Integrating mindfulness with psychological therapy has been shown to enhance mental health outcomes, with a growing body of scientific research supporting this combined approach.

Personally, I discovered the Headspace app during the COVID-19 pandemic, and I highly recommend it to anyone exploring mindfulness or meditation for the first time. It’s user-friendly, accessible, and a great introduction to developing a consistent practice.

There are also many excellent free resources available. I encourage you to use these as a starting point but remember, the most important thing is finding the voices and styles that resonate with you. Everyone’s journey with mindfulness is different, and what works for one person may not work for another.

As Thich Nhat Hanh so beautifully put it:

“No mud, no lotus.”

This simple phrase reminds us that growth, healing, and beauty often arise from the very struggles we wish we didn’t have. Mindfulness isn’t about avoiding pain, it’s about learning how to be present with it, and letting it transform us.

Headspace app

Tara Brach 

Eckhart Tolle 

Nature and Mental Health 

In Nature’s Embrace

Amidst the rustling leaves and whispering winds,
I find solace in nature's gentle embrace.
The earth beneath my feet, grounding and steady,
Offers a sanctuary where my mind can rest.

The song of birds, the dance of sunlight through trees,
Remind me of life's simple, unspoken truths.
In the stillness, my thoughts settle like fallen leaves,
And peace blooms quietly within my soul.

Each breath drawn from the forest's fragrant air
Nurtures a calm that words cannot convey.
In nature's presence, I rediscover balance,
And my spirit finds its way back home.

Dana Faulds