Mindfulness-based Therapy

Mindfulness is a state of consciousness where you simply track your experience moment by moment with as little judgment as possible. Relatively new to the West, mindfulness and its applications (medication, yoga, tai chi...) have been practiced in the East for centuries. In my sessions, we use mindfulness all the time in order to study our experience and dip into the unknown.

I have been utilizing mindfulness meditation since 2008, and have attended workshops on mindfulness as well as mindful eating specifically. I think it is important to start from the beginning and acquire a mindfulness practice before applying mindfulness skills to eating. I help clients make mindfulness meditation work for them, for their unique schedule, unique thinking patterns, and eventually unique eating habits. Mindfulness is about awareness, openness, curiosity, not about doing it “right”

As a yoga and meditation practitioner, I integrate the mind-body connection into therapy. This often includes mindfulness practices, noticing felt experiences, and using visualizations to find a deeper connection with your authentic self.

My Masters in Clinical Mental Health counseling was embedded on a foundation of mindfulness training including 9 intensive meditation retreats, regular meetings with a mindfulness instructor, and meditation and mindfulness weaved throughout class time and ciriculum.

Mindfulness doesn't mean sitting in silence or chanting on a cushion. It's about being fully present in each moment, feeling the movement and experiences along the way. We become more aware of our behaviors and can make choices that benefit us, rather than reacting impulsively out of emotion. Mindfulness can help us foster a deeper connection with our emotions and behaviors. It helps us sit with our feelings rather than trying to "fix" them. This nonjudgmental presence is key to understanding.

Knowing what we feel, how to name it, and where we feel it in our bodies makes us far wiser than when we feel our emotions take over uncontrollably. This may feel impossible to imagine, this may feel "hokey", yet our bodies send us signs and signal us just as basically as "butterflies in our stomach" or "hair standing up on our arms" signals us.

I use Mindfulness-Based Therapy to support individuals managing chronic illness, stress, anxiety, and depression by cultivating present-moment awareness. With extensive experience in mindfulness techniques, I guide clients to manage difficult emotions, improve focus, and reduce emotional distress. This approach fosters emotional balance, self-compassion, and enhances overall quality of life. Contact me today to discover how mindfulness can transform your health journey.

Claudia identifies as a Buddhist and a Catholic and completed The New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care - Foundations Program, where she offered spiritual care and counsel for the sick, dying and their families. Her approach is spiritually Informed, Buddhist Informed and makes use of Mindfulness-Based practices.

Utilizing guided imagery, visualization, and relaxation techniques can assist in reducing the symptoms of anxiety and depression.

What we pay attention to shapes our experience. By working with my clients to notice their minds, their attention, they work with attention and mindfulness to show improvements in mental health and wellness outcomes, feel more equipped to manage stressful or anxiety-provoking events, and are able to more adaptively manage unwanted sensations between session.

MBSR and Mindfulness Based Relapse Prevention

I have trained in a multitude of Mindfulness-based therapies including therapeutic yoga (I have 500 hours of training RYT-500) in the lineage of Krishnamacharya, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Non-Violent Communication (NVC.)

Are you an Overthinker? Mindfulness can be a great set of ideas and techniques to help calm and quiet the mind, in addition to many other issues. It is similar to CBT but with a little more specific emphasis on increasing self-awareness and being present in the moment, not in the past or the future. It has a deep relaxation element to it, which I have always tried to incorporate into so many areas of therapy and in my own life. It can also be useful for many sexual areas as well.

I am trained in mindfulness based theories and techniques. I am certified to teach Mindful Self-Compassion and bring it into psychotherapy regularly.

Mindfulness-based therapy is a type of therapy that teaches clients how to become more aware of their thoughts, emotions, physical sensations, and behaviors. This therapeutic approach involves a variety of techniques and exercises, including body scanning, meditation, breathing exercises, and body movement. By practicing mindfulness, clients can learn to be more present and improve their mind-body connection, leading to better mental and physical well-being.

I am trained in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention, and other mindfulness-based interventions.

In mindfulness-based therapy, I guide clients in cultivating present-moment awareness without judgment. Techniques like meditation and deep breathing help reduce stress and increase self-compassion. Mindfulness practices promote emotional regulation, allowing clients to better navigate challenging feelings and experiences.

I invite clients to practice engaging thoughts, feelings, and life experiences with increased curiosity, awareness and compassion, including building skills for recognizing and processing emotional/somatic experiences. We notice habitual patterns, practice shifting those patterns in ways that do not cause additional suffering, and consider ways to cultivate desired experiences. This may include (but does not always include) engaging in breathing exercises, meditation practice, and grounding.