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How do real anxiety therapists apply mindfulness principles when working with real anxiety clients in real therapy sessions? Let's check out part two of my chat with therapists Lauren Rosen and Joanna Hardis. We all make heavy use of the principles of mindfulness in our practices, and in our daily lives.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• Why "being present" isn't about feeling calm or peaceful
• The concept of being "aggressively present" when anxiety strikes
• How mindfulness is really attention training, not relaxation training
• Why meditation for anxiety is like going to the gym for your attention
• The difference between facts and the meaning we make of facts
• Practical ways to interrupt anxiety spirals in the moment
• Why you can't just decide to be mindful only during panic attacks

Key takeaways:

• Mindfulness in anxiety treatment isn't gentle - it's about slamming on the brakes when your mind races toward catastrophic conclusions
• The goal isn't to eliminate anxiety, but to develop a different relationship with it
• You have to practice attention skills during calm moments to access them during triggered moments
• Recovery means feeling real fear but knowing you're not in real danger

If you missed part one (episode 318), go back and listen to that first for the complete conversation.

This episode offers a practical, no-nonsense look at how mindfulness actually works in anxiety recovery - not the soft-focus version you might expect, but the real-world application that helps people move forward in their recovery journey.

Resources mentioned:

• Lauren Rosen: theobsessivemind.com
• Joanna Hardis: joannahardis.com
• More resources at theanxioustruth.com

Remember: there are no small moves in recovery, only valuable ones. Keep at it - you can do this.

Support The Anxious Truth: If you find the podcast helpful and want to support my work, you can buy me a coffee. Other ways to support my work like buying a book or signing up for a low cost workshop can be found on my website. None of this is never required, but always appreciated!

Interested in doing therapy with me? For more information on working with me directly to overcome your anxiety, follow this link.

Disclaimer: The Anxious Truth is not therapy or a replacement for therapy. Listening to The Anxious Truth does not create a therapeutic relationship between you and the host or guests of the podcast. Information here is provided for psychoeducational purposes. As always, when you have questions about your own well-being, please consult your mental health and/or medical care providers. If you are having a mental health crisis, always reach out immediately for in-person help.