Mindfulness COUNSELING
WHAT IS MINDFULNESS?
Mindfulness is the practice of being fully present. At first, this concept seems straightforward and simple, however often we let our thoughts become preoccupied with the past or the future and those preoccupations can lead to anxiety. Mindfulness centers around the idea that we need to learn to fully experience our present actions, thoughts, and emotions free of self-judgement and on purpose. Through meditation and other training, we master the ability to live in the moment.
HISTORY OF MINDFULNESS
The practice of mindfulness dates back centuries as it was originally conceived and integrated in the Buddhist practice of meditation. The late 1970s introduction of mindfulness into United States for clinical use is credited to Jon Kabat-Zinn, a professor at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. Since then mindfulness has become widely studied, grown to be a popular practice among counselors, and has been established as a highly effective therapeutic practice.
MINDFULNESS SESSIONS
Mindfulness can be practiced by any person at any moment. Through meditation and practice, an individual will cultivate the ability to be present. This can come in the form of guided meditation with a counselor or at home practice. A few of the ways that mindfulness can be practiced are:
- Seated Meditation
- Walking Meditation
- Standing Meditation
- Moving Meditation
- Breathing Exercises
- Yoga or Sports
BENEFITS OF MINDFULNESS
Because of the growing interest in mindfulness as a therapeutic practice, many studies have been done to prove its efficacy. A recent Harvard study observed that mindfulness meditation leads the brain’s hippocampus to create new grey matter – which is important for memory, the ability to learn, and processing emotions.
Mindfulness is a proven coping technique and can play a large role in improving an individual’s quality of life. While some of us are hardwired to avoid emotions and negativity, mindfulness teaches us how to fully experience and be aware of our self in a non-judgemental way.
POSSIBLE DRAWBACKS OF MINDFULNESS
Mindfulness is a journey and it is not a problem solving technique. Like with any difficult technique, it takes hard work, practice, and personal effort. In some cases, it can increase frustration if an individual is not able to let go of their self-judgement. The key to mindfulness is to understand that even the best meditators spent many years cultivating the ability to be present and that no one can be perfect 100% of the time.
MINDFULNESS COUNSELORS AT GIBSON COUNSELING
Whitney Woodby, LPC
Whitney's Patient PortalRead more about Whitney
Location: North Round Rock
Insurances Accepted: Aetna, Beacon Options, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Humana, Multiplan/PHCS, Sendero, Tricare, United Health Care (Optum/Optum EAP, UMR, Oscar, Allsavers)
Accepting New Clients: YES-EVENING AVAILABILITY IS FULL, ONLY DAYTIME APTS CAN BE ACCOMMODATED.
Expertise: Kids (6 yrs and older), Adults and Couples
- ADHD
- Addiction
- Anger
- Anxiety
- CBT
- Child and adolescent counseling
- Christian Counseling
- Depression
- Life adjustment
- LGBTQIA
- Solution Focused Therapy
- Mindfulness
- Marriage Counseling
- Trauma
Sheryl Stiffler, LMFT
Sheryl's Patient PortalRead more about Sheryl
Location: Cedar Park
Insurances Accepted: BCBS, Humana, Multiplan/PHCS, Sendero, Tricare, United Health Care (Optum/Optum EAP, UMR, Oscar, Allsavers)
Accepting New Clients: YES- HAS AVAILABILITY ON WEEKENDS AND EVENINGS
Expertise: Kids (6 yr and up), Adults and Couples
- ADHD
- Addiction
- Anger
- Anxiety
- CBT
- Child and adolescent counseling (ages 6 years or older)
- Christian Counseling
- Depression
- Life adjustment
- LGBTQIA
- Solution Focused Therapy
- Mindfulness
- Marriage Counseling
- Trauma
Andrew Lipinski, LPC
Andrew's Patient Portal Read more about Andrew Location: Cedar Park
Insurances Accepted: Aetna, Beacon Options, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Humana, Multiplan/PHCS, Sendero, Tricare, United Health Care(Optum/Optum EAP, UMR, Oscar, Allsavers)
Accepting New Clients: NO
Expertise:Kids (5 yr and up) and Adults (no couples)
- ADHD
- Anger
- Anxiety
- CBT
- Child and adolescent counseling
- Depression
- Geriatric/Elderly concerns
- LGBTQIA
- Life adjustment
- Marriage Counseling
- Mindfulness
- Schizophrenia
- Solution Focused Therapy
- Trauma
Sally Guerra, LPC
Sally's Patient Portal Read more about Sally
Location: Cedar Park
Insurances Accepted: Aetna, Beacon Options, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Humana, Multiplan/PHCS, Sendero, Tricare, United Health Care (Optum/Optum EAP, UMR, Oscar, Allsavers)
Accepting New Clients: YES
Expertise: Kids (5yr and up), Adults and Couples
- Addiction
- ADHD
- Anger
- Anxiety
- CBT
- Child and adolescent counseling (5 years and older)
- Christian Counseling
- Depression
- Geriatric/Elderly concerns
- LGBTQIA
- Life adjustment
- Marriage Counseling
- Mindfulness
- Solution Focused Therapy
- Trauma
Paulina Pina, LPC
Paulina's Patient Portal Read more about Paulina
Location: North Round Rock
Insurances Accepted: Aetna, Beacon Options, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Humana, Multiplan/PHCS, Sendero, Tricare, United Health Care (Optum/Optum EAP, UMR, Oscar, Allsavers)
Accepting New Clients: NO
Expertise:Kids (8 yrs and older), Adults and Couples
- Addiction
- Anger
- Anxiety
- CBT
- Child and adolescent counseling
- Depression
- LGBTQIA
- Life adjustment
- Mindfulness
- Solution Focused Therapy
- Trauma
Mario J. Gonzalez, LPC
Mario's Patient PortalRead more about Mario
Location: South Round Rock
Insurances Accepted: Aetna, Beacon Options, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Humana, Multiplan/PHCS, Sendero, Tricare, United Health Care (Optum/Optum EAP, UMR, Oscar, Allsavers)
Accepting New Clients: YES-ADULTS ONLY- EVENING AVAILABILITY IS FULL, ONLY DAYTIME APTS CAN BE ACCOMMODATED.
Expertise: Adults and couples
- Addiction
- ADULTS ONLY-ADHD
- Anger
- Anxiety
- CBT
- Depression
- LGBTQIA
- Life adjustment
- Marriage Counseling
- Mindfulness
- Solution Focused Therapy
- Trauma
Dayle Malen, LCSW, M.Ed.
Dayle's Patient Portal Read more about Dayle
Location: South Round Rock
Insurances Accepted: Aetna, Beacon Options, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Humana, Multiplan/PHCS, Sendero, Tricare, United Health Care(Optum/Optum EAP, UMR, Oscar, Allsavers)
Accepting New Clients: YES –ADULTS ONLY-EVENING AVAILABILITY IS FULL, ONLY DAYTIME APTS CAN BE ACCOMMODATED.(Does not accept clients with addiction or substance abuse)
Expertise: Adults and couples
- ADULTS ONLY-ADHD
- Anger
- Anxiety
- CBT
- Depression
- LGBTQIA
- Life adjustment
- Marriage Counseling
- Mindfulness
- Solution Focused Therapy
- Trauma
Alyssandra Livingston-Shelburne, LPC
Aly's Patient Portal Read more about Alyssandra
Location: South Round Rock
Insurances Accepted: Blue Cross Blue Shield, Humana, Multiplan/PHCS, Sendero, United Health Care(Optum/Optum EAP, UMR, Oscar, Allsavers)
Accepting New Clients: YES
Expertise: Kids (5 yrs and older) and Individual adults (no couples)
- Anger
- Anxiety
- Child and adolescent counseling (5 years and older)
- Depression
- LGBTQIA
- Life adjustment
- Mindfulness
- Solution Focused Therapy
- Trauma
