Rediscovering Mindfulness as a Therapist
Life is stressful these days (gestures at the state of the world), so I’ve gone back to therapy. Even as a mental health professional, I need a space to process countertransference, compassion fatigue, and all the quirks that come with being a human living in complexity.
Since moving, I started meeting with a new therapist—let’s call her Anna. She’s experienced, gentle, and kind, and I quickly realized that while I have a toolkit full of coping strategies, I was still missing a key piece: the art of simply being with myself.
The Challenge of Mindfulness
Anna asked a deceptively simple question: “What does it look like for you to just rest? Just to be with yourself?”
I tried to explain my existing self-care practices—reading, walking, yoga—but Anna noticed a pattern: I was always doing, always moving, always managing. Mindfulness, she gently pointed out, wasn’t about productivity. It was about presence, stillness, and nonjudgmental awareness.
Despite knowing all the benefits intellectually, applying mindfulness to my own life felt surprisingly hard.
I admitted my reluctance. Meditation felt boring. Sitting with my thoughts felt unnecessary. And yet, I recognized that mindfulness isn’t just a trendy wellness activity—it’s a foundational practice in evidence-based therapies like DBT and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, as well as countless spiritual traditions.
Why Mindfulness Matters
Mindfulness helps us:
Calm the nervous system
Notice and process thoughts and emotions without judgment
Cultivate emotional and spiritual awareness
Build capacity for presence with ourselves and others
Even for therapists, mindfulness is vital. It strengthens our ability to sit with our own complexity and equips us to support clients more authentically.
My Mindfulness Journey
By the end of my session with Anna, I had practiced a simple breath prayer, identified techniques that resonate with me, and set the goal of integrating mindfulness intentionally into my daily life.
I realized that mindfulness doesn’t replace action; it complements it. It’s not about “fixing” anything, but about cultivating comfort with my inner self, observing thoughts and emotions, and connecting with a deeper sense of calm and presence—including a spiritual connection if that is meaningful to me.
For me, mindfulness is now a tool to:
Activate my parasympathetic nervous system
Survey my emotions with neutrality
Find openness and connection with God
Strengthen my capacity to rest without productivity
Moving Forward
Admitting that I need mindfulness—and that I don’t instinctively enjoy it—was humbling. Vulnerability, even for therapists, is part of growth. I’m learning that the work of being present with myself can enrich both my personal life and my professional practice, enabling me to better care for myself and my clients.
Read the rest of this essay on Substack!
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