Quick Overview: Yes. The National Institute of Mental Health states that psychotherapy can include mindfulness and relaxation techniques, such as meditation and breathing exercises. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health defines mindfulness as paying attention to the present moment without judgment. This general information does not show what a particular therapy experience will include or whether a practice fits a particular person.
Mindfulness in Therapy: A Source-Bounded Answer
Psychotherapy, also called talk therapy, refers to a variety of treatments that aim to help a person identify and change troubling emotions, thoughts, and behaviors, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Mindfulness and relaxation techniques can be elements of psychotherapy.
That statement establishes a possibility, not a requirement. It does not mean that every psychotherapy approach includes mindfulness, meditation, or breathing exercises. It also does not establish what any particular therapist or practice includes.
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health defines mindfulness as maintaining attention or awareness on the present moment without making judgments. In this article, present-moment awareness refers to that definition.
Present-moment awareness is attention without judgment
Mindfulness, as defined by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, involves attention or awareness directed toward the present moment without judgment. This definition provides a clear starting point for questions about mindfulness in therapy.
The available information does not establish a required exercise, sequence, or format for mindfulness in psychotherapy. A person can ask a therapist what the term means within the approach being discussed.
Meditation and breathing exercises are not interchangeable terms
The National Institute of Mental Health lists mindfulness and relaxation techniques, including meditation and breathing exercises, among elements that psychotherapy can include.
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health describes meditation as a variety of practices focused on mind-body integration. Some meditation practices involve mental focus on a sensation, such as breathing, a sound, a visual image, or a repeated word or phrase. Other forms of meditation include mindfulness.
Because the sources distinguish these descriptions, it is more accurate to ask what practice is being discussed than to assume that mindfulness, meditation, and breathing exercises mean the same thing.
Psychotherapy can combine different elements
The National Institute of Mental Health explains that therapists may use one primary approach or incorporate elements from multiple approaches depending on their training and the needs of the person receiving therapy. Mindfulness and relaxation techniques are among the elements psychotherapy can include.
This general description does not establish how a particular therapist will proceed. It does not establish the length, frequency, or structure of any mindfulness-related activity. It also does not determine personal fit or outcomes for an individual reader.
Practice Note: Rooted Integrative Therapy lists individual therapy, couples therapy, group therapy, and therapy intensives. Its verified practice information does not identify mindfulness practices as a listed approach. A direct question can ask whether mindfulness is discussed within a particular service.
Reflection Questions for Learning More
The National Institute of Mental Health notes that a preliminary conversation can help a person understand how treatment will proceed and whether they feel comfortable with a therapist. The questions below are for learning more; they do not predict what therapy will include.
| Reflection question | Question to consider |
|---|---|
| Meaning | What does mindfulness mean in the approach being described? |
| Present-moment awareness | How does the approach describe attention to the present moment without judgment? |
| Meditation | Is meditation part of the discussion, and if so, how is it described? |
| Breathing exercises | Are breathing exercises being discussed as a relaxation technique? |
| Approach | What approach does the therapist use, and what is its rationale and evidence base? |
| Process | How does the therapist describe how treatment may proceed? |
Questions can keep general education distinct from practice details
General education can explain that psychotherapy may include mindfulness and relaxation techniques. It cannot establish what a particular therapist will offer, what a particular meeting will include, or how a person will respond.
The National Institute of Mental Health suggests asking a prospective therapist about the approach they use, the rationale for therapy, and its evidence base. It also identifies questions about therapy goals, progress assessment, and what may happen if improvement does not occur. These questions can support a clearer conversation without assuming that mindfulness-related practices will be used.
Research does not settle every question about mindfulness
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health reports that research on meditation and mindfulness has examined many different practices. It also states that results have been difficult to analyze and may have been interpreted too optimistically. Some research on these topics has been preliminary or not scientifically rigorous.
The same source states that few studies have examined meditation and mindfulness practices for potentially harmful effects. As a result, it is not possible to make definite statements about safety. General education should not be treated as a prediction of a personal response.
Mindfulness and Individual Therapy
For someone exploring individual therapy, mindfulness can be one topic to raise in a preliminary conversation. The National Institute of Mental Health describes psychotherapy as a broad category that can involve different approaches and elements. It is not accurate to assume that individual therapy at a particular practice includes mindfulness solely because psychotherapy can include it.
A conversation with a therapist can focus on plain questions: What approach is being considered? What does mindfulness mean in that approach? Are meditation or breathing exercises part of the discussion? What is the rationale and evidence base for the approach?
These questions are consistent with the National Institute of Mental Health’s guidance to ask about a therapist’s approach and how treatment will proceed. They do not promise a particular format or result.
Questions to Bring to a Consultation
- When you use the term mindfulness, what do you mean?
- How do you describe present-moment awareness without judgment?
- Are meditation or breathing exercises among the techniques you discuss?
- What approach do you use, and what is its rationale and evidence base?
- How do you describe how treatment may proceed?
- What goals and methods of assessing progress do you discuss?
Frequently Asked Questions
Can therapy include practices that focus on the present moment?
Yes. The National Institute of Mental Health states that psychotherapy can include mindfulness and relaxation techniques, such as meditation and breathing exercises.
What is mindfulness?
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health defines mindfulness as paying attention to the present moment without judgment.
Is meditation the same as mindfulness?
Not necessarily. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health describes meditation as a variety of practices. Some forms include mindfulness, while other forms focus attention on a sensation, sound, image, or repeated word or phrase.
Does this information show whether mindfulness will fit me?
No. The available research notes do not determine personal fit or outcomes for an individual reader.
Does Rooted Integrative Therapy state that it uses mindfulness practices?
No verified practice information provided for this article identifies mindfulness practices as a listed approach. You can ask the practice whether mindfulness is discussed in a particular service.
Sources and Further Reading
These authoritative resources provide general background for this article:
- National Institute of Mental Health: Psychotherapies
- nccih.nih.gov: Meditation And Mindfulness Effectiveness And Safety
A Grounded Next Step
If you would like to learn more, choose a question from the reflection table or consultation list and bring it to a preliminary conversation. Rooted Integrative Therapy offers in-person therapy near Orem and Provo, with virtual therapy across Utah. You can contact the practice through its consultation inquiry page.
Please do not include urgent or highly sensitive clinical information in a general inquiry.
This article is for general education only. It is not a diagnosis, treatment plan, or substitute for individualized mental-health care. A qualified mental-health professional can help you consider what fits your circumstances.