Understanding the Work
Mindfulness and Meditation: How They Differ
Mindfulness and meditation overlap, but they aren’t interchangeable. Here’s a way to understand the difference before deciding what, if anything, feels useful.
Awareness and a practice aren’t quite the same thing
Mindfulness generally refers to paying attention to present experience with less judgment. Meditation describes a range of practices that work with attention or awareness. Some meditation practices cultivate mindfulness; others use a different focus. You can practice noticing what’s happening in an ordinary moment without sitting down for a formal meditation. The distinction can be helpful if one word interests you and the other immediately makes you think, “That isn’t for me.”
This page is about understanding those terms, rather than teaching a meditation routine or a breathing exercise. You don’t need to begin either one to work with me. I’d rather hear what your experience has been than assume that a familiar recommendation will feel comfortable or relevant to you.
A moment of noticing can happen in conversation
You might be describing an argument and realize you’ve started apologizing for how upset you were. We might pause to notice that change. What are you feeling as you tell me? What are you expecting me to think? That attention to the present moment can be part of therapy without becoming a meditation exercise. We’re making room to hear something that might otherwise pass quickly.
You might also notice that your mind has moved ahead to planning your next response while someone is speaking. Recognizing that doesn’t mean you’ve failed at being present. It gives you a choice about where to put your attention next. There’s no requirement to maintain perfect awareness, and turning mindfulness into another standard to meet can make the whole idea feel exhausting.
Formal meditation has its own structure
A meditation practice usually involves setting aside time and following a particular way of directing attention. The details vary. Mindfulness meditation is one form, but meditation is a broader category. That’s why advice to “try meditation” can be vague: two people using the same word may be describing quite different experiences.
Being still, focusing inward, or attending to particular sensations doesn’t feel helpful to everyone. If an exercise brings discomfort, you don’t need to assume you’re doing it wrong or force yourself to continue. In therapy, please tell me what you notice. We can stop, discuss what happened, and consider a different way of working. Your response matters more than completing the exercise.
What these ideas might mean in our work
My approach includes mindfulness-based perspectives, but our sessions aren’t a test of your ability to meditate. We might notice a feeling as it arises, become curious about a judgment, or explore what happens when you slow down enough to hear competing needs. I’ll explain an invitation rather than assume you already understand the purpose.
You may prefer talking through a concrete situation, keeping your eyes open, or staying with what you notice around you instead of focusing inward. We can discuss those preferences. I’m interested in how we can make room for your experience, not whether you can follow a particular practice perfectly. You’re welcome to ask why I’m suggesting something and to decline it.
Questions You May Have
Can I be interested in mindfulness but dislike meditation?
Yes. The words overlap, but everyday awareness and a formal practice are different. We can talk about what you find useful without asking you to adopt a meditation routine.
Does mindfulness mean emptying my mind?
No. Noticing thoughts is different from eliminating them. In our work, we can explore what’s happening without making a quiet mind the condition for a useful session.
Will I have to do mindfulness exercises in therapy?
We can discuss any exercise before trying it. You can ask questions, share preferences, or say you don’t want to do it. We’ll consider other ways to explore what brings you in.
Ask what the work would feel like
If you’re considering individual therapy in California or Massachusetts, you can request a complimentary video consultation. We can talk about your preferences and whether my approach feels comfortable enough to explore.
Online in California and Massachusetts.