Books and Audio

Below are the resources I recommend to clients who are interested in developing or expanding their own mindfulness practice.  Feel free to explore and see what calls out to you.  Learning more about the theory of mindfulness can be helpful, though it’s also fine to jump right in to some guided meditations if you are inspired to do so.

Recommended Reading

  • The Power of Now, by Eckhart Tolle.  Although less a traditional text on mindfulness meditation, Eckhart Tolle nonetheless serves a simple, direct, and unique view of the spirit of life lived in the present moment.  It’s sold millions of copies and has become a modern classic, accessible and relatable to people of all spiritual backgrounds and experience levels.  One of the few books I’ve re-read throughout my life.
  • Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life, by Jon Kabat-Zinn.  A plainly written, accessible guide on the practice of mindfulness.
  • When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times, by Pema Chodron.  Although Pema teaches from a background in Buddhism, her books are relatable to a broad audience, and do without the technical jargon often associated with Buddhist theology.  This work in particular provides an eloquent insight into the juxtaposition between mindfulness practice and a life in turmoil.  Challenges the common belief that mindfulness (or life, for that matter) is supposed to be a tidy process.
  • Radical Compassion, by Tara Brach.  Also known for her book Radical Acceptance, Tara is another western Buddhist teacher very accessible to newcomers and more secular-minded practitioners.  This book focuses on RAIN, a mindfulness practice particularly helpful in working with more persistent emotional patterns.  It is a model I use often in the course of therapy and return to frequently in my own practice.
  • Peace is Every Step, by Thich Nhat Hanh.  He’s published over one hundred books, and has become an international staple within the mindfulness community.  Thich Nhat Hanh has a reputation for being simple and kind, and his writing is direct and accessible.  He does a lovely job at capturing the spirit of mindfulness practice in a relatively short span of pages.
  • Learning to Let Be: A Beginner’s Guide to Mindfulness Meditation, by Nick Doolittle.  I published this in 2010 as a “quick-start” guide to mindfulness practice.  It covers some basic theory, practical instruction, and addresses some common questions and challenges early on in the practice.  Guaranteed enlightenment by the final chapter.

 Guided Meditations

Mindfulness of the Breath (Introduction)
Mindfulness of the Breath (Introduction)

Introductory meditation.  Awareness of the breath is continued the “gold standard” of mindfulness practice.  Although often taught to newcomers, it is used effectively by veteran and beginner practitioners alike.  This guided meditation in particular is geared towards those who have little or no experience with mindfulness.


Published: October 26, 2018
Download
Leaves on a Stream
Leaves on a Stream

Introductory meditation.  This is another mindfulness exercise geared towards those new to the practice.  Here, we practice observing our thinking and defusing from the “story” being told by our mind.

Published: October 26, 2018
Download
Working directly with personal pain
Working directly with personal pain

A general meditation in the spirit of Buddhist Vipassana.  The focus in particular is on relating to difficult parts of ourselves with openness, self-acceptance, and kindness.  This approach can help with stress and emotional difficulty in the short-term, and can provide substantial change and transformation when practiced over a longer time period.

Download
Mindfulness of the Breath
Mindfulness of the Breath

A similar offering from the introductory meditation on breathing above, with less extra instruction included.  Meditation on the breath is the most commonly taught form of mindfulness, for good reason; being present with the breath returns us to ourselves and the simple sanity of the present moment, and is always available to us as a mindful anchor.

Download

Healing the Not Good Enough

I often work with clients who have struggled with chronic feelings of insecurity and low-self worth.  These issues are exceptionally common, and can fuel other emotional issues like anxiety, addiction, depression, eating disorders, sleep disorders, and patterns of tumultuous relationships.  I’ve developed a 4-phase process that aims to not just recognize and cope with these deeper feelings, but to resolve and heal them.  This process borrows methodology from Internal Family Systems (IFS), Somatic Experiencing (SE), and other mindfulness models to address these patterns at the root and provide fundamental personal change.  Please note, this is a fairly intensive process and is meant to be practiced with the support of regular psychotherapy.  See this page for more information on this process (including worksheets, written materials, and guided meditations).