Mindfullness

Practicing mindfulness is a training of the mind, which allows us to free ourselves from our automatic mechanisms, which are most of the time responsible for our malaise or psychological distress. Mindfulness allows us to develop the ability to relate to our experience in a different way. It is a form of meditation that consists of focusing one’s attention fully on the present moment and analyzing the sensations felt, using observation and breathing in particular to reach a state of “full consciousness”.

This technique was adapted in the 1950s in the United States by medical professor Jon Kabat-Zinn, a researcher in molecular biology. Based on the latest research, he has developed a stress reduction method called the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program. Advances in medical imaging now allow us to corroborate the effectiveness of this strategy. Indeed, some studies have shown with MRI technology what happens in the brain when we are in meditation. Thus, changes in the areas involved in pain and stress can be observed.

The integration of mindfulness concepts into psychotherapy characterizes the so-called third wave cognitive and behavioral psychotherapies.

We invite you to consult our “Resources” section: it offers a partial list of publications highlighting the benefits of mindfulness medication.