Everywhere you go these days, you hear the word mindfulness. But what does that even mean? Mindfulness is a technique that involves being present and non-judgmental in the moment, which can
help reduce stress and improve mental health. This blog post will explore the science behind mindfulness, including its impact on the brain and how it can be used to manage conditions like anxiety and depression.
Research has shown that mindfulness can have a range of mental health benefits, including reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression, improving focus and attention, and promoting feelings of well-being. This is because mindfulness helps regulate the amygdala, the part of the brain responsible for processing emotions like fear and anxiety. The amygdala is essentially the brain’s smoke alarm. It is constantly scanning the environment, looking for fire (aka danger). The problem is that smoke alarms go off for plenty of reasons that don’t include fire, such as when mom cooks bacon or dad puts burgers in the oven. Our amygdala does that, too, when it is something like getting called into your boss’ office rather than a lion waiting behind a bush to attack. By practicing mindfulness, we can learn to observe our thoughts and emotions without judgment, which can help reduce feelings of stress and feeling overwhelmed.
There are a range of ways to practice mindfulness, including meditation, deep breathing exercises, and body scans. Mindfulness meditation involves focusing on the present moment and paying attention to 
the breath or other sensations in the body. Deep breathing exercises involve taking slow, deep breaths and focusing on the sensation of the breath. Body scans involve bringing attention to each part of the body, one at a time, and noticing any sensations or feelings.
Incorporating mindfulness into your daily routine can have significant mental health benefits. This might involve setting aside time each day for meditation or deep breathing exercises or simply taking a few moments throughout the day to bring attention to the present moment.
Kelly Sheridan, owner of Sacred Circle Counseling, is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who specializes in helping people heal from trauma, become better parents, and live more genuine lives. She graduated with her Masters of Science degree from Capella University in early fall 2021. She completed her internship and began her residency at a residential treatment facility for children ages 6-21 with co-morbid mental health diagnoses. She then completed her residency at a Children’s Advocacy Center, helping children and families who have disclosed physical abuse, sexual abuse, or neglect in a forensic interview, not only providing treatment to help them heal from the traumatic events they experienced but helping them navigate the confusing path of criminal trials and testifying. “I love working with families and individuals who want to heal from the things haunting them from their past.”