This groundbreaking book explains how to practise mindfulness, using step-by-step exercises to help the reader understand key techniques such as breathing, relaxation, body scanning and concentration building. Written by a team of practising therapists led by Sarah Silverton, it includes chapters on using mindfulness to self-treat such specific problems as depression, stress, anxiety, chronic illness, and childcare and relationship issues. As we progress through each chapter, we learn how to become aware of unhelpful automatic reactions to our emotions, feelings and experiences. Rather than 'reacting' to life as we always have, mindfulness shows us how to observe our experience and as a result behave in a way that is gentler, wiser and more positive. Practical, accessible and featuring uncomplicated exercises to help the reader fully understand and adopt the mindfulness approach, this book truly is a breakthrough: the most friendly and engaging title available on the subject; and one which, like a trusted therapist, guides the reader through his or her problems and questions, anticipating their needs with kindness and compassion. "This book has so much potential to help people and contribute to the flowering of greater well-being and sanity on this planet." Jon Kabat-Zinn About the Author: Sarah qualified as an Occupational Therapist in 1986 and worked as an OT in mental health services in the NHS until 2000 and offered mindfulness classes through Community Mental Health Team for a number of years. She worked as an OT in Social Services until 2007. Sarah trained as a counsellor to diploma level, where she then taught on counselling courses to Master’s level for a number of years. She has also taught on the post-graduate OT Education programme at Bangor University. In the mid 1990’s Sarah was introduced to mindfulness and was trained by Mark Williams to teach mindfulness. Sarah took an Intern Programme in Worcester, Massachusetts at the Centre for Mindfulness in 1999. Sarah has been involved in teaching mindfulness classes through the Centre for Mindfulness Research and Practice (CMRP) at Bangor University for more than 10 years. Sarah is a co-author ( with Tabitha Sawyer and Rhian Roxburgh, teachers at Ysgol Pen Y Bryn, Colwyn Bay) of paws.b, a mindfulness curriculum, delivered in schools to children (Key Stage Two, aged 7 - 11) developed in collaboration with and with the support of the team at the Mindfulness in Schools Project. Sarah has had a long standing yoga practice and lifelong interest in dance. |