Quick Overview: Mindfulness can be one element of psychotherapy. The National Institute of Mental Health states that psychotherapy can apply mindfulness and relaxation techniques, including meditation and breathing exercises. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health states that mindfulness practices are generally considered to have few risks, but limited research prevents definite conclusions about safety and some participants have reported negative experiences. The available information does not establish safety specifically for mindfulness delivered in individual therapy. A consultation can be a place to ask how a therapist describes an approach and its evidence base.
Mindfulness Can Appear Within Psychotherapy
The National Institute of Mental Health describes psychotherapy, also called talk therapy, as a variety of treatments that aim to help a person identify and change troubling emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. Therapists may use one primary approach or incorporate elements from multiple approaches, depending on their training, the concern being addressed, and the needs of the person receiving therapy.
Mindfulness and relaxation techniques are among the elements that psychotherapy can include. The examples named by the National Institute of Mental Health include meditation and breathing exercises. This information does not mean that mindfulness is included in every psychotherapy approach or that a particular therapist will use it.
Mindfulness Has a General Definition
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health describes mindfulness as maintaining attention or awareness on the present moment without making judgments. It places mindfulness among meditation practices that focus on mind-body integration and may be used to calm the mind and enhance overall well-being.
Meditation refers to a variety of practices rather than one uniform activity. Some forms involve maintaining mental focus on breathing, a sound, a visual image, or a repeated word or phrase. Programs that teach meditation or mindfulness may combine these practices with other activities.
A Therapy Label Does Not Describe a Specific Experience
A reference to mindfulness does not establish what a particular therapy appointment will include. It does not show whether meditation, breathing exercises, another mindfulness practice, or no mindfulness practice will be discussed.
The National Institute of Mental Health notes that a preliminary conversation with a prospective therapist can help a person understand how treatment will proceed and whether they feel comfortable with the therapist. It identifies questions about a therapist's approach, rationale, evidence base, goals, and progress assessment as topics for that conversation.
What the Available Safety Information Does and Does Not Say
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.
The organization reports that some participants have described negative experiences related to meditation practices. This supports a clear boundary: general research information cannot predict a particular person's experience or establish what will occur in a particular therapy setting.
Research Limits Matter to the Question
The safety information cited here concerns meditation and mindfulness practices generally. It does not provide a therapy-setting-specific conclusion about mindfulness in individual therapy. Likewise, the National Institute of Mental Health identifies mindfulness as a possible element of psychotherapy but does not describe the safety of mindfulness when delivered in a particular therapy format.
For that reason, this article cannot determine whether mindfulness will be part of an individual's therapy, how it would be approached, or what an individual experience would be. It also cannot promise comfort, benefit, or a particular outcome.
Discussion Can Clarify the Available Information
A prospective therapist may be able to explain what they mean by mindfulness, how it relates to the broader approach they use, and why they are considering a particular element of psychotherapy. The National Institute of Mental Health identifies questions about the approach, rationale, evidence base, therapy goals, and progress assessment.
These questions can clarify what is being discussed. They do not turn general education into an individualized answer.
Reflection Questions Before a Therapy Conversation
The following questions are for general reflection. They do not determine personal fit or what care is appropriate.
| Reflection question | What it may help clarify |
|---|---|
| What do I understand mindfulness to mean? | Whether a clearer description would be useful. |
| What questions do I have about meditation or breathing exercises? | Topics to raise in a conversation. |
| What would I like to know about the broader therapy approach? | Questions about how different elements may relate. |
| What information would help me understand the rationale for an approach? | Questions about why an element is being considered. |
| What would I want to know about research on mindfulness practices? | Questions about evidence and its limits. |
General Education Has Clear Boundaries
The National Institute of Mental Health states that therapists may use different approaches or incorporate elements from multiple approaches based on training, the concern being addressed, and the needs of the person receiving therapy. The research notes for this article do not determine personal fit or outcomes for an individual reader.
General information can define mindfulness, identify that psychotherapy may include mindfulness and relaxation techniques, and summarize limits in available safety research. It cannot establish what a specific therapy experience will involve.
Mindfulness and Individual Therapy at Rooted Integrative Therapy
Rooted Integrative Therapy lists individual therapy among its services. This service listing does not indicate whether mindfulness will be part of a particular therapy experience. Questions about an approach can be brought to a consultation conversation.
Practice Note: Rooted Integrative Therapy lists individual therapy, couples therapy, group therapy, and therapy intensives. Alina Hovsoyan, LCSW, offers in-person therapy near Orem and Provo, with virtual therapy across Utah. The practice's FAQs describe scheduling a consultation call as a first step, with an opportunity to ask questions and consider fit.
Questions to Bring to a Consultation
- When you use the term mindfulness, what do you mean?
- What approach do you use in therapy?
- What is the rationale for considering mindfulness or relaxation techniques?
- What information can you share about the evidence base for the approach?
- How do you describe the goals of therapy and assess progress?
FAQs
Is mindfulness always part of psychotherapy?
No. The National Institute of Mental Health states that psychotherapy can include mindfulness and relaxation techniques as part of a broader approach. It does not state that every psychotherapy experience includes mindfulness.
Are mindfulness practices risk-free?
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health states that mindfulness practices are generally considered to have few risks. It also notes that limited research prevents definite conclusions about safety and that some participants have reported negative experiences.
Does the available research answer mindfulness safety in individual therapy?
No. The cited safety information addresses mindfulness practices generally. It does not provide a specific conclusion about mindfulness delivered in individual therapy.
Can a consultation help with questions about approach?
Rooted Integrative Therapy's FAQs describe a consultation call as a first step with an opportunity to ask questions and consider fit. A consultation does not determine what will fit an individual.
Is virtual therapy available through Rooted Integrative Therapy?
Rooted Integrative Therapy states that it offers virtual therapy across Utah and in-person therapy near Orem and Provo.
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.
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
For questions about services at Rooted Integrative Therapy, the Connect page invites inquiries and appointment requests through its contact details or form. The practice's FAQs describe a consultation call as an opportunity to ask questions and consider fit.
Please do not include urgent or highly sensitive clinical information in a general inquiry.