Mindful Attention (Audio)
The Mindful Attention exercise is an audio track from the Psychology Tools For Overcoming PTSD Audio Collection. This audio track was originally recorded as an exercise for people suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and who wanted to practice retraining their attention on the present moment. Mindful attention and mindfulness exercises are applicable more broadly and are often used as transdiagnostic interventions.
Mindful attention is a technique for becoming aware of one’s thoughts and experiences, and being able to observe these as transient mental events. This mindfulness exercise is a ‘brain training’ exercise. Neuroscientific research on mindfulness has shown that regular practice can lead to desirable changes in brain activity – even to changes in the structure of the brain.
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Audio track (MP3)
A therapy audio track designed for skills development.
Audio script (PDF)
The script for a therapy audio track. Read along with an exercise, or record in your own voice.
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Introduction & Theoretical Background
The Mindful Attention exercise is an audio track from the Psychology Tools For Overcoming PTSD Audio Collection. Mindful attention is a technique for becoming aware of one’s thoughts and experiences, and being able to observe these as transient mental events. There is evidence that practice of mindful attention can assist with emotional regulation – that decentering from experiences can lead to development of different or wiser reactions.
Therapist Guidance
This audio track was originally recorded as an exercise for people suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and who wanted to practice retraining their attention on the present moment. Mindful attention and mindfulness exercises are applicable more broadly and are often used as transdiagnostic interventions. The audio track is a simple .mp3 file which can be played in most media player apps. You can also download the verbatim script, allowing you to record the exercise for your clients in your own voice to reinforce work completed in therapy.
References And Further Reading
- Doll, A., Hölzel, B. K., Bratec, S. M., Boucard, C. C., Xie, X., Wohlschläger, A. M., & Sorg, C. (2016). Mindful attention to breath regulates emotions via increased amygdala–prefrontal cortex connectivity. Neuroimage, 134, 305-313.
- Ehlers, A., Clark, D. M. (2000). A cognitive model of posttraumatic stress disorder. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 38, 319-345.
- Fisher, J. (1999). The work of stabilization in trauma treatment. Trauma Center Lecture Series, Boston, Massachusetts.
- Lebois, L. A., Papies, E. K., Gopinath, K., Cabanban, R., Quigley, K. S., Krishnamurthy, V., ... & Barsalou, L. W. (2015). A shift in perspective: Decentering through mindful attention to imagined stressful events. Neuropsychologia, 75, 505-524.
- Papies, E. K., Barsalou, L. W., & Custers, R. (2012). Mindful attention prevents mindless impulses. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 3(3), 291-299.