Integrated Approaches to Well-Being: Harmonising Body, Mind and Soul
Mindfulness treatment is effective for balancing life. It may successfully reduce stress, anxiety, and mood issues, and it has ancient non-Western traditions.
Mindfulness is being present and nonjudgmental about your thoughts and feelings. This technique breaks negative thinking cycles like “I can’t manage this” and “I’m not the same as before” and their associated emotions, such as frustration, grief and guilt. Seeing these thoughts as transient mental events can calm, clarify and strengthen emotions.
Research reveals that mindfulness and other holistic practices (Coltri, 2023) can rewire the brain to improve well-being, making them useful throughout difficult periods that can influence mood, stress and quality of life.
Techniques and Counselling Approaches
Mindfulness, relaxation and other practices may help clients with specific challenges. These may include:
- Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT): A blend of mindfulness practices and cognitive behavioural techniques to challenge negative thinking patterns.
- Body Awareness Practices: Helping you reconnect with your mind and body.
- Qi Gong: This ancient Chinese practice combines gentle movements, breathwork, and meditation to improve energy flow, reduce stress, and ease physical discomfort. It is particularly beneficial for addressing symptoms such as anxiety, tiredness, trouble sleeping, and tension.
Supporting Women Through Perimenopause and Menopause
Many women experience physical and emotional challenges during perimenopause and menopause, including:
- Hormonal fluctuations impact mood and energy.
- Sleep disturbances and increased stress.
- A sense of disconnection or frustration with bodily changes.
Mindfulness, Qi Gong, and Yoga can provide tools for navigating these experiences with grace and self-compassion, promoting emotional and physical balance.
In addition to their use in treating depression, these techniques have been shown to assist individuals with various other challenges, including:
- Anxiety
- Bipolar and mood disorders
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Insomnia
What Can These Holistic Practices Do for You?
Through mindfulness and holistic approaches, you can:
- Become Emotionally Resilient: Learn to recognise and let go of negative feelings.
- Improve Physical Wellbeing: Use movement and breathwork to ease tension and restore balance.
- Cultivate Inner Peace: Foster self-compassion and gratitude, rediscovering joy and connection in daily life.
Our emotions and state of mind, such as joy, anger, rage, sadness and love, influence our body, from our cells and hormones to our skin and hair. This highlights the importance of learning to manage our emotions. Working on ourselves to maintain a sense of calm and balance is essential, as negative feelings and thoughts can take a toll on our mental and physical well-being.
