Guided Meditation
The practice of guided meditation involves drift into a meditative state with the assistance of a guide. Guided Meditation is now being used as a technique to help people with psychological disorders.
A guided meditation aims at achieving deep relaxation by focusing the mind in the present or forming mental pictures of places or events that an individual finds relaxing. One session of guided meditation can last from 15 minutes to one hour. During the session, your therapist would guide you through soothing visualisations that help reduce stress and tension.
What are the benefits of Guided Meditation?
Guided meditation has been successfully used to decrease pain, improve mood, reduce stress and enhance healing. Some of the general physical and mental benefits of guided meditation include:
- Enhanced self awareness
- Improved stress management skills
- Emotional well being
- Improved working memory and fluid intelligence
In psychotherapy, it has been used alongside other behavioural therapies and medication or as a standalone technique to treat many psychological conditions including:
- Eating disorders
- Anxiety
- Mood disorders
- Addictions
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Depression
Tips for Guided Meditation
- Find your space to practice meditation
- Start with stretching to help improve circulation
- Be mindful of your posture
- Pay attention fo your breath
- Do not force yourself into meditative state
- Make meditation a part of your routine