse and to see unhelpful thoughts and feelings as temporary.
What are related treatments?
At iPractice, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is widely used. In ACT, mindfulness is a key pillar. You learn to apply mindfulness in different and creative ways to increase your psychological flexibility.
