Mindfulness - SafeHaven Trauma Centre

What is Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)?

 

MBSR is an 8 week course which focuses on using mindfulness meditation practices and the cultivation of mindful awareness to benefit both physical and psychological health and well-being.

The course includes guidance on:

  • Mindfulness meditation practices
  • Gentle stretching and mindful yoga
  • Group dialogue
  • Mindful communication
  • Exercises to enhance your daily life
  • Home practice assignments
  • Home practice materials including guided meditations.

The course has been running since 1979 at the Stress Reduction Clinic, University of Massachusetts Medical School.  It has become a world renowned model.

MBSR has helped many people experiencing both physical and emotional ill health find a different way of relating to their life.

MBSR has been found to decrease anxiety, depression and pain, and mindful meditation practice has been found to improve both emotion and relationship issues.

Jon Kabbat Zinn, the founder of MBSR, says of mindfulness and MBSR

“One way to think of this process of transformation is to think of mindfulness as a lens, taking the scattered and reactive energies of your mind and focussing them in coherent source of energy for living, for problem solving, for healing”.

 

MBSR and Trauma

 

Mindfulness based approaches have been developed for those experiencing the effects of trauma, both for childhood trauma and those experiencing traumatic events as adults.

MBSR offers a systematic way of listening to and re-establishing a connection with your body, developing a relationship with your body and ultimately, yourself.

When we pay focused attention to our bodily sensations, we can recognise the ebb and flow of both sensations and emotions that arise within us.  Noticing the transitory nature of our feelings and perceptions with focused attention can reduce our reactivity and give us greater control over our responses to emotions and situations.

MBSR has been shown to help regulate emotional regulation, body awareness and fear.

We find an MBSR course can be superb when used as aftercare, on completion of treatment.

SafeHaven Trauma Centre