Mindfulness Counseling in Chicago
Mindfulness counseling approaches can support you through all of life's ups and down, even the big ones. You’ve probably experienced times when it felt like everything was going just right. Maybe you felt connected and supported by others, you and your loved ones were healthy, and you had dreams for the future. And, you’ve probably also had times when it felt like everything was falling apart. Maybe you were going through a breakup or divorce, experienced grief of a loved one's death, were fired or unsatisfied with your work, or felt alienated by the need to come out as LGBT+ or queer. In these times, it’s healthy to reach out for the support of a trusted and experienced individual therapist.
There are many reasons that you may seek mindfulness-based individual therapy. Maybe you're drawn to the non-judgmental nature of the work? Are looking for practical strategies to respond to various situations? Are you struggling with a mental health condition?
Whatever the catalyst to seek mindfulness-based individual therapy in Chicago, we're here to help.
Mindfulness is the act of experiencing our thoughts and feelings in the present moment, without getting caught up in them.
We’ve all been disconnected, stuck in our own thoughts, feelings, and judgments. This disconnection can keep us from experiencing what’s going on right in front of us - such as deepening relationships, engagement with the world, and even learning. Experiences of depression, anxiety, and relationship problems can play over and over in our heads, never being tested by the reality that is going on right in front of us.
Mindfulness-meditation is the practice of being present. You may work with your Chicago therapist to learn mindfulness-meditation techniques and skills. By practicing these skills, you’ll cultivate greater capacity to be present in your daily life and not stuck in your thoughts and feelings.
Mindfulness is an evidence-based treatment with a large body of research that shows its effectiveness at reducing stress and chronic pain, treating anxiety, and reducing relapse with depression as well as drugs and alcohol.
Mindfulness therapists at Tandem Psychology use a variety of methods including client-centered therapy, CBT, ACT, DBT, EMDR, psychodynamic, and relational therapy, among others. Nonetheless, it’s becoming increasingly common to compliment these treatments with mindfulness and meditation training. Mindfulness counseling is simply the incorporation of mindfulness-based approaches into therapy.
Mindfulness-based therapeutic approaches (such as acceptance commitment therapy (ACT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) , and mindfulness-based cognitive behavioral therapy (MCBT) incorporate mindfulness into the core of therapy, not just as an adjunct to therapy.
If you're looking for a therapist in Chicago that incorporates mindfulness into the process, you’re in the right place. Tandem Psychology has a team of experienced, highly effective mindfulness counselors available both virtually and in-person in our Lakeview office. Contact us today to set up an individual therapy appointment.