In our fast-paced, overstimulated world, simply being—without fixing, avoiding, or performing—can feel quietly radical. This is precisely where mindfulness offers its invitation: not to escape life’s complexity, but to meet it with more clarity, compassion, and care.
Have you considered how mindfulness can become a powerful tool in therapy? How it can deepen self-understanding and support mental health? These are the questions we’ll explore with experienced therapist Cristina Lorefice, as she unpacks common misconceptions and reveals how mindfulness can be profoundly transformative in a therapeutic setting.
Whether you’re new to mindfulness or looking to deepen your practice, this conversation is a reminder that healing isn’t always about doing more. Sometimes, it begins with simply pausing and noticing what’s already here.
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How would you define mindfulness?
Mindfulness has become quite the buzzword lately – and for good reason. As a counsellor, I’ve witnessed how powerful it can be in supporting mental and emotional wellbeing. At its core, mindfulness is the practice of connecting with the present moment, cultivating awareness of what’s happening right now, without judgment. But what does that actually mean in practice?
It can be helpful to imagine your mind as a chatty monkey, constantly swinging from the vine of one thought to another: worries, plans, memories, and to-do lists. Mindfulness is like stepping back for a moment, offering that monkey a banana—something to gently focus on in the present moment, like your breath or the feeling of your feet on the ground—and simply observing without getting tangled in the vines.
It’s not about forcing your mind to go blank or reaching instant calm. Instead, it’s a chance to observe your thoughts, emotions, and sensations with curiosity as they arise. It’s the art of noticing, without getting swept away.
What inspired you to start incorporating mindfulness in your counselling practice?
My first introduction to the concept of mindfulness came from a meditation course I took in 2000. It deeply resonated. Years later, while working in mental health services, I had the opportunity to run mindfulness and meditation groups. I witnessed how learning to anchor themselves in the present moment could help people find calm and clarity amid difficult thoughts and emotions. I later trained in Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), which helped me understand how mindfulness can be woven into therapeutic work.
Mindfulness has become more than a technique for me; it’s a guiding principle, rooted in personal experience and two decades of learning and practice. It remains a daily process, one that continues to shape both my life and counselling work.
What positive changes have you noticed in clients who regularly engage with mindfulness?
Over the years, it’s been truly inspiring to witness the steady, meaningful shifts that unfold in people who embrace mindfulness as a regular part of their lives. While change is rarely instant, the impact often runs deep in reshaping how individuals relate to themselves, their thoughts, and the world around them.
Here are some of the key changes I’ve observed:
- Enhanced Emotional Regulation: People often feel less reactive to intense emotions, developing the capacity to observe those feelings with more space and less judgement.
- Reduced Stress and Anxiety: Mindfulness cultivates a greater awareness of the present moment, pulling attention away from future worries or rumination on the past. This can decrease stress and create a greater sense of calm.
- Increased Self-Awareness: Consistent mindfulness practice can bring greater awareness of your internal landscape, thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations. This heightened self-awareness can help identify patterns in thinking and behaviour, personal triggers and bring deeper insights into your needs and values.
- Improved Focus: Mindfulness trains the mind to stay present, which naturally improves attention span and concentration.
- Increased Self-Compassion: Mindfulness can help individuals develop a kinder, more accepting relationship with themselves by encouraging non-judgemental observation of oneself and one’s experiences.
- Enhanced Resilience: Learning to navigate difficult emotions and thoughts with greater awareness and acceptance can develop increased resilience in the face of life’s inevitable challenges.
- Healthier Relationships: As you become more aware of your own internal states and learn to respond more thoughtfully, this often positively impacts communication and connection in your relationships.
- Deeper Appreciation for the Present Moment: Mindfulness opens the door to greater presence, allowing you to find joy and meaning in everyday moments with a greater sense of gratitude.
It’s important to remember that everyone’s journey with mindfulness is unique, and the pace and nature of these changes can vary.
How do you integrate mindfulness in your counselling sessions?
My approach to mindfulness is flexible and tailored to each individual’s needs and comfort level, but here are some of the ways I often integrate mindfulness into my counselling sessions:
Integrating Movement and the Body: Exercises like body scans and mindful movement help clients understand that mindfulness is an embodied experience, not just a mental exercise.
Making Space for All Emotions: I emphasise that mindfulness isn’t about suppression or avoiding difficult emotions, but about creating space to observe them with curiosity and acceptance. The core of mindfulness is being present with what is. Mindfulness invites us to observe these moments as they are, without judgement.
Mindful Use of Humour: Laughter and humour can be a profoundly mindful experience. Noticing the physical sensations of laughter, emotional shift and connection in a moment of levity brings present-moment awareness.
Using Metaphors: I often use metaphors to illustrate the broader nature of mindfulness, such as being like a mountain that remains steady as the weather changes around it (representing thoughts and emotions).
What are some practical mindfulness exercises you use with clients?
The following are some ways in which I incorporate mindfulness in my therapeutic practice:
Laughter Therapy (Mindful Laughter):
This practice isn’t about telling jokes, but rather about intentionally engaging in the physical act of laughter. The mindfulness aspect comes from bringing conscious awareness to the breath, sound, and movement. It’s about being present with the physical and emotional experience of joy.
Mindful laughter can interrupt negative thought patterns, elevate mood, release tension and reconnect you with positive physical sensations.
Sometimes, I combine intentional breathing techniques with laughter. Combining breath-work and laughter can be particularly potent in shifting emotional states.
Experiential Exercises:
I guide clients through various brief mindfulness exercises during sessions. These might include:
Breath awareness: Focusing on the sensation of the breath as it enters and leaves the body.
Body scan: Bringing gentle awareness to different parts of the body, noticing any sensations without judgment.
Mindful observation: Paying attention to an object in the room or a sound without analysis.
Brief guided meditations: Short practices focused on present moment awareness, acceptance, or self-compassion.
EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) or Tapping: EFT, often referred to as tapping, involves gently tapping on specific acupressure points on the face and body while focusing on a particular thought or feeling. This can be a powerful experiential tool to help regulate emotions and reduce distress.
Integrating Mindfulness into Exploring Thoughts and Feelings:
Here are some ways mindfulness can be a powerful support for clients processing difficult thoughts and emotions:
Noticing the physical sensations of emotions: Bringing awareness to where emotions are felt in the body.
Practising non-judgmental awareness: Encouraging the observation of experiences without criticism or the need for immediate change.
Tailoring mindfulness for specific concerns: Mindfulness is adapted to each person’s needs. For example, when working with anxiety, breath awareness or grounding in body sensations can be particularly useful. One accessible technique I often use is the 5 Senses Mindfulness Exercise.
Mindfulness as a daily experiment: Between sessions, clients may be invited to try short mindfulness practices, framed as “experiments.” This opens the door for discussion and integrating mindfulness into daily life that personally resonates. One practice I personally value and often recommend is Yoga Nidra meditation.
Perhaps most importantly, I strive to bring a mindful presence to each session. This involves being fully present with the client, listening deeply, and responding with intention and empathy.
Mindfulness is never imposed, only offered as a gentle invitation, explored together at a pace that feels comfortable and safe.
What misconceptions about mindfulness in therapy do you often encounter?
Mindfulness is increasingly recognised as a valuable therapeutic tool, but it’s not uncommon for clients to arrive with a few misunderstandings. Here are some of the common misconceptions:
“Mindfulness means sitting still and doing nothing.” In truth, mindfulness is an active engagement with the present moment. It can be practised through movement, conversation, and daily activities—not just through seated meditation.
“It’s about zoning out or escaping reality.” Mindfulness is the opposite of escapism. It’s about tuning in, developing clarity and presence with whatever is happening, rather than avoiding it.
“It’s a religious or spiritual practice.” While mindfulness has roots in Eastern traditions, in therapy it’s offered as a secular, evidence-based practice that supports emotional and mental wellbeing.
“It’s about stopping thoughts and feelings.” A common frustration is the belief that mindfulness means having a quiet mind. In fact, mindfulness is about observing thoughts and emotions without judgement—not eliminating or suppressing them.
“It will instantly solve all my problems.” While mindfulness can be incredibly helpful, it’s not a magic cure. It’s a skill that develops over time and works in conjunction with other therapeutic approaches.
“It’s not scientific enough.” There’s a growing body of research supporting the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions for various mental health conditions.
If this message resonates with you, Cristina offers online appointments for individual or couples counselling. You can find her profile and options for booking below:
Click here to view Cristina Lorefice’s Profile
At Leone Centre, our therapists are deeply engaged in their therapeutic practice, and we have a wide range of experienced counsellors available for individual, couples, or family sessions—both in person in London and online.
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Co-founder and director of Leone Centre, 20+ years of experience supporting people, and offering valuable knowledge through Couples Counselling and Individual Counselling. Before becoming a therapist, I worked in the financial sector.