Joseph Rhinewine, PhD, LLC

522 SW Fifth Avenue, Suite 725, Portland, Oregon 97204
One Centerpointe Drive, Suite 110, Lake Oswego, Oregon 97035

503-222-2361 • drjoe.rhinewine@yahoo.com
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 What is Mindfulness?

It turns out that we play a key role in creating and maintaining a great deal of our own tension, anxiety, and even depression by habitually keeping our minds in the past and future. It can be very difficult to change this habit!

Mindfulness is a simple, powerful practice that involves training one's mind to remain, as much as possible, in the present moment. Mindfulness Training involves exercises that, if practiced regularly, result in gaining greater control over one's attention, greater ability to keep the attention where one has decided to put it.

In order to promote relaxation, and to gain the considerable benefits of stress relief that relaxation offers, the attention in mindfulness training is typically placed on neutral, bodily sensations such as those of one's breathing. Other sensations such as seeing, hearing, smell, taste, or even thought itself may also be used as anchors to help the mind stay in the present moment, rather than lost in thoughts about the future or past.

I use Mindfulness Training frequently in my treatment, but I do not use it in all cases. In particular, I do not usually use it when depression is particularly severe, or when an individual does not respond well to an initial exercise, or indicates discomfort with the approach.

If you and I choose to use mindfulness training in our work together, you will probably find it takes some effort, and may not provide immediate relief from tension (though some people do notice benefits as soon as they begin practicing the exercises). If you stick with it for just a few weeks, it is likely to yield very noticeable and significant improvements in your state of mind and body. With a calmer mind and body, you are more likely to be able to improve your life, enjoy yourself, and achieve your goals.

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