Mindfulness is a practise which involves focusing your attention fully on the present moment and not dwelling on thoughts of the past. Practising mindfulness involves having an awareness of your thoughts and feelings without trying to change them, in a non-judgemental way. It involves concentration and focus so that you can feel more connected with your mind, body and the world around you.
What are the benefits of mindfulness?
There are lots of different reasons as to why practising mindfulness can help to improve your overall wellbeing and mood. These include:
- Calming your mind so that you can feel more relaxed and get a better night’s sleep
- Improved attention and focus in everyday tasks as a result of being more in the present moment
- Better relationships with those around you, as mindfulness increases our sense of connection with our friends, family members and those around us
- Reducing stress and anxiety as a result of your mind and body being more relaxed
- Greater self-awareness as a result of self-reflection, enabling you to understand your thoughts, feelings and emotions more easily
What mindfulness offerings are available through TALKWORKS?
At TALKWORKS, Devon's NHS Talking Therapies service, we have a number of trained mindfulness practitioners who can teach you more about mindfulness and how to apply the benefits of it to your everyday life.
We offer an ‘Introduction to Mindfulness’ workshop which is a one-off session that teaches participants more about mindfulness and the difference it can make to your everyday life. The 75 minute session also includes a guided meditation so that you can try mindfulness for yourself and see how you get on.
If you enjoy our ‘Introduction to Mindfulness’ workshop, you may be interested in exploring our further mindfulness offering. This includes our Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) group course which runs over an 8 week period. Each session, combined with set homework, will teach you a range of strategies and techniques through the application of mindfulness, to improve your wellbeing and sense of connection in day-to-day life. Once you have completed the MBCT course, you may also be interested in our two hour 'Mindfulness Graduates' workshop.
How do I get started?
You can book your place on an upcoming ‘Introduction to Mindfulness’ workshop by calling our team on 0300 555 3344 (our phone lines are open Monday to Friday, between 9am and 4:45pm). In order to find out more about our Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy group, you will need to refer yourself to TALKWORKS for support, either by calling us or filling out an online self-referral form. As TALKWORKS is an NHS Talking Therapies service, all of our courses, groups, treatment and support are available free of charge. You do not need to see a GP before you contact our service.