Therapy and Mindfulness.

Starting therapy can bring up all sorts of feelings, nervousness, anxiety, uncertainty. That’s completely normal. You’re about to talk to someone you don’t know (yet!) about parts of your life that really matter. It’s no small thing.

That’s why I sometimes use mindfulness at the start of a session, especially in the early days of therapy, or even before we begin the deeper work. A short, gentle mindfulness practice can help settle your system, slow everything down, and give you a chance to catch your breath before we dive in.

It’s not about clearing your mind or doing it “right”, it’s about being present, noticing what’s going on in your body, and giving yourself a moment to just arrive. If therapy feels a bit overwhelming or uncertain, this can be a grounding way to ease in and start from a calmer place.

From a Transactional Analysis (TA) perspective, mindfulness also strengthens what we call the Adult ego state, the part of us that lives in the here and now. When we’re in our Adult state, we can think more clearly, reflect more calmly, and respond to situations with choice rather than reacting out of old patterns.

Mindfulness helps us move out of the reactive parts of ourselves (like the anxious Child or the Critical Parent) and come into that grounded, thoughtful space where real change can happen. It’s not magic, but it is powerful.

You don’t need to have any experience with mindfulness to try it. Even a few minutes of sitting quietly, noticing your breathing, or tuning into your senses can help make therapy feel a bit more accessible and less intimidating.

If you’re feeling nervous about starting therapy, you’re not alone. And there are gentle, supportive ways to ease into it, mindfulness is just one of them. I’m always happy to talk about what might help you feel more comfortable before we get started.