Mindfulness apps support psychotherapy

Mindfulness , translated into Portuguese as “Mindfulness”, is a meditation practice that is based on oriental cultures and seeks to bring the mind of those who practice it to the present moment, helping with concentration and reducing the ability to think about other things being distractions.

Mindfulness meditation aims to focus the practitioner’s attention and is commonly used for stress relief in everyday life.

The psychologist and professor of the psychology course at the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná (PUCPR) Renate Michel points out that the mindfulness apps available in the cellphone app stores bring advantages to those who use them.

Renate points out that several of the psychological problems we face are related to feelings of concern about what happened in the past or could happen in the future.

“Learning to stay in the present moment and really do something possible, using our personal resources or seeking to develop new resources is very useful and mindfulness helps to stay in this present and in connection with yourself” , she says.

The applications are useful tools for those who are in therapy, providing information, guidance and support for the practice of mindfulness during their days while during therapeutic meetings, the treatment advances. The patient learns in the meetings with the psychologist or psychologist and practices what he learned outside the office.

Ways to learn and practice mindfulness are not only available in apps. Videos on the internet and even books can bring the practice into the daily life of the patient who can use them to assist in the treatment of anxiety and depression , for example.

However, the psychologist recalls that it is important to carry out the appropriate treatment for these situations. “Nothing replaces the therapeutic process and / or the medication needed in many cases,” adds Renate.

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Benefits of mindfulness

Several benefits can come from the practice of mindfulness . Among them are:

Stress reduction

One of the main reasons why people practice mindfulness is to reduce stress. Those minutes of meditation can help you deal with everyday difficulties.

Improved creativity

The practice of meditation can allow you to look at life from a different angle than you are used to, helping and improving creativity.

Increased concentration

Mindfulness is essential for concentration. Having the mind in the present instead of being stuck with thoughts at other times improves concentration.

Improved productivity

With all these improvements in concentration, attention and stress reduction, productivity can be high. Whether at work or on personal projects, practicing mindfulness can help.

Tips for practicing mindfulness

While the practice can be used in conjunction with therapy, which brings the benefits of professional instruction and real treatment for psychological problems, mindfulness can be practiced without it as a relief from mild stress and to help with concentration.

Don’t forget that when problems are more serious, psychological help is essential.

Here are some tips to help your practice, whether you are undergoing psychological therapy or not:

Be gradual

You don’t have to start with 30 minutes of meditation a day right away. Start with 5 minutes until you get the habit and from there you can increase the time if you want.

One of the major blocks to starting mindfulness practice is often time, as many people believe that they need to spend several minutes every day in meditation. In addition to this not always being feasible, it is important to be gradual to overcome another challenge.

There are many people who believe that meditation is tedious, and it really can be, especially if you are not used to it and are a beginner. So, instead of starting with 30 minutes, start with 5 and everything will be easier.

Always practice at the same time

Practicing mindfulness at the same time helps to create the habit. Whether in the morning, right after waking up, before bedtime or even at lunchtime, any time you can sit in a comfortable place and relax will do. The important thing is to be consistent.

Over time, the habit will make everything easier.

Use apps

Mindfulness apps are not mandatory. After learning meditation, it is possible to practice it without a guide. However, they are very useful and if you have the possibility and like it, use it.

The guided meditation that the apps offer brings narrations that teach you the basics of meditation and accompany you throughout the duration – which you can choose from within the app itself. This is positive as it helps to stay focused, especially those first times when meditation can seem tedious.

In addition, apps help to maintain an adequate schedule.


Mindfulness meditation can be a great ally against everyday stress, for concentration and can even serve as a support for psychological treatments of serious conditions such as anxiety and depression.

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