Practicing Meditation Against All Odds

Zindel Segal on the Three-Minute Breathing Space

When thinking about the mindfulness practice of meditation, we usually imagine the ideal situation: a quiet place, ample time to ruminate (anywhere from 40 minutes to several days), and no distractions to disturb the meditation process. Unfortunately, this ideal is rarely a realistic option for most people.

Zindel Segal found that many mindfulness practices, such as meditation, are effective when working with clients who suffer from depression. But how are they incorporated into treatment when the realities of life are that it is loud, busy, and full of distractions?

That’s where the three-minute breathing space comes in. Watch the clip to hear him talk about how clients can achieve mindful awareness of their emotional states in just three minutes.

 

 

 

Rich Simon

Richard Simon, PhD, founded Psychotherapy Networker and served as the editor for more than 40 years. He received every major magazine industry honor, including the National Magazine Award. Rich passed away November 2020, and we honor his memory and contributions to the field every day.

Zindel Segal

Zindel Segal, PhD, is the Morgan Firestone Chair in Psychotherapy in the department of psychiatry at the University of Toronto and head of the Cognitive Therapy Unit at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.