Mindfulness

Mindfulness is the practice of paying attention to the present moment with openness and less judgement.

It is widely used for stress reduction and emotional wellbeing.

Lets find you a Mindfulness Practitioner...

Mindfulness helps people relate differently to thoughts and emotions rather than trying to eliminate them. It can be practised through meditation, movement and everyday activities.

What happens in mindfulness training?

You will learn guided practices such as breathing exercises and body awareness, often with suggested home practice between sessions.

What can mindfulness help with?

Anxiety and rumination
Stress management
Sleep support

Safety

Mindfulness is generally low risk, but if practice increases distress or dissociation, seek guidance and consider a trauma-informed approach.

History of Mindfulness

Mindfulness has roots in contemplative traditions and has been adapted into secular healthcare, psychology and wellbeing programmes.

Typical conditions that use Mindfulness

Condition	Evidence	Notes
Rumination / overthinking	strong	MBCT for rumination; core use.
Sleep anxiety	strong	Core use for sleep anxiety.
Social anxiety	strong	Core use for social anxiety.
Stress	strong	Good evidence for stress reduction; consistency matters.
Trouble falling asleep	strong	Mindfulness for sleep onset; MBSR evidence.
Workplace stress	strong	Core use for workplace stress.
Addiction / dependency support	moderate	Mindfulness in addiction recovery.
ADHD (support / coaching alongside medical care)	strong	Mindfulness for ADHD self-regulation.
Anger issues	moderate	Mindfulness for anger management.
Anxiety	moderate	Useful for rumination and worry; combine with other supports as needed.
Cancer emotional support (men)	moderate	Mindfulness in cancer care; well evidenced.
Caregiver stress	moderate	Mindfulness for carer stress.
Chronic illness adjustment	strong	Mindfulness for chronic illness adjustment.
Depression	strong	MBCT for depression; strongly evidenced for recurrent depression.
Difficulty reaching orgasm	strong	Mindfulness for orgasm difficulties.
Emotional dysregulation (neurodiversity)	strong	Mindfulness for emotional dysregulation.
Emotional eating	strong	Mindfulness for emotional eating.
Emotional regulation difficulties	strong	Mindfulness for emotional regulation.
Erectile dysfunction	strong	Mindfulness for erectile dysfunction.
Exam stress	moderate	Mindfulness for exam stress.
Executive dysfunction	moderate	Mindfulness for executive dysfunction.
Feeling overwhelmed	strong	Mindfulness for overwhelm.
Fibromyalgia support	moderate	Mindfulness for fibromyalgia; good evidence.
Focus and concentration difficulties	moderate	Mindfulness for concentration difficulties.
Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD)	strong	Mindfulness for GAD.
Gut-brain stress symptoms	strong	Mindfulness for IBS; gut-brain health.
Headaches	moderate	Mindfulness for headache.
Health anxiety	strong	Mindfulness for health anxiety.
High blood pressure stress support (adjunct)	moderate	Mindfulness for blood pressure; MBSR evidence.
Imposter syndrome	moderate	Mindfulness for imposter syndrome.
Intimacy concerns	moderate	Mindfulness for intimacy concerns.
Intimacy difficulties	strong	Mindfulness for intimacy difficulties.
Intrusive thoughts	strong	Mindfulness for intrusive thoughts.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)	strong	Mindfulness for IBS; MBSR evidence.
Life transitions / adjustment issues	strong	Mindfulness for life transitions.
Loneliness	strong	Mindfulness for loneliness.
Long-term condition coping	strong	Mindfulness for long-term condition coping.
Low libido	strong	Mindfulness for low libido.
Low mood in men	moderate	Mindfulness for low mood in men.
Menopause symptoms	moderate	Mindfulness for menopause; well used.
Migraine support	moderate	Mindfulness for migraine prevention.
Multiple sclerosis support (adjunct)	strong	Mindfulness for MS; good evidence.
Neuralgia support	moderate	Mindfulness for pain management.
Non-restorative sleep	strong	Mindfulness for non-restorative sleep.
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)	strong	Mindfulness for OCD.
Osteoarthritis support	moderate	Mindfulness for OA.
Painful sex (dyspareunia)	strong	Mindfulness for dyspareunia.
Parenting stress	strong	Mindfulness for parenting stress.
Parkinson’s support (adjunct)	moderate	Mindfulness for Parkinson's.
Pelvic pain	strong	Mindfulness for pelvic pain; MBSR evidence.
People pleasing	strong	Mindfulness for people pleasing.
Perfectionism	strong	Mindfulness for perfectionism.
Performance anxiety	strong	Mindfulness for performance anxiety.
Perimenopause symptoms	moderate	Mindfulness for perimenopause.
Phobias	strong	Mindfulness for phobias.
PMDD support (adjunct)	moderate	Mindfulness for PMDD.
Postnatal emotional support	moderate	Mindfulness for postnatal wellbeing.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)	strong	Mindfulness for PTSD.
Pregnancy anxiety support	moderate	Mindfulness for pregnancy anxiety.
Premature ejaculation	strong	Mindfulness for premature ejaculation.
Procrastination	strong	Mindfulness for procrastination.
Public speaking nerves	moderate	Mindfulness for public speaking nerves.
Relationship stress (men)	moderate	Mindfulness for relationship stress in men.
Resilience building	strong	Mindfulness for resilience building.
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)	strong	Mindfulness for SAD.
Self-harm thoughts (sensitive)	strong	Mindfulness for self-harm recovery.
Sensory overload	moderate	Mindfulness for sensory overload.
Separation / divorce support	strong	Mindfulness for separation/divorce.
Sexual difficulties	strong	Mindfulness for sexual difficulties.
Sexual performance anxiety (supportive)	strong	Mindfulness for sexual performance anxiety.
Sexual wellbeing concerns (supportive)	moderate	Mindfulness for sexual wellbeing.
Shame	strong	Mindfulness for shame.
Skin picking (dermatillomania) support	strong	Mindfulness for skin picking.
Stroke recovery support (adjunct)	moderate	Mindfulness for post-stroke wellbeing.
Trauma after accident or assault	strong	Mindfulness for trauma adjustment.
Trouble staying asleep	strong	Mindfulness for sleep maintenance.
Vaginismus	strong	Mindfulness for vaginismus.
Vertigo support	moderate	Mindfulness for vertigo anxiety.
Weight management (behaviour change support)	strong	Mindfulness for weight management.
Work-life balance	strong	Mindfulness for work-life balance.
Acid reflux / heartburn support	moderate	Mindfulness for reflux stress component.
Acne-related confidence concerns	moderate	Mindfulness for acne-related distress.
Asthma-related anxiety support (adjunct)	moderate	Mindfulness for asthma anxiety.
Attachment issues	moderate	Mindfulness for attachment anxiety.
Autism / ASC support	moderate	Mindfulness for autism regulation support.
Back pain (lower)	moderate	Mindfulness for low back pain.
Back pain (upper)	moderate	Mindfulness for upper back pain.
Bipolar disorder (support alongside medical care)	moderate	Mindfulness for bipolar disorder support.
Body image concerns	moderate	Mindfulness for body image concerns.
Boundary issues	moderate	Mindfulness for boundary-setting.
Breathing pattern dysfunction support	moderate	Mindfulness for breathing pattern dysfunction.
Career change support	moderate	Mindfulness for career change anxiety.
Chronic fatigue syndrome / ME support (adjunct)	moderate	Mindfulness for ME/CFS adjustment.
Chronic pain	moderate	Useful for coping/acceptance as part of a broader plan.
Communication difficulties	moderate	Mindfulness for communication anxiety.
Complex PTSD	moderate	Mindfulness for PTSD.
Compulsive behaviours	moderate	Mindfulness for OCD.
Confidence building	moderate	Mindfulness for confidence building.
Co-parenting challenges	moderate	Mindfulness for co-parenting stress.
Cravings	moderate	Mindfulness for cravings; urge surfing.
Diarrhoea	moderate	Mindfulness for stress-related diarrhoea.
Domestic abuse recovery support (sensitive)	moderate	Mindfulness for domestic abuse recovery.
Eating disorder recovery support (alongside specialist care)	moderate	Mindfulness in eating disorder recovery.
Eczema stress impact support	moderate	Mindfulness for eczema stress.
Endometriosis support (adjunct)	moderate	Mindfulness for endometriosis stress.
Family conflict	moderate	Mindfulness for family conflict.
Fatherhood adjustment	moderate	Mindfulness for fatherhood adjustment.
Fatigue	moderate	Mindfulness for fatigue.
Fertility stress (emotional support)	moderate	Mindfulness for fertility stress.
Food-related anxiety (supportive)	moderate	Mindfulness for food-related anxiety.
Friendship difficulties	moderate	Mindfulness for friendship difficulties.
Gambling problems	moderate	Mindfulness in gambling recovery.
Grief and bereavement	moderate	Mindfulness for grief.
Guilt	moderate	Mindfulness for guilt.
Hair loss-related distress	moderate	Mindfulness for hair loss distress.
Hip pain	moderate	Mindfulness for chronic pain.
Indigestion / dyspepsia	moderate	Mindfulness for indigestion.
Insomnia	moderate	Helpful for switching off; support sleep hygiene too.
Irritability	moderate	Mindfulness for irritability.
Jealousy	moderate	Mindfulness for jealousy.
Joint pain	moderate	Mindfulness for chronic joint pain.
Knee pain	moderate	Mindfulness for chronic knee pain.
Leadership coaching goals	moderate	Mindfulness for leadership.
Learning difficulties support (non-diagnostic)	moderate	Mindfulness for learning difficulties.
Libido concerns (supportive)	moderate	Mindfulness for libido concerns.
Lipolymphoedema support	moderate	Mindfulness for lipolymphoedema distress.
Low confidence	moderate	Mindfulness for low confidence.
Low energy	moderate	Mindfulness for low energy.
Low mood	moderate	Can support resilience; monitor symptoms and risk.
Low motivation	moderate	Mindfulness for low motivation.
Low self-esteem	moderate	Mindfulness for low self-esteem.
Lymphoedema (lymphedema)	moderate	Mindfulness for lymphoedema distress.
Memory concerns (supportive)	moderate	Mindfulness for memory concerns.
Menstrual cramps / painful periods	moderate	Mindfulness for menstrual pain.
Motivation and goal setting	moderate	Mindfulness for motivation.
Nausea support	moderate	Mindfulness for nausea.
Panic attacks	moderate	Mindfulness for panic.
Panic disorder	moderate	Mindfulness for panic disorder.
PCOS support (adjunct)	moderate	Mindfulness for PCOS.
Peripheral neuropathy support (adjunct)	moderate	Mindfulness for peripheral neuropathy pain.
Postural pain	moderate	Mindfulness for postural pain.
Post-viral fatigue support	moderate	Mindfulness for post-viral fatigue anxiety.
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)	moderate	Mindfulness for PMS.
Psoriasis stress impact support	moderate	Mindfulness for psoriasis stress.
Relationship conflict	moderate	Mindfulness for relationship conflict.
Rheumatoid arthritis support (adjunct)	moderate	Mindfulness for RA management.
Sciatica	moderate	Mindfulness for sciatica pain management.
Sedentary lifestyle support	moderate	Mindfulness for sedentary lifestyle.
Shoulder pain	moderate	Mindfulness for chronic shoulder pain.
Social isolation	moderate	Mindfulness for social isolation.
Sports injury recovery support	moderate	Mindfulness for sports injury adjustment.
Stammering (stuttering)	moderate	Mindfulness for stammering anxiety.
Time management	moderate	Mindfulness for time management.
TMJ / jaw tension	moderate	Mindfulness for TMJ stress.
Tremor support	moderate	Mindfulness for tremor anxiety.
Trust issues	moderate	Mindfulness for trust issues.
Voice problems	moderate	Mindfulness for voice performance anxiety.

Frequently asked questions

How much should I practise?

Short, regular practice is helpful—often 5–15 minutes daily—building gradually.

Can mindfulness be done online?

Yes. Many courses and guided sessions are available remotely.

Is mindfulness suitable if I feel distressed?

Discuss with a clinician. Pacing and support can be tailored to your situation.