Quick Overview: Yes. The National Institute of Mental Health states that psychotherapy can include mindfulness and relaxation techniques, including meditation and breathing exercises. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health explains that some meditation practices maintain mental focus on a sensation, sound, visual image, or repeated phrase. It describes mindfulness as maintaining attention or awareness on the present moment without making judgments. These general descriptions do not determine what will be included in a particular therapy conversation or whether a practice fits a particular person.
Meditation Practices in Therapy
Psychotherapy refers to a variety of treatments. The National Institute of Mental Health states that elements of psychotherapy can include mindfulness and relaxation techniques, such as meditation and breathing exercises. Meditation practices in therapy are therefore possible, but this general information does not establish that meditation is included in every psychotherapy approach or conversation.
The same organization explains that therapists may use one primary approach or incorporate elements from multiple approaches depending on their training, the condition being treated, and the needs of the person receiving treatment. General education cannot determine those factors for an individual reader.
Focused Attention Can Refer to a Particular Object of Attention
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health describes meditation as a variety of practices focused on mind and body integration. Some meditation practices involve maintaining mental focus on a particular sensation. Examples named by the organization include breathing, a sound, a visual image, or a mantra.
A mantra is a repeated word or phrase. This description supports the idea that a meditation practice may involve directing mental focus toward one particular object of attention. It does not identify a required therapy exercise, establish a standard format, or determine what a person should use as a focus.
Mindfulness Is Described as Present-Moment Awareness Without Judgment
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health describes mindfulness as maintaining attention or awareness on the present moment without making judgments. This is the source-based meaning of present-moment awareness used in this article.
The organization also explains that some forms of meditation include mindfulness. The National Institute of Mental Health includes mindfulness among techniques that psychotherapy can apply. Neither source establishes a required duration, structure, or result for mindfulness in a particular therapy conversation.
What General Education Can Clarify
The available sources distinguish several related ideas. Psychotherapy can include mindfulness and relaxation techniques, including meditation and breathing exercises. Some meditation practices can use a sensation, sound, visual image, or repeated phrase as a focus. Mindfulness can refer to present-moment awareness without making judgments.
The sources do not determine whether meditation will be included in a particular therapy conversation. They also do not determine whether a meditation or mindfulness practice fits a particular person or what effect it will have for that person.
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health notes that research has examined many different meditation and mindfulness practices. It states that the practices are difficult to measure, that results have been difficult to analyze, and that findings may have been interpreted too optimistically. Its information does not determine personal fit or outcomes for an individual reader.
Reflection Questions About Meditation and Mindfulness
| Reflection question | Source-based point to consider |
|---|---|
| What does meditation mean in this conversation? | Meditation refers to a variety of practices. |
| Is attention being directed toward a sensation, sound, visual image, or repeated phrase? | The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health names these as possible focuses in some meditation practices. |
| Is mindfulness being used to mean present-moment awareness without making judgments? | This matches the organization’s description of mindfulness. |
| Is meditation being discussed as one possible element of psychotherapy? | The National Institute of Mental Health states that psychotherapy can include meditation and breathing exercises. |
| What questions would help me understand the approach being discussed? | General education does not determine the content of a particular therapy conversation. |
Practice Note: Rooted Integrative Therapy lists individual therapy, couples therapy, group therapy, and therapy intensives among its services. The practice identifies Alina Hovsoyan, LCSW.
The practice’s FAQs describe scheduling a consultation call as a first step, with an opportunity to ask questions and consider fit. Its Connect page invites inquiries and appointment requests through the listed contact details or form.
Questions to Bring to a Consultation
- When you use the word meditation, what do you mean?
- Are you referring to attention directed toward a sensation, sound, visual image, or repeated phrase?
- When you use the word mindfulness, do you mean present-moment awareness without making judgments?
- How do you describe the approach used in individual therapy?
- What information can you share as I consider fit?
Frequently Asked Questions
Can psychotherapy include meditation?
Yes. The National Institute of Mental Health states that psychotherapy can include mindfulness and relaxation techniques, including meditation and breathing exercises. This does not establish that meditation will be part of a particular therapy conversation.
What does focused attention meditation mean here?
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health explains that some meditation practices maintain mental focus on a sensation, sound, visual image, or repeated phrase. The supplied source does not provide a separate definition for the exact phrase focused attention meditation.
What does present-moment awareness mean?
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health describes mindfulness as maintaining attention or awareness on the present moment without making judgments.
Does mindfulness in therapy have one standard format?
The available information does not establish one standard format, duration, or structure for mindfulness in therapy. The National Institute of Mental Health states that psychotherapy can include mindfulness techniques, while the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health provides a general description of mindfulness.
Are meditation and mindfulness practices always without risk?
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health states that meditation and mindfulness practices are usually considered to have few risks. It also states that few studies have examined potentially harmful effects, so definite statements about safety are not possible.
Sources and Further Reading
Sources used for this article:
- National Institute of Mental Health: Psychotherapies
- nccih.nih.gov: Meditation And Mindfulness Effectiveness And Safety
A Grounded Next Step
Rooted Integrative Therapy offers in-person therapy near Orem and Provo, with virtual therapy across Utah. The practice describes a consultation call as a first step for asking questions and considering fit. Its Connect page invites inquiries and appointment requests.
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.