There has been a lot of information about mindfulness in the media during the last few years, with mixed reviews of its effectiveness. However, it has been shown that when mindfulness is taught thoroughly and practised regularly it is effective in lessening the suffering that living can bring.

Learning to be more mindful in your everyday life can help you to stop negative thought cycles and excessive worrying. Mindfulness is about being aware of the present moment in a non-judgmental and compassionate way using meditation and more informal practices.

I have taught mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) groups within the NHS which were aimed at helping people who have had chronic, recurrent depression. Within my private practice, I teach mindfulness skills as part of other therapeutic approaches rather than as a stand-alone intervention.

To benefit from mindfulness, it is necessary to practice meditation regularly. As a mindfulness teacher, I have a continuing meditation practice – I do not believe in asking clients to do anything that I am not prepared to do myself.