Therapy for mindfulness and meditation that fits your real life
Therapy for mindfulness and meditation brings contemplative practice into a therapeutic relationship, so you can learn to slow down, notice your inner experience and meet it with care.
Perhaps you have downloaded the apps and abandoned them, or sat on a cushion feeling restless and self-critical. Perhaps meditation once helped and then stopped working. In my New York practice, mindfulness is not a performance of calm or a project of emptying the mind. It is a set of flexible, humane practices, shaped around your history and nervous system, and integrated with therapy and, where useful, psychiatric care.
“Mindfulness is not about reaching stillness. It is about staying in kind contact with yourself, whatever is moving through you.”
A busy mind is not a failed meditation. Noticing that busyness, without judgement, is the practice itself.
Contemplative practice with therapeutic support
Mindfulness is the practice of paying deliberate, non-judgemental attention to the present moment. Meditation is one structured way of cultivating it.
On its own, mindfulness can be a powerful resource. Yet many people find that practising alone brings up material they do not know how to handle: old memories, waves of grief, harsh self-talk or a racing heart. Without guidance, it is easy to conclude that meditation is not for you. Therapy for mindfulness and meditation offers a container in which those experiences can be understood and worked with rather than pushed away.
In our sessions, practices are introduced gradually and discussed openly. We might begin with a few minutes of noticing sounds, a walking practice or attention to the breath, then talk about what you observed. Over time, these short practices become windows into how your mind works: where it goes, what it avoids and how it treats you.
My approach is influenced by contemplative traditions from many cultures, by my study of global religion, and by trauma research and somatic practice. I hold these traditions with respect while keeping the practice secular and adaptable, so that it serves your goals and values rather than imposing a particular belief system.
Trauma-sensitive mindfulness
Standard instructions to close your eyes and focus on the breath can be distressing for people with trauma histories. In trauma-sensitive practice, eyes can stay open, attention can rest on external anchors and you can stop at any moment. As a Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga facilitator, I bring the same principles of choice, pacing and agency into every mindful practice we explore.
Integrating practice with therapy and medication
Mindfulness works well alongside psychotherapy, and for some people it complements medication for anxiety, depression or ADHD. Because I can provide therapy, somatic work and psychiatric care in one relationship, we can see how these elements interact and adjust the overall plan thoughtfully.
Building a practice you will actually keep
We design practices that fit your schedule, temperament and living situation in New York. That might mean three conscious breaths on the subway, a mindful walk through the park, a short journalling ritual or a longer seated practice on weekends. Consistency matters more than duration, and gentle flexibility matters more than discipline.
Who mindfulness therapy suits
This work suits beginners who want guidance, experienced meditators whose practice has become stuck or painful, and anyone curious about using mindfulness to support mental health. If you recognise yourself in the following, therapy for mindfulness and meditation may offer a steadier way forward.
- Constant stress and mental noise
- Meditation apps that never stick
- Distress when sitting in silence
- A harsh inner critic
- Difficulty staying present
- Wanting calmer emotional responses
- Recovering from burnout
- Supporting trauma recovery
- Seeking a sustainable daily practice
Mindful practices, gently personalised
Every session balances practice and reflection. We try a short exercise, notice what arises and make sense of it together. Practices are adapted to your energy, preferences and history, and nothing is ever forced.
Guided sitting practice
Short, guided meditations introduce core skills: placing attention, noticing when it wanders and returning without criticism. We start with just a few minutes and build only if it feels supportive.
Movement and walking
For restless minds and bodies, moving meditation can be more accessible than sitting. Mindful walking, stretching and gentle movement offer a grounded way into present-moment attention.
Grounding and anchors
We find anchors that feel safe for you, such as sounds, the feel of your feet or an object in your hand. These become reliable tools for steadying yourself during difficult moments.
Self-compassion practice
Many people meditate while quietly criticising themselves. We practise meeting your experience with warmth, which often softens anxiety and makes the practice more nourishing.
Mindful reflection
Journalling, contemplative questions and creative reflection help integrate what you discover in practice, linking moments of awareness with the larger themes of your life.
Rest and nervous system care
Practices for winding down, such as body scans and slow breathing, can support sleep and recovery. We tailor them carefully, since what calms one person can unsettle another.
More than an app can offer
Apps and classes are valuable starting points. Practising within therapy adds personal guidance and room to process whatever the practice brings up.
Practising alone
- Generic instructions for everyone
- No help when difficult feelings surface
- Easy to judge yourself as failing
- Hard to link practice with life issues
- Motivation often fades
Mindfulness in therapy
- Practices tailored to your history
- Support to process what arises
- Compassionate framing of struggle
- Insight woven into your wider goals
- A steady relationship that sustains practice
Starting a practice together
No previous meditation experience is needed to begin.
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1
Free consultation 15 minutes
Tell me about your experience with mindfulness so far, what drew you to it and any difficulties you have met. We discuss whether a combined therapeutic and contemplative approach makes sense for you.
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2
Assessment and first practice
In our first full session we explore your history, current stresses and mental health. We also try a brief, gentle practice so you can experience how mindfulness feels in a supported setting.
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3
Practice and reflection
Ongoing sessions combine short guided practices with conversation. You leave with a manageable home practice, and we refine it each week according to what works and what does not.
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4
A practice of your own
Over time, mindfulness becomes less of a technique and more of a way of relating to yourself. We consolidate the practices that serve you best so you can continue them independently.
Francesca Rome-Marie, PMHNP-BC
I bring together psychiatry, psychotherapy, somatic work and whole-body health, informed by years in primary care and further study in gender theory, feminist thought, culture and visual art.
I keep a deliberately small caseload so that every client receives consistent, unhurried and genuinely attentive care, held within one relationship rather than split across several providers.
Clear, upfront rates
I don't accept insurance. Modern Holistic Psychiatry is an out-of-network provider, so sessions are paid for directly. Depending on your plan, you may be able to claim reimbursement through your out-of-network benefits.
Find out how much your insurance may coverNeed urgent support? If you're in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or call 911.
Therapy for Mindfulness & Meditation FAQs
What is therapy for mindfulness and meditation?
It is psychotherapy that integrates mindfulness and meditation practices into sessions. Rather than learning meditation as a standalone skill, you practise within a supportive relationship where we can explore whatever arises, from restlessness to grief. Practices are tailored to your needs and can be combined with talk therapy, somatic work and, if appropriate, psychiatric care.
Do I need any meditation experience?
No. Many clients are complete beginners, and others have practised for years. We start wherever you are. For beginners, I keep practices short and accessible. For experienced meditators, we may look at why a practice has become stale or uncomfortable, and how to refresh it in a way that supports your mental health.
My mind will not stop racing when I meditate. Am I doing it wrong?
Not at all. A wandering or racing mind is completely normal, and noticing it is part of the practice. The aim is not to stop thoughts but to change your relationship with them. If your mind races constantly, we may try more active forms of practice or explore underlying anxiety or ADHD, which I can assess and support.
Can meditation be harmful for people with trauma?
For some people with trauma histories, certain practices can increase distress, particularly long silent sittings or exercises that focus intensely on the body. That is why I use a trauma-sensitive approach that prioritises choice, keeps practices brief and offers external anchors. We monitor your responses closely and adjust immediately if anything feels too much.
Is your mindfulness approach religious?
Mindfulness has roots in contemplative traditions, especially Buddhist ones, and I hold those origins with respect. In therapy, practices are offered in a secular, flexible way that fits your values. If you have your own spiritual or religious tradition, we can explore how mindfulness might complement it, but no belief is required.
Can mindfulness replace medication for anxiety or depression?
Mindfulness can be a meaningful part of care, but it is not a replacement for medical treatment when that is needed. Some people use it alongside medication; others find it helps them reduce reliance on certain strategies over time. Any change to medication should always be gradual, collaborative and monitored, and I can guide that process with you.
Find a practice that truly supports you
Book a free 15-minute consultation to talk about mindfulness, meditation and how they might fit into your care.